Off to Sarajevo: ArtsConnect goes global

ArtsConnect has been invited by the US Department of State to participate in the painting of a community mural in Sarajevo. The project is being organized to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Dayton Accords, which ended the Bosnian War.

ArtsConnect Executive Director, Sarah Fizell, will be traveling to Bosnia & Herzegovina for eight days to speak about the importance of murals and their role in building community and creating important opportunities for common understanding.

The “Our Future” Community Mural Project will be painted during the summer of 2020 in the city of Sarajevo. The mural will focus on themes of community identity, neighborhood galvanization and engagement with our history as the 25th anniversary of the Dayton Accords which ended the Bosnian War.

A team of local artists has been identified to work on the design and execution of the mural, and Fizell will be helping to kick off the process by meeting with stakeholders, artists, community groups and young people to talk about why these projects are important. Fizell’s presentations will focus on the murals painted by ArtsConnect across the street from the Brown v. Board National Historic Site and at the Topeka Police Department.

“It is an honor to be able to travel around the world to discuss why murals are important. It is incredible to know that a community so far from Topeka has been inspired by our work to utilize the power of art to affect community change,” said Sarah Fizell, ArtsConnect Executive Director. “I look forward to not only sharing what we have done in Topeka but also bringing new ideas, connections and inspiration back to Topeka.”