Mural Arts Program
Encyclopedia
Philadelphia's Mural Arts Program (MAP) was founded in 1984, as a sub division of the Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Network
(PAGN), led by Jane Golden. Prior to the Mural Arts Program operating as its own entity its roots were founded in a meeting between Spencer and Golden in 1984 where Golden asked to run a program within PAGN. Spencer originally envisioned a program that would move kids more towards other arts and crafts, however Golden envisioned what is now the MAP program.
In 1986 another program began within PAGN, named The Mural Arts Project (MAP), and headed by artist Jane Golden
. Through the success of both programs in 1991 the city of Philadelphia was awarded the Innovations in American Government Award due to the progress PAGN and MAP had made in the surrounding communities. In 1996 the success of MAP was noted and split off into a separate program and placed under the umbrella of the Philadelphia Recreation Department.
In 1996, the PAGN program was merged into the Philadelphia Recreation Department and MAP was elevated as an independent entity. From the MAP program came the Philadelphia Mural Arts Advocates, a not for profit corporation for raising funds for the MAP programs. While 1996 marked a greater position for MAP it also was the year the PAGN founder, Tim Spencer, died. The roots of MAP was in a meeting with Jane Golden and Spencer in 1984 in which she asked to run a program within PAGN. Spencer originally envisioned a program that would move kids more towards other arts and crafts, however Golden envisioned what is now the MAP program.
The Mural Arts Program was founded in 1984 by Jane Golden
. Golden had met the then head of the PAGN in hopes of creating a program under the umbrella project, however Spencer had originally envisioned a program that would take those caught away from graffiti and into other arts and crafts. Golden’s vision won out and the Mural Arts Program was created. The Mural Arts Program works with community groups
to educate and involve children in arts and in creation of murals throughout the city. The MAP also takes in prosecuted graffiti vandals at the rate of over 100 a year and involves them in the creation of many of the murals around Philadelphia. During the 2001–2004 Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, MAP had painted over 600 murals around Philadelphia.
The Mural Arts Program is responsible for the largest mural painted in Philadelphia at 600 feet (182.9 m) in length, titled "History of Immigration", the mural displays settler
s of different races who have settled in Philadelphia over time. The average mural painted by MAP is about the height of three-story row house and 35 feet (10.7 m) wide, approximate cost is 10–15 thousand dollars, which includes artist commission and supplies.
MAP is currently one of Philadelphia's largest employers of artists, employing over 300 artists a year. Currently MAP employs 36 former graffiti artists as staff members on permanent payroll and services over 300 children a year in their arts programs. In February 2006 the city of Watertown, NY
asked Jane Golden to speak in hopes of creating a similar program in their area.
Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Network
The Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Network was founded in January 1984 by former Philadelphia Mayor Wilson Goode. The original goal of the program was to combat the spread of graffiti in the Philadelphia area and was led by Tim Spencer. In 1986 another program began within PAGN, named The Mural Arts...
(PAGN), led by Jane Golden. Prior to the Mural Arts Program operating as its own entity its roots were founded in a meeting between Spencer and Golden in 1984 where Golden asked to run a program within PAGN. Spencer originally envisioned a program that would move kids more towards other arts and crafts, however Golden envisioned what is now the MAP program.
In 1986 another program began within PAGN, named The Mural Arts Project (MAP), and headed by artist Jane Golden
Jane Golden
Jane Golden founded the Mural Arts Program in Philadelphia, PA in the early 1990s as the Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Network. She was also active in the mural renaissance in Los Angeles, CA in the 1980s.-References:******...
. Through the success of both programs in 1991 the city of Philadelphia was awarded the Innovations in American Government Award due to the progress PAGN and MAP had made in the surrounding communities. In 1996 the success of MAP was noted and split off into a separate program and placed under the umbrella of the Philadelphia Recreation Department.
In 1996, the PAGN program was merged into the Philadelphia Recreation Department and MAP was elevated as an independent entity. From the MAP program came the Philadelphia Mural Arts Advocates, a not for profit corporation for raising funds for the MAP programs. While 1996 marked a greater position for MAP it also was the year the PAGN founder, Tim Spencer, died. The roots of MAP was in a meeting with Jane Golden and Spencer in 1984 in which she asked to run a program within PAGN. Spencer originally envisioned a program that would move kids more towards other arts and crafts, however Golden envisioned what is now the MAP program.
The Mural Arts Program was founded in 1984 by Jane Golden
Jane Golden
Jane Golden founded the Mural Arts Program in Philadelphia, PA in the early 1990s as the Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Network. She was also active in the mural renaissance in Los Angeles, CA in the 1980s.-References:******...
. Golden had met the then head of the PAGN in hopes of creating a program under the umbrella project, however Spencer had originally envisioned a program that would take those caught away from graffiti and into other arts and crafts. Golden’s vision won out and the Mural Arts Program was created. The Mural Arts Program works with community groups
Community organizing
Community organizing is a process where people who live in proximity to each other come together into an organization that acts in their shared self-interest. A core goal of community organizing is to generate durable power for an organization representing the community, allowing it to influence...
to educate and involve children in arts and in creation of murals throughout the city. The MAP also takes in prosecuted graffiti vandals at the rate of over 100 a year and involves them in the creation of many of the murals around Philadelphia. During the 2001–2004 Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, MAP had painted over 600 murals around Philadelphia.
The Mural Arts Program is responsible for the largest mural painted in Philadelphia at 600 feet (182.9 m) in length, titled "History of Immigration", the mural displays settler
Settler
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
s of different races who have settled in Philadelphia over time. The average mural painted by MAP is about the height of three-story row house and 35 feet (10.7 m) wide, approximate cost is 10–15 thousand dollars, which includes artist commission and supplies.
MAP is currently one of Philadelphia's largest employers of artists, employing over 300 artists a year. Currently MAP employs 36 former graffiti artists as staff members on permanent payroll and services over 300 children a year in their arts programs. In February 2006 the city of Watertown, NY
Watertown (city), New York
Watertown is a city in the state of New York and the county seat of Jefferson County. It is situated approximately south of the Thousand Islands. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 27,023, an increase of 1.2% since 2000. The U.S...
asked Jane Golden to speak in hopes of creating a similar program in their area.