As people from the around the world gathered in Philadelphia for the Fourth of July, many visited one of the city’s most iconic symbols of American independence—the Liberty Bell. To honor and celebrate one of the country’s most enduring symbols of freedom, Pennsylvania Arts in Education Partnership (PAEP), in collaboration with the National Liberty Museum, opened up voting for our annual Let Freedom Ring © program.
Let Freedom Ring © is an unique program because it selects eight Philadelphia elementary and middle schools with limited arts education budgets, assigning them a local artist who mentors students at each school. These mentors work to teach artistic practices, supporting students as they create a 6 foot, three dimensional interpretation of the Liberty Bell.
While a number of designs closely emulate the Liberty Bell, other designs take less literal approaches, using a different materials or forms to reinvent what a bell is. By allowing students to be creative and inventive, PAEP believes the program helps develop cooperation skills and build unity among students.
At the same time, through the partnership with the National Liberty Museum, the program helps deepen civic engagement and pride by focusing on Philadelphia’s role in building democracy in this country. By situating art practice within civic engagement, PAEP hopes that Let Freedom Ring © can help develop future leaders and creative thinkers who will strengthen democratic ideals.
The bells will remain on display until Labor Day, when the voting ends. Though the exact display locations are still being finalized, most will be at either the National Liberty Museum or National Constitution Center. While some locations will require museum admission, all bells can be viewed online at the Let Freedom Ring © page, or through PAEP’s Facebook page, free of charge.
Over the next eight weeks, PAEP will offer an intimate look into the making of bells, each week interviewing the artist mentors to find out what it was like collaborating with youth in the city. By telling the stories of these artists, PAEP hopes to show just how much we’re letting Let Freedom Ring © in Philadelphia.