Branded Arts Festival — Mann UCLA Community School

Branded Arts and UCLA Community School Mark 100 Years with Mural Festival and Skyhook Court Dedication Featuring Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Mann UCLA Community School celebrated its 100th anniversary with a campus-wide mural festival and Centennial Celebration, transforming the South Los Angeles campus into a living expression of art, education, and community.

Led by Branded Arts in collaboration with LAUSD, UCLA Community School, and the Skyhook Foundation, the weeklong program focused on art as a tool for connection, identity, and opportunity, reflecting a shared commitment to ensuring students see themselves in the spaces where they learn.

The celebration began with the dedication of a newly unveiled Skyhook Court, an artfully designed basketball court painted by artist Travis Young. NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar joined students on campus for the unveiling, delivering a message centered on education, self-belief, and possibility. He shared the following message:

“This space is yours. Let it inspire you. Let it challenge you. Let it remind you that your potential is limitless.”

Surrounding the court, eight new murals were created across campus by a dynamic group of internationally recognized and Los Angeles–based artists, including Brek, Case Maclaim, Enkone, HERA, Matthew Grabelsky, MAYD, Mister Alek, Tochtlita (Melissa Govea), and Travis Young.

Throughout the week, Branded Arts engaged students as collaborators in the creative process. Students contributed ideas, assisted in production, and engaged directly with artists through workshops and conversations, gaining firsthand exposure to how large-scale public art is conceived and executed.

This program from the Centennial Celebration (April 10, 2026) highlights the locations of each mural.

By the end of the program, students took ownership of the transformation, guiding parents and community members through the campus and sharing the meaning behind the work. The murals reflect themes of cultural identity, unity, mental health awareness, and community pride, creating a permanent visual language that belongs to the students themselves.

At Mann UCLA Community School, the Centennial Celebration reflects not only the past 100 years but also a clear investment in what comes next.