The Burlington office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (REIB) and BCA are partnering on the second annual Juneteenth public mural project! The City is holding its second Annual Juneteenth Celebration, an event for all to celebrate Black liberation in the United States, on June 17-June 19, 2022.
This project complements Burlington’s Juneteenth festivities by commissioning public art that creates space for reflection and rejoicing in the history, culture, and resiliency of Black Americans, and that innovatively addresses the mural format as a tool for community learning.
Though previous mural experience is not required, applicants are encouraged to include a mural artist, technical professionals, and others on a team who infuse non-visual arts media into the project, and/or bring knowledge about Black history and connection to the artistic content. In an effort to increase arts resources within the following communities, BCA strongly encourages applications from those who identify as people of color, as LGBTQ, or with disabilities, and those who are veterans, immigrants, or low-income citizens.
Learn more and submit your application by April 7.
About Juneteenth
From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19 as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond. Today, Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month – marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics, and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing, a time for assessment, self-improvement, and planning for the future.
Juneteenth’s growing popularity signifies a level of recognition and dignity in America that is long overdue. In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities, and religions are joining hands to truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today. When we are sensitized to the conditions and experiences of others, only then can we make significant and lasting improvements in our society.
