Groundswell was formed in 1996 by a group of New York City artists, educators, and activists with the aim to combine the sanctity of personal expression with the strength of community activism through collaborative art-making. Nearly 500 murals have been completed by Groundswell, working with underserved, marginalized, and economically disadvantaged youth and professional artists, in collaboration with more than 300 community-based organizations, neighborhood groups, and government agencies throughout New York City. These compelling artworks demonstrate Groundswell's enduring belief that art creates community and community creates change. The vision of Groundswell towards youth development is to engage underserved, marginalized, and economically disadvantaged youth through public art-making to gain the inspiration, tools, and agency to take ownership of their futures. Groundswell's mission is to encourage dialogue and activism, in participation with organizations that share our values and aspirations. The public art created through Groundswell is powerful in the way it links personal expression to community activism, resulting in high quality work that conveys compelling messages about the concerns of our participants and partners.
