Inner-City Mars Mural Inspires Neighborhood Revitalization
South Bronx, NY

CityArts and New Settlement Apartments painted a 7,000 square foot mural called "Living on Mars" with support from the NASA Art Program and BIG HANDS artist collaborative. Children aged 8-10 painted the mural. CityArts fosters cultural and economic growth and revitalization in under-served communities in urban New York City while addressing civic, social and educational issues. New Settlement, a non-profit housing, community service and community action organization in the Bronx, operates youth-focused programs. BIG HANDS artists Nicholas A. Enright and Nils Folke Anderson taught students to paint and guided them through the mural's production. NASA Art Program partly funded the mural as an example to document its history and current space missions.

"Faithful to our mission, we believe this mural sparked the imaginations with renewed enthusiasm for learning, neighborhood revitalization and pride while the community came together to achieve a mutual goal," said Tsipi Ben-Haim CityArts Executive Director.