Twenty-eight young artists unveiled a new public mural inside the Kings County Family Courthouse on August 12 as part of Creative Art Works’ Public Art Youth Employment Program.
Founded 39 years ago, Creative Art Works provides arts education and workforce development opportunities to young people across New York City, focusing on under-resourced neighborhoods.
Its flagship Public Art Youth Employment Program offers summer and after-school apprenticeships where participants create large-scale works for public spaces in partnership with community organizations.
The piece, titled The Sun Will Rise Again, was installed in a public waiting area and incorporates themes of light, unity, resilience and hope.
It features imagery including the Brooklyn Bridge, the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch at Grand Army Plaza and natural landscapes.
The mural was created by youth apprentices ages 16 to 24, most of whom are Brooklyn residents. For many participants, the project marked their first paid job.
Over six weeks, the group conducted community research, pitched design concepts to courthouse judges and staff and revised their work before completing the installation.
Apprentices gained skills in collaboration, stakeholder engagement and project execution, while also earning wages through the city’s Summer Youth Employment Program.
Creative Art Works has partnered with the New York State Unified Court System since 2011, producing murals and multimedia projects at family courthouses in Manhattan, Queens and the Bronx.
The Kings County project is the first of its kind in Brooklyn, with another collaboration anticipated in 2026.
