MuralsDC

Washington, DC

MuralsDC is an innovative initiative hatched from a successful interagency collaboration with the Executive Office of the Mayor (EOM), and DC Department of Public Works (DPW).

MuralsDC has been created to replace illegal graffiti with artistic works, to revitalize sites within communities in the District of Columbia and to teach young people the art of aerosol painting. This program was started to positively engage the District's youth by teaching proper art techniques, providing supplies, and a legal means to practice and perform their skill in a way that promotes respect for public and private property and community awareness.

Selected artists and artist teams worked with Midnight Forum, an organization that empowers youth and takes young people's interest in Hip-Hop culture, an interest often seen as negative, and uses it in a positive way. Midnight Forum trained the selected artists on how to teach youth the art of aerosol mural painting.

Murals have a long history of demonstrating the power of art to transform both space and place and MuralsDC has continued this tradition. MuralsDC touched the lives of many DC residents and has taught several of our youth the art of mural making. Teenagers from Latin American Youth Center, Oakhill, Words Beats and Life and Midnight Forum, Inc. are a few of the youth groups that have participated in this extraordinary initiative.