Muskegon’s Lakeside District to produce four crosswalk-public-art works
July 25, 2023
MUSKEGON, MI (July 25, 2023) – Calling all West Michigan creators of public art. The Lakeside Business District in the City of Muskegon needs your creative inspiration, time and talent.
The Lakeside Business Improvement District and Corridor Improvement Authority has received a $5,000 Bridge Builders Microgrant to create crosswalk art works on the pavement at four Lakeshore Drive intersections. Bridge Builders Microgrants are awarded by the Michigan Municipal League Foundation. Lakeside was one of four Main Street grant recipients in the state along with Rogers City, Vicksburg and Bessemer to bring local communities and artists together for small, one-time creative projects.
In addition, the MML Foundation also granted the City of Muskegon’s McLaughlin Neighborhood Association a $1,000 microgrant for installation of a public mural on fencing in the McLaughlin Community Park, 1278 Terrace. That was one of eight neighborhood microgrants the MML Foundation recently awarded across the state.
“These crosswalk public art works will add more art, color and excitement in the Lakeside Neighborhood and Business District,” said Contessa Alexander, city staff liaison to the Lakeside BID/CIA. “It will celebrate the emerging importance of the Lakeside district’s connection of our vibrant downtown to our spectacular beach.”
Artists are asked to apply for one of four $1,000 stipends and $250 in material costs to create a painted crosswalk at Lakeshore Drive at either Mann, Moon, Torrent or Blodgett streets in the heart of Lakeside. To be considered please fill out the following Application.
Applicants are asked to consider crosswalk designs that celebrate the Lakeside neighborhood, Muskegon Lake and the City of Muskegon. The applications call for the artists background, public art experience, a mockup of the proposed concept and photos of previous artwork.
Applications are due by the end of the day Monday Aug. 7 and judges from the Lakeside BID/CIA will announce the winning artists by Aug. 18. The artists will coordinate with the Lakeside BID/CIA to produce the crosswalk art work during one day in the second half of September as a temporary road closure is coordinated with the Muskegon Department of Public Works.
The Lakeside BID/CIA wishes to have the crosswalk art work in place in time for a new fall event in the Lakeside Business District in late October.
For more information, contact:
Contessa Alexander, Lakeside BID/CIA
(231) 730-9139
Photos: Four panels of the crosswalk intersections to be painted …permission by the City of Muskegon to use. MML Foundation Bridge Builder’s logos.