Created, Together.: An Assembly for Artists Working With Communities

We’re thrilled to announce Created, Together.: A National Assembly for Artists Working with Communities, developed by the Mural Arts Institute and generously funded by the Mellon Foundation.

Created, Together. will connect artists and changemakers from across the country to join a collaborative experience in Philadelphia on Friday, October 20, and Saturday, October 21. Kelly Lee from Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy will welcome attendees on Friday before visits to six public art projects throughout the city, including Color Me Back, a same-day work pay program; And Into the Streets, a project about the queer cultural memory of Philadelphia life; and a studio visit with the Restorative Justice Rec Crew, a reentry program revitalizing city Rec Centers. Following the visits, a film screening and artist talk will occur, moderated by Whyy’s arts & culture reporter Peter Crimmins. These films document the journey of artists from across the United States, leading six public art projects through the PACE Capacity Building Initiative.

The symposium will conclude on Saturday with an experimental, audience-led panel discussion you will not want to miss. Multidisciplinary artist Michelle Angela Ortiz will welcome attendees before a series of dynamic breakout conversations and workshops will reckon with critical questions of the field, including “Who owns public art?”.

Our symposium aims to amplify the voices of people doing this work daily, and by design, there is not a long list of celebrity names highlighted. Instead, through a national call and our PACE initiative, emerging artists and changemakers were awarded grants to travel to the event and contribute to a shared dialogue. Mural Arts Philadelphia is supporting close to 50 participants from across the states and Puerto Rico to attend the symposium.

We invite you to join us in representing your voice by registering at createdtogether.eventbrite.com.