City hopes to attract more attention to the area using public art
(Atlanta)— The Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) today announced the recipients of the Vibrant Communities grant. Eighty-five entities received more than $297,963 in funding.
Clarkesville Main Street was among the recipients, receiving $3000 in funding to paint a mural on a prominent downtown building.
The downtown mural project, a 2016 goal of the Main Street program, is an effort to attract more attention to the area using public art.
“It’s an opportunity to spruce up a downtown building while creating something visually stunning,” Mary Beth Horton, Clarkesville Main Street Manager said. “We wanted to do this project, and having the additional grant monies allows us to do it on a much grander scale.”
Clarkesville Main Street partnered with Go Georgia Arts last spring to be part of a Mural Trail across Georgia. The projected trail will feature fifty murals in fifty Georgia cities. Muralist John Christian will be painting a mural depicting “various scenes of Clarkesville” on the north side of the Kollock building (facing the former courthouse).
“To be included in this unique statewide mural trail has its own perks with increased tourism, publicity and exposure for our beautiful downtown,” explained Horton. “But it also spearheads a public art initiative which seeks to enhance and improve downtown Clarkesville through the addition of quality public art.”
Clarkesville Main Street was thrilled to receive the news of the grant, and Horton added that the project will be started in the next few weeks. “Portions of the mural will be painted next month, with the completed project slated for spring 2017. We have to work around weather and cold temperatures.”
“Georgia’s communities are filled with great art, inspired artists and bold visions for the ways in which local art can bolster economic development efforts in our communities,” said Georgia Council for the Arts executive director Karen Paty. “GCA recognizes that a thriving arts community contributes immeasurably to economic and social vitality, and the Vibrant Communities grant is one of the ways in which we support the incredible work happening in our communities.”
In addition to the grant award, Clarkesville Main Street also received $3500 from the Clarkesville Business & Community Association as a community gift using proceeds from the 2015 A taste of Clarkesville.
