Manchester’s young people have stepped up to the plate to curate and steward the world they wish to see for their city through the lens of art and civic engagement, and are ready to unveil the beauty of their exertions to the public during a Sept. 4 reception. Details below.
MANCHESTER, NH – A coalition of the city’s most unsung students, protégés, apprentices and artists have tasked themselves this balmy summer with the resurrection and revitalization of a Center City park once forgotten by the general public: the expansive Sheehan-Basquil. On Sept 4th, 2025 from 6-8 p.m., this coterie of creatives will welcome the city to join them for an exhibition at their pop up gallery at the Greater Manchester Chamber (54 Hanover St.); a collection of their ‘Thoughts Projected.’
The unique mural team, led by Positive Street Art’s Outreach Department and MYTURN’s youth interns, is composed of a sundry of young people and adults from a broad expanse of community partner organizations; including adult disability programs Opportunity Networks and the PLUS Company alongside NH’s only youth homeless services shelter, Waypoint. These organizations provide wrap-around services for countless youth and adults from vulnerable populations; individuals who, traditionally, do not have access to arts enrichment opportunities.
The art relics on display at the pop up gallery reflect the insightful growth and shared learning across the six week internship leading up to the exhibition; exploring the very definition of what it means to be a working artist. Participants traversed the fundamentals of art, alongside what lies behind the curtain of the administrative footwork documentation and drafting processes involved in the cohort’s efforts to create a beautification project symbolizing an aspirational vision—a future without limitations from the burdens of life and the world around us.
Facilitators and working professional artists from Positive Street Art, who guided the youth through the process of drafting and executing the project, will participate in a panel discussion exploring the experience and growth of modern professional artists navigating the world of outreach and the facilitation of large scale beautification projects. Integral partners the Greater Manchester Chamber have graciously extended the satellite gallery space within their office to platform these incredible youth and community voices in a beautiful, accessible downtown space. The team hopes the display will welcome and draw the public to spend time appreciating, and maybe even buying, participant art.
“We would love to have everyone come,” states MYTURN student and member of the internship Yaranielle Pech, “It will be so fun; to look at all the amazing art we made.” The celebration and exhibition will occur at the Greater Manchester Chamber (54 Hanover St) on Sept 4, 2025 from 6pm to 8pm, free of charge!