This summer, Pao Arts Center partnered with BCNC Youth Center to engage 14 youth from Boston and Quincy to design and install four murals on the windows of the BCNC Boston building at 38 Ash Street for their annual arts and culture festival, Experience Chinatown. This year, artists responded to the question: “How does a community thrive?” This year’s youth mural project was supported by a grant from the City of Boston Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Advancement's Weaving Well-Being initiative and facilitated by arts educator and former Experience Chinatown muralist Nell Valle.     

Nell Valle led two mural workshops where students learned about public art and the connection between creativity and well-being. Then youth collaboratively brainstormed their mural designs and got designing.

To gain inspiration and community insight for their murals, youth interviewed community members, including BCNC children, Tufts University employees, and local business owners, asking them what makes Chinatown thrive. Youth Center Staff Nora Li and Lydia Duan worked with the youth to develop public speaking and interview skills, as well as to foster intergenerational learning and connections. 

Youth artists received feedback from Nelle and adapted their designs to fit the BCNC windows. While the group encountered challenging weather, the young artists all learned to adapt their designs and meet their project deadline, while simultaneously considering how to make eye-catching and bold designs that welcome community members of all ages.   

Congratulations to youth muralists: Alex, Anne, Christian, Hongcheng, Jai Riel, Jie Wen, Karri, Kristy, Kevin, Quan Xin, Tien, Travis, Trung, and Uyen!

View their four artist statement videos below.

"We are summer interns at the Youth Center at BCNC from Boston and Quincy. This summer, we designed and created a mural to answer the question, "How does a community thrive?" Some themes we highlighted were education, housing, family, play, and culture. To learn more about the process behind each design, please watch the TikToks we made!"