Common Wealth Murals: Scholarships for the 2027 Muralist Toolkit Training

Building our collective future relies on teamwork, collaboration, and partnerships. Engaged dialogue guides the design, implementation, and flexibility of NEFA's work – informed by the dynamic needs of the communities we serve. Program director Kim Szeto describes how a successful partnership and an increase in community need inspires a deeper investment in our partnership with Common Wealth Murals.

In 2025, several artists applied to the Public Art Learning Fund (PALF) to participate in the “The Muralist’s Toolkit: Mural Project Planning from Vision to Execution” training hosted by Common Wealth Murals (CWM). The online course focuses on teaching artists how to take a mural project from concept to completion and is taught by Greta McLain, Founder & Creative Director of GoodSpace Murals & Britt Ruhe, Executive Director of CWM.

When asked about the intentions of this training, Britt shared: "Successful mural projects require far more than artistic talent. They require the ability to navigate logistics, manage complex projects, and to thoughtfully engage with community. Our goal is to empower artists with the tools, confidence, and practical knowledge they need to build successful mural practices. By sharing what we've learned through more than 150 mural projects, we're helping artists lead projects that are artistically strong, deeply rooted in their communities, and strengthen both their careers and the places they serve."

At NEFA, we were familiar with CWM from their mural projects funded by our Public Art for Spatial Justice program, and excited to see that folks were interested in using the Public Art Learning Fund to access this resource. After participating, PALF grantees shared overwhelmingly positive feedback about the experience in their grantee reports, including:

Katiana Jarbath Smith of Wolcott, CT who shared, “This opportunity expanded my understanding of what it truly means to create public art with intention... I gained a deeper understanding of how thoughtful planning, communication, and community engagement shape the impact public art can have within a space. The courses helped me think beyond the mural itself and focus more deeply on process, accessibility, and relationship-building.”

As we think about fostering more equitable, inclusive, and vibrant public spaces and public life throughout New England, the Muralist’s Toolkit training is equipping artists with technical skills and fostering a community of practice that approaches the process of mural-making with care and intentionality.

Looking ahead to the 2027 season, we are excited to continue our partnership with CWM by supporting scholarships to New England-based artists who are interested in strengthening their mural-making practice. By offering scholarships directly through CWM, we hope to streamline the administrative process for artists. This year, artists will not be eligible to apply to NEFA’s Public Art Learning Fund to participate in CWM’s Muralist Toolkit training. Instead, artists can apply for a scholarship to participate in the course directly on the CWM website. Registration for the 2027 CWM’s Muralist’s Toolkit training will be opening soon! If you are interested, go to CWM’s website and sign up to receive updates about scholarships and registration.

NEFA’s PALF grant is open through October 13, 2026 for other learning opportunities in 2027. PALF grants support New England artists to pursue professional development opportunities to strengthen their public art practices. To learn more about the Public Art Learning fund please visit our website. Need inspiration from past PALF recipients? Check out our Artist Voices blog series or see past PALF awards through NEFA’s grantee directory.