The exciting new MyMural project enables and encourages profficient artists and residents to connect - to work together, to create vibrant artworks on walls and colourful neighbourhoods. Pioneered and supported by the artist Stik, the Mayor of London's Office, Central Saint Martins, Artification and Wood Street Walls, the scheme seeks to establish London’s first ‘matchmaking’ scheme enabling residents and street artists to collaborate to create exciting new works in the everyday places that surround us. It empowers residents with a direct and curatorial role to improve their buildings with art and in connecting with experienced and leading artists. In parralel, it brings new chances for established and skilled-emerging artists the chance to locate their works on walls where people are living. The scheme pilot runs late 2018 to late 2019 and will enable new works of art across multiple boroughs in the capital during 2018 and 2019.

What are we looking for right now?

Artists - If you you have what it takes to be part of MyMural, get in touch. We are building the pool of skilled, experienced artists, who are invited first to new tenders which come through the scheme. For the time being we can only consider artists with solid experience of painting on two storey buildings, or above.

Resident groups - MyMural is inviting resident groups and individuals keen to get involved. At least one Camden resident group will be selected, with whom we can help make MyMural happen for free, as part of the London launch in late 2018 / early 2019. Individuals who are interested but not part of a formal resident group are welcome to get in to get involved, too. Just register your interest above.

Buildings / walls - To get the project kicked-off and with high quality artists, the scheme is needs to start on walls/buildings of three-storeys or above. Others can also be considered for subsequent interventions. In each case, the building management process should already include one or more resident-led groups.

BENEFITS FOR ARTISTS

The project will increase the number of wall spaces for artworks, and will enable brand new works to get off the ground, across London. Many artists tell us it is getting harder to find good spaces to paint in London. MyMural means to help change that. It will pilot new ways of working with residents and local emerging artists, and improve ways of working together. In turn, this will reduce the administrative burden for local and policing authorities. The scheme will help make a number of exciting new spots available for artists to paint, which would otherwise not likely have been accessible for artists.

BENEFITS FOR LONDON RESIDENTS

MyMural empowers residents to inform and curate new creative practice in their own neighbourhoods. It brings a straightforward and safeguarded scheme, ensuring that local residents are critically engaged in the commissioning and curating process. The scheme will initiate a programme of free high quality works in residential areas of different London boroughs. The project is also exploring opportunities to involve resident and local community members in other ways, too. For example, in artists’ assistant and local champion roles, as well as fundraising, communication and more.

MyMural brings an exciting new opportunity for residents to engage with each other to influence their local environment and improve where they live. This will happen by established resident groups signing up to work together, and with other local residents, to:

Help to select the right artist to create fantastic mural artworks for local residential buildings.
Suggest mural topics and local considerations for internationally acclaimed creatives to respond to.
Nominate one or more local resident champion/s to pro-actively represent the resident group through the MyMural process.
Nominate one or more artist assistant/s from the local community.

We are now inviting a small number resident groups to get involved for the first interventions, so if you are interested, or know others who might be, speak to us.

BENEFITS FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES

This project helps to cut red tape, working to reduce draw on administration and resources for each local area engaging. Local authorities are often leaned upon as mediators, by artists looking for wall space, and by residents who want to see change in their environments, or complain about things they don’t like. The MyMural scheme will ensure residents and artists have direct opportunities to talk to each other from the beginning of the process, to work through challenges and opportunities without having to add administrative burden for local authorities.