ArT & SociaL JuSTice ApprenTiceShip

Art & Social Justice Apprenticeship 

Harwood’s Apprenticeship for Art & Social Justice employs and trains high school students under the mentorship of professional artists, designers, architects, engineers and fabricators. Apprenticeship teams create large-scale public sculptures that achieve social impact by: Providing lighting and increasing public safety in Mesa Verde Park; cultivating community-driven planning and design in the La Mesa neighborhood; and working with a collaborative network in Albuquerque’s International District.

We’ve built new partnerships with the International District Healthy Communities Coalition (IDHCC), CABQ Parks and Recreation Department, Hayes Middle School and Mesa Verde Community Center in support of this program.

Situated in a residential neighborhood, Mesa Verde Park is a daily thruway for Hayes Middle School students who seek safe and comfortable passage through the park. Unfortunately, many students report being asked to transport parcels across the park, stepping on discarded needles and being followed by strangers.

The IDHCC is engaged in needle pick up in the park. Hayes Middle School is working with the city to procure a crossing-guard and footpath lighting at the intersection of Lomas and Tennessee. Our sculptures along Tennessee will increase lighting and community engagement in the park.

This summer, the inaugural year of the apprenticeship, our artists and apprentices will coalesce community input into a design that reflects the values and hopes of residents who use the park regularly. Next summer, our team will fabricate and install the first community-driven outdoor lighting sculpture in Mesa Verde Park. We are consulting city planners, civic leaders and architects on feasibility and infrastructure requirements of our design. Meet the 2018 Apprenticeship team >.

Together, through this innovative and comprehensive approach, we’ll improve the quality of life in La Mesa.

Apply now > to be part of the 2019 Apprenticeship team!