D.C.: MuralsDC

MuralsDC is a partnership of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) and the DC Department of Public Works (DPW) that aims, through creative engagement with at-risk youth populations, to abate illegal graffiti and to revitalize communities in Washington, D.C. Through the program, DCCAH awards grants of $3,000 to $13,500 for the design, creation and installation of murals in neighborhoods with high incidence of illegal graffiti. On average, the program leads to six to eight murals each summer. Because funded projects include the contribution of apprentices aged 14 to 23, they not only replace visual vandalism with artwork but also teach young people the discipline of aerosol painting, helping them develop and refine their own craft in a legal way. The owners of participating properties, identified by DPW, help select artists for MuralsDC installations. Every MuralsDC wall tells a unique story of the city’s diverse neighborhoods and prevents further property destruction, becoming a point of pride and inspiration for area residents. For more information, contact DCCAH Arts Program Coordinator Keona Pearson.