See Forms for youth and artist applications and how to propose a mural.

WELCOME! An inspiring, colorful, and fantastic dimension of Silver City, New Mexico

Take a tour of a unique community in southwest New Mexico that is home to a diverse assemblage of community-based murals.

The Mission of the Youth Mural Program is to engage and empower youth and enrich the community through public art that interprets the history, culture, and ecology of southwestern New Mexico.

Simply stated, our goals are:

1.  To teach students about the history, culture, and ecology of their community through the arts.

2. To connect students with their peers, local artists, and community members.

3. To teach students that public art can enrich and enhance the quality of life in their community.

4. To encourage students to engage in beautifying their community.

The Youth Mural Program (YMP) is a collaborative outreach program that engages local artists and young people in creating beautiful topical murals throughout the community. Since 2002, YMP has created more than 100 mural projects throughout Grant and Catron counties with beginning outreach to Hidalgo and Luna counties as well.

Young people involved in the program explore the cultural, historical, and ecological aspects of the region by translating the information into images for murals. Many local historians and storytellers spend time with the youth before they design the mural, providing background and cultural significance necessary to broaden their outlook.  Students involved with the program gain problem-solving skills and learn to work collaboratively while creating thoughtful and inspirational works of art. The program empowers them to explore their maximum potential while making a positive impact on their community. Participants report that they gain a sense of ownership and connection to the murals which also instill a sense of pride and an understanding of the benefits of community art projects.

Since its inception, YMP has partnered and collaborated with a wide variety of community organizations, local schools, and civic organizations. Ongoing funding has come from the National Endowment for the Arts, Comcast, Outdoor Equity, the Forest Service, the Town of Silver City, Aldo Leopold Charter School’s YCC, and numerous foundations, donors, and local sponsors. Our fiscal sponsor is the Grant County Community Foundation, through whom all donations and grants are received.

YMP engages youth encouraging participation by working with schools, creating work crews (separate from school), providing internships, and a yearly camp. Summer Mural Camp for ages 6 through 16 design and complete a mural within an intense two-week camp period.  Many join us year after year. Campers and young students become interns. Interns have become program artists. We are especially proud of the youth that have gone on to have careers in the arts because of their participation. That said, public art enriches all our lives.  It creates an environment conducive to business development, increases property values, promotes cultural tourism, and gives communities a stronger sense of place and identity.