Paint the Change was created in 2015 to bring social action and street art together. We have produced more than 100 murals around the world, on every continent, and have engaged millions of people through social media and satellite broadcasts with our unique mix of youth engagement, public art and public awareness campaigns.
Paint the Change was started by the Iranian-Canadian journalist, Maziar Bahari, whose story was told by Jon Stewart in the 2014 film Rosewater.
Our team is composed of people from different backgrounds, including British, Canadian, French, Greek, Indian, Iranian, Kenyan, Nigerian, Ugandan and Serbian, and we have worked in over 32 countries over the last decade. The diversity of our team allows us to have a real understanding of different communities and their priorities.
The murals are only a part of our story. Our public art projects stem from workshops that educate and involve young people from different communities about subjects such as diversity, mental health, the right to education, religious freedom, racism and the environment.
Local educators and artists lead our workshops: the educators involve young people in meaningful conversations while the artists help participants to express and visualise their ideas. The result is a giant work of art that becomes part of the fabric and history of the neighbourhoods where we work.
Workshop participants, Wapping, London
ATMA with workshop participants, Wapping, London
We film every aspect of the process and present it in short videos on social media or as long-form documentary films.
We help nonprofits, creative agencies and companies to work with communities and express positive messages through Paint the Change workshops and murals.
We help nonprofits by organising workshops that help achieve their goals and promote their mission. Our well-developed curriculum can be adapted to different issues, and run for a few days or several weeks. The resulting public art and videos about the process are powerful tools for NGOs to feature in their communications, and to present in future presentations of their work.
Workshop participants, Hackney, London
Creative agencies can work with our team to co-create a distinctive brand activation or campaign with lasting impact - both visual and social. Alongside original artwork, we create stills and video from our in-person and digital workshops that enliven social platforms and websites, generating interest through networks and traditional media.
Companies can support our workshops and murals in different communities as part of their ESG or CSR programme. Corporate staff can take part in the workshops themselves, to engage with community members and exchange ideas, and we can also work with corporates on their creative retreats. Through our workshops corporate clients can learn more about the corporation's mission and values by taking part in the workshops or watching videos about experience.
ATMA, Rich Mix, London
Our gigantic 200 Nationalities, One NHS mural was created by hundreds of people in East London.
Our latest and one of our most ambitious works so far was produced in 2022 in Shoreditch, East London, where a monumental printed mural called Culture for a Changing City, a sequel to our acclaimed 200 Nationalities, One NHS mural, was installed on Rich Mix community arts building. Both murals were designed by street artist Matt “ATMA” Dufour and featured pieces of artwork and depictions of meaningful objects contributed by members of the public. The 200 Nationalities, One NHS Mural, which was launched in October 2020 as the UK continued to struggle agains the covid pandemic, mural received widespread media coverage.
If your corporate client wants to celebrate a landmark event or promote a campaign, we can help you engage your staff and clients in the design process, under the supervision of a professional artist.
Contact us to explore the possibilities for your organisation or brand.
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