NYC Health + Hospitals' Arts in Medicine department is seeking artists to be a part of this year’s community mural program.
Launched by the healthcare system's arts department in 2019, the residency gives visual artists the opportunity to collaborate with patients, staff, and the greater community to create unique and fitting mural designs for NYC Health + Hospitals facilities.
The program was inspired directly by the tradition of the depression-era Works Progress Administration (WPA), a time where murals were commissioned for virtually every New York City public hospital, according to a release.
Since the residency’s establishment, it has led to the creation of 34 murals in hospitals and clinics across the five boroughs.
The purpose of the yearly program is to enhance emotional well being amongst the greater Health + Hospitals system and community, promote healing and wellness for patients and their families, as well as stimulate employee engagement, according to a NYC Health + Hospitals release.
This year, a total of five artists will be picked to take part in the mural-creation residency.
Each chosen artist will receive a $10,000 honorarium for their work — which includes design services, community engagement, site preparation, and more — as well as $1,000 for travel and other expenses.
Additionally, the artists will receive a $10,000 “deliverables-based memorandum-of-understanding,” with half being paid following an initial focus group meeting, and the remaining amount being given after the mural’s completion.
The program is open to all professional visual artists that are 18 years of age and older, with preference to applicants that have ties to the neighborhood and community of the participating NYC Health + Hospitals facilities.
Interested artists can apply for the residency online. Applications are due by Sunday, February 4.
