The City of Tacoma is seeking a variety of practicing visual artists to participate in a Mural Art Training Program pilot this summer as part of the City’s Community Based Mural Program.

The Mural Art Training Program is for artists interested in adapting their skills to public mural-making. The program is designed to train adult artists — who already possess strong artistic skills — how to create successful painted murals through a series of classroom sessions taught by experienced teaching artists with hands-on experience creating murals with community input. After completion of the training workshops, artists will participate in the design and implementation of actual outdoor painted murals, designed to fight blight and combat vandalism in select neighborhoods in Tacoma.

While this initial program will focus solely on the creation of painted murals, artist applicants do not need to be experienced painters. Artists will invest approximately 60-hours into the classroom sessions and mural implementation. Each artist will receive a $500 stipend after successful completion of the program.

Artists interested in applying may download the Mural Art Training Program call at http://www.tacomaculture.org/arts/opportunities.asp. Information is also available by calling (253) 591-5191 or by e-mailing nstrom-avila@cityoftacoma.org. Deadline for application submissions is June 4, 2010.

This opportunity is an initiative of the Graffiti Reduction Through Community Based Art team, part of the City of Tacoma’s Safe and Clean effort.