Make Art with Purpose (MAP)

Building upon our history of producing impactful projects in North Texas, Make Art with Purpose (MAP) has recently launched a variety of projects aimed at enhancing community well-being and fostering creative expression.  One such project is Grounded: Emotional Well-Being Kits, a series of workshops held across Dallas and North Texas.  Participants create portable grounding kits designed to ease the intensity of stressful situations and promote emotional health.  What set these workshops apart from traditional counseling or art therapy sessions is the intentional design around aesthetic principles and inquiry-based learning—rooted in a pedagogy of care and empathy—that emphasized the importance of beauty in our lives.  This approach fostered emotional expression and engaged participants in a reflective process, allowing them to find personal meaning and value in the creative work.  The outcome was a unique, enriching arts experience that went beyond self-expression to promote healing and connection. 

In 2023, MAP produced WELCOME, a project aimed at connecting newly settled residents of Dallas to resources that support community integration and well-being. The program included a beautifully designed, reusable canvas bag filled with culturally appropriate food, which was distributed to 250 Afghan families. WELCOME addressed gaps in refugee outreach by supporting organizations such as Refugee Services of Texas (RST), which are often stretched thin due to limited funding and staff.  By distributing food bags to 250 Afghan families, the program not only assisted RST’s outreach efforts but also allowed the organization to reallocate budgeted funds to other critical areas. Throughout production of the project, the values of love and acceptance were communicated to a wide variety of people.  In a time when social divisions are highlighted, the goodwill and positive energy of inclusiveness were palpable, increasing the impact and value of the project.

MAP has also been deeply involved in public art initiatives. In collaboration with community members of all ages, the organization has produced numerous murals across Dallas.  Recent projects include Unity, a mural covering the walls, columns, and ceiling of The Galbraith parking garage, a 217-unit mixed-income multifamily property in downtown Dallas.  The project was centered around Human-Centered Design, with the creative process prioritizing community involvement.  The completed mural serves as a gateway to the building and Celebree Preschool, located on the ground floor.  Themes of unity, whimsy, education, and home underpin the design.

MAP also recently completed the design for a mural that will wrap around the parking garage of a new building at the Metrocare mental health campus in West Dallas.  Measuring 230,000 square feet, this mural will be printed on Valmex Façade Textile and celebrates the positive impact of the arts on mental health.  The mural’s creation involved design interns from CityLab High School in Dallas, who participated in weekly workshops led by MAP teaching artists.  The students learned about mural and textile design, placemaking, and created initial sketches exploring patterns, shapes, textures, and layering, contributing to their personal and professional development. 

In 2021 and 2022, MAP produced Gather, which responded to MAP’s growing understanding of the need for family programs that address the rising social division in the United States.  Produced in two parts, Gather began with a family theater program where MAP worked with visual and performing artists to create a shadow puppet production centered on community and belonging performed at Oil and Cotton in West Dallas. Gather also included a booklet, Finding Common Ground in American Civic Life, that featured curriculum designed by high school students for high school students.  Distributed free to schools throughout the United States, the publication included ready-to-use civic lessons for workshops and talks.  This combination of performance and publication offered multiple entry points into the project, creating opportunities for continued engagement beyond the initial production and helping to sustain the project over the long term.

These projects are just a few recent examples of MAP's ongoing efforts to bring art and creativity into public spaces and engage communities. Through each initiative, MAP remains committed to collaboration, interdisciplinary practice, and fostering diversity and inclusion. We believe the arts play a vital role in building a vibrant, connected city—one that looks both inward and outward, supports the well-being of its citizens, and contributes to a global dialogue of shared knowledge and experiences.