In January 2023, Hampden Elementary Middle School applied for a Heart of the School Fund grant to build a community sculpture project on school grounds. Eighth grade students, led by a MICA graduate student, work during art class and after-school designing and building a playground ‘Buried Creature’ out of chicken wire and cement. Once completed, students will cover the creature in ceramic tiles and mosaics that they have designed. The finished sculpture will rest beside the school playground, the advantage of it appear partially buried is it looks bigger than the parts. The final sculptures will remain on the grounds of the school and become an interactive part of the environment that both students and the surrounding community can utilize.

Check out WBAL’s coverage of their progress:

Students at Hampden Elementary/Midde create large buried dragon sculpture--click on the picture above for the full story

Six times a year, the Heart of the School Fund provides grants to Baltimore City Public School principals to support projects that enhance their school buildings, their students’ learning, and their staff’s growth. To read about additional Heart of the School Fund grants, click here.