Murals 101 By SPARKLE

Murals 101 by SPARKLE (Seeding Public Art, Resources, Knowledge and Learning Experiences) is a comprehensive, introductory curriculum for emerging muralists. The curriculum is offered as a 5 week online hybrid curriculum or 2 day in person workshop. Participants will dive into all aspects of muraling- from engaging with the community to negotiating a contract- from a team of experienced muralists and arts administrators. The curriculum is designed to give beginning muralists the information they need to start their path to becoming experienced, career muralists.

Participants will leave the course with knowledge of:

  • Different types of murals

  • Mural design strategies

  • How to make a meaningful community engagement plan

  • Mural making materials

  • How to prep a mural surface

  • How to create an artist portfolio

  • Project negotiation

  • Contracts

  • How to create a mural budget 

  • Project management

  • How to build a mural team

Murals 101 Course Instructors

Candida Gonzalez - Artist and Public Art Consultant

A queer, trans, non-binary mixed Puerto Rican from South Minneapolis, Cándida González (they/them) is an artist, teacher, organizer, brujx and badass single parent. They studied Latin American Art and History at The Evergreen State College and went on to get their M.Ed. at The University of Minnesota in 2003. In their 15 years of arts education work in Minneapolis they built K-12 art programs that focused on equitable arts opportunities, inclusivity of underserved populations and deeper, more accessible, culturally relevant arts experiences for youth and BIPOC communities.

Nell Pierce - Mural and Collage Artist

Nell is a collage artist, acrylic painter, muralist and teaching artist who sees art as a powerful tool for telling both individual and collective stories. They were raised in California and Maine and fell in love with the artist and organizing community in Minneapolis in 2014. They’ve since resided on this beautiful and occupied Dakota homeland, Mni Sota Makoce, surrounded by people who teach them to live in questions about how to be in right relationship with this place as a European-American.

Bayou Bay - Mural and Installation Artist

Bayou bay is a mural, installation, and teaching artist with a background in art and design. For the last ten years Bayou has worked on community and public art projects with schools, art organizations, non-profits, and cities from across the Twin Cities Metro Area, greater Minnesota, and across the nation.

Curriculum Overview

Over five weeks, we will explore what goes into creating a mural. Each week your cohort will access videos of SPARKLE members talking about different facets of muralism, in which we share personal experiences and reference those who’ve taught us – offering external links for those who want to dive deeper. We offer reflection questions at the end of each video and facilitate a weekly 1.5 hour virtual discussion for your group to explore the content together. The flow of the curriculum is as follows:

Online Curriculum

Online Recordings

Video: Defining muralism

Video: Distinguishing different types of murals

Week 1

Virtual Discussion - 1.5 Hours

Welcome/Intros 

Breakout session

Q+A conversation

Closing

Online Recordings

Video: Designing murals

Video: Engaging community 

Week 2

Virtual Discussion- 1.5 Hours

Welcome/Intros 

Breakout session

Q+A conversation

Closing

Online Recordings

Video: Choosing materials

Video: Getting the site ready

Week 3

Virtual Discussion - 1.5 Hours

Welcome/Intros 

Breakout session

Q+A conversation

Closing

Online Recordings

Video: Finding projects 

Video: Negotiating projects and pay 

Video: Managing projects

Week 4

Virtual Discussion - 1.5 Hours

Welcome/Intros 

Breakout session

Q+A conversation

Closing

Online Recordings

Video: Building your mural team

Week 5

Virtual Discussion - 1.5 Hours

Final reflections and questions

Over a two-day workshop participants will explore all facets of making a mural. The curriculum includes all of the components of the online curriculum along with group activities, artist panels and hands-on practice with materials and design. This workshop will be custom designed for each client and their individual client needs.

In Person Workshop

PRICING

Contact us to discuss bringing SPARKLE Murals 101 to your community!

We contract with arts organizations, state arts boards and state arts councils to host the workshop for artists in their region. 

Individual artists can sign up for Murals 101 through our clients, rather than through us directly. We encourage interested individual artists to contact their local organizations to bring Murals 101 to their community. 

Online Curriculum

Sliding scale $10,000-$15,000

In-person Workshop

Sliding scale $15,000-$20,000