The African Heritage Foundation is inviting artists to take part in its “Liberty Murals” project.
The initiative is themed I Am African.
A growing body of research has positively identified murals with social, cultural and economic benefits. Murals offer accessibility to art and creative expression without the cost and class-based barriers associated with museums and galleries.
Public art initiatives such as ‘Liberty Murals” have been identified as an equity advancement strategy for the economic development of at-risk communities. Due to their visual aesthetics murals promote a sense of identity, belonging, attachment, welcoming and openness.
The African Heritage Foundation (AHF) intends to use its headquarters (Liberty House) to facilitate the painting of at least 20 murals.
The AHF is at present leasing a house that was unoccupied for the greater part of 10 years to facilitate use for its headquarters and several community empowerment initiatives. The house has numerous wall spaces that can facilitate their mural painting project. It is intended that artists of various ages (focus on 4th and 5th form students, also BCC students) be invited to paint a mural on a wall space allocated by the AHF at Liberty House.
The public will have free access to “Liberty Murals”, however a donation box will be present at the entrance of Liberty House to facilitate donations from persons visiting Liberty House to view the murals and who wish to support the initiative. Donations will be shared equally every quarter between the AHF and mural artists.
“Liberty Murals” is intended to attract the attention of many visitors and residents alike. It will be the model of a space that uses art to advance community empowerment initiatives. While “Liberty Murals” is the name of this particular mural project, “Community Murals” the greater national vision, will carry various themes and feature a wide range of the island’s artist.
Each parish should have “A House of Murals or Two”. Each parish has its own unique characteristics and as such the art in those houses should reflect this.
The national vision of the AHF is to give more exposure to Barbadian artist locally, regionally and internationally while facilitating early exposure of young artist. It will also create revenue for participating artist and the AHF which will in turn assist with other Afro/Caribbean cultural social engineering initiatives. (PR)
