Apply for the Community Mural Project 2024/25
The Sustainability Service is offering a professional development opportunity for four volunteer student artists! The team will design and paint a large indoor mural in collaboration with a community-led youth organisation in Harehills, Leeds. Volunteer artists will benefit from training and guidance from a professional Mentor Artist and will gain experience engaging with young people in one of Leeds’ most diverse communities.
Applications are open to current University of Leeds students until Friday 1 November 2024.
What does the project entail?
As part of this project you will:
- Design and create large indoor mural in collaboration with a community partner.
- Plan and deliver collaborative design workshops with a group of young people (ages 11-16).
- Develop a final design in response to a design brief and community feedback
- Sketch and paint the mural over 3 participatory sessions
We require that successful applicants:
- Participate in required professional skills training and community engagement coaching
- Work collaboratively and support efficient communication between volunteers, the community partner, and the project coordinator
- Act as ambassadors to the University of Leeds with positivity, respect, and enthusiasm
- Commit to a total of approximately 40 hours to the project. Successful applicants must attend volunteer training and be available for the dates and times listed in the project timeline.
Who is our community partner?
Based in Harehills, Junior Sports Hub (JSH) is a community-led charity who empower young people in Leeds through sports activities, relief projects and by providing facilities. They currently support regular sports clubs, a community cafe, homework club, community gardening and outreach activities. In Summer 2024, a team of student artists from the University of Leeds worked with the JSH Youth Ambassadors to create a stunning mural in JSH’s community garden.
What will you get out of the project?
Successful applicants will receive:
- Three hours of professional skills training and ongoing support from a professional Mentor Community Artist
- Support and training in community engagement from the Sustainability Service
- Experience delivering a community art project and collaborating with young people
- A professional reference and evidence towards a portfolio
- Provision of all art materials and resources
- Travel to and from Junior Sport Hub (Harehills, LS8 5JH)
- Published recognition on the Sustainability Service website, LinkedIn and social media
What have previous volunteers said?
Hannah Green, a BA Art and Design student, said the following about taking part in the 2023/24 Mural Project:
"Working with the Sustainability Service on this project has been an invaluable experience. Learning from an experienced mentor artist to develop both technical skills and professional knowledge and working in a group bouncing off each other’s ideas has taught me more than I’d ever think.
I learned how to creatively incorporate a clients’ ideas and it was particularly rewarding to see the young people at JSH recognise their own contributions in the final design. I loved how we transformed a space into a bright and welcoming environment. My portfolio now features professional work completed to a client brief and I was able to network with community leaders and local councillors."
Project Timeline
Applications Close - Friday 1 November 2024
Successful Applicants Notified - Monday 4 November 2024
Volunteer Training (in person, on campus) - Wednesday 6 November 3pm-6pm
Design Workshops - Thursdays 14, 21 and 28 November 5pm-7pm
Final Design Workshop and Feedback - Thursday 30th January 2025
Mural Sketching and Painting Sessions - 19, 20 and 21 February 2025 10am – 4pm
Mural Reveal Event - Monday 24 February 7pm
Application Guidance
For those who would like to apply fill in this application form by Friday 1 November 2024.
Applications are open to current University of Leeds students however please note that preference will be given to students on a relevant programme of study (e.g. Fine Art or Art and Design). Successful applicants will be notified by Monday 4 November 2024 and will form a team of four.
Want more information?
- Email Chris Bowie, the project supervisor at C.Bowie@leeds.ac.uk.
- Visit the Sustainability Service stall at the Volunteering Fair in LUU Riley Smith Hall on Monday 14th October 11am to 3pm
- Sign up to the Community Projects tour on Thursday 24th October 12pm
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
We use the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework to guide our activity. Our Community Mural Project is linked to the following SDGs:
- Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
- Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
- Goal 17: Partnerships
Find out more about our impact on the SDGs.
