Artists Wanted: Per Scholas Philadelphia Mural

Per Scholas Philadelphia is the local chapter of a national technology workforce development nonprofit (www.perscholas.org) that is unlocking potential and advancing economic mobility. By providing rigorous no-cost IT training, industry-recognized credentials, professional development, and robust employer connections, Per Scholas prepares adults traditionally underrepresented in technology for high-growth careers in the industry. Per Scholas Philadelphia is one of 25 campuses across the country. In 2025 we graduated our 600th technologist and, in 2026, we will complete our 7th year of work in Philadelphia.

Located at 18th & JFK, with a satellite classroom at OIC Philadelphia, we will train 207 adults (18+) in 2026 through our 15-week, full-time courses, both in person and remote, in the areas of AI-Enabled IT Support (CompTIA A+), Cybersecurity with AI Tools (CompTIA Sec+), AI Native Software Development, and AI Native Business Intelligence. Alumni go on to secure roles at employers throughout the region as Desktop Support Technicians, Network Engineers, and Cyber Analysts.

Per Scholas Philadelphia’s JFK campus is a space where learners obtain technological and professional development skills and where partners from the local Philadelphia community, including other nonprofit organizations, tech employers, and philanthropic supporters, convene in support of our learners and alumni. Per Scholas hopes to brighten our campus with a large-scale mural that embodies our mission, our learners and alumni, and the spirit of Philadelphia. In an effort to minimally constrain your creativity, we have no specific requirements for subject matter, style, or composition; however, we encourage you to explore the Per Scholas Brand Book and website in order to better align with our established visual identity, mission, and vision. Our guidance would be to commission artwork that reflects both Philadelphia’s unique culture and identity and the optimism and future-focused promise of Per Scholas’ mission of advancing equity through rigorous training for tech careers.

Project Details:

• Location: 1800 JFK Blvd, Suite 1801, Philadelphia, PA 19103
• Project Dates: July–September 2026; exact dates of design and painting can be arranged around our class schedule. Classes are held on campus Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. The campus can be accessed after hours, on Fridays, and on weekends (with planning and permission). Our expectation is that the project is fully completed no later than Thursday, September 24.
• Wall Dimensions: 8’7″ high and 24’10” wide on an internal wall
• Materials: We would like the mural to be painted directly onto the wall in our suite.
• Maximum Budget: $5,000 all-in, including labor and supplies

Selection Process & Timeline:

• Expression of Interest & Portfolio Submission by Thursday, June 25: Per Scholas Philadelphia invites muralists to submit a short email confirming their availability during the timeline outlined above and a link to their portfolio by Thursday, June 25. Submissions should be emailed to Joshua Park, Managing Director, Per Scholas Philadelphia, at jpark@perscholas.org. See below for Selection Criteria, which can help focus your submission.
• Portfolio Review & Finalist Notification by Friday, July 10: A panel convened by Per Scholas will meet to review portfolios based on the selection criteria detailed below and will notify finalists by Friday, July 10. Finalists will be given a $500 honorarium for participation in the next step.
• Finalist Draft Concepts, Sketches & Budgets Due by Friday, July 24: Finalists will be asked to submit a draft concept and sketch, as well as an accompanying budget (not to exceed $5,000) and work plan, by Friday, July 24. Per Scholas will share a brand-new, unreleased logo and color palette to be used for this design phase.
• Submission Review & Artist Selection by Friday, August 7: Per Scholas will engage alumni, current learners, and staff in the selection of the artist via a voting process. Per Scholas will notify finalists of their selection and commission the muralist by Friday, August 7.
• Mural Completed by Thursday, September 24: Per Scholas will work with the muralist to arrange access to the campus in order to support timely completion of the mural.

Selection Criteria:

• Artistic excellence, as evidenced by past work
• Demonstrated experience working on projects of similar scope
• Demonstrated experience and/or commitment to engaging the community in public art projects or nonprofit engagements
• Alignment with Per Scholas’ mission and vision

About Per Scholas

At Per Scholas, we believe a thriving workforce starts with equitable access to education. By providing skills training and access to employer networks to individuals often excluded from tech careers, Per Scholas envisions a technology workforce as diverse as the customers it serves. Over 30,000 technologists have joined our programs to date through our no-cost technical training across 25 cities coast-to-coast. Our mission is to advance economic equity through rigorous training for tech careers and to connect skilled talent to leading businesses.

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