We’re thrilled to share an exciting opportunity for Long Beach residents to actively shape the city’s vibrant art scene. The City of Long Beach, in collaboration with the Arts Council for Long Beach (ArtsLB), has initiated the Public Mural Program, a dynamic element within the broader Creative Economy Grants Program.
Long Beach Recovery Act Funding at Work
This initiative is made possible by the Long Beach Recovery Act, which allocates $900,000 to support arts and culture organizations. The Creative Economy Grants Program, administered by ArtsLB, includes $135,000 specifically designated for the Public Mural Program. Public facilities citywide will be made available and selection will prioritize areas most impacted by COVID-19.
Starting Wednesday, January 3, 2024, and continuing until Sunday, February 11, 2024, the Long Beach community is invited to participate in a survey to gather valuable input for the Public Mural Program. This survey, available below, is a unique chance for residents to influence the themes that will grace public spaces across the city.
Reflecting Our Diverse Community
To ensure inclusivity, the survey is available in Spanish, Khmer, and Tagalog, reflecting the rich tapestry of Long Beach’s diverse communities. The City encourages everyone to contribute, emphasizing the importance of local voices in shaping the narrative of new murals.
Survey Links:
English: https://forms.office.com/g/pdQjRBwnqB
Tagalog: https://forms.office.com/g/KUicFU0h3d
Khmer: https://forms.office.com/g/9sNeMsnVCt
Spanish: https://forms.office.com/g/8Kz94kqQwe
Long Beach, let’s come together to make a lasting impact on our city’s visual landscape! Engage in the survey, share your ideas, and be part of this transformative Public Mural Program.
Supporting Your Input
As part of the city’s commitment to recovery-related programs, free assistance is available to residents interested in completing the survey. Contact ArtsLB at 562.435.2787 or email publicart@artslb.org to learn more about how you can receive support in making your voice heard.
Long Beach Recovery Act Mural Program FAQ
What is the Long Beach Recovery Act Mural Program?
- The Arts Council for Long Beach is partnering with the City of Long Beach for a city-wide mural initiative to install nine new murals, one in each of Long Beach’s council districts. These murals will be installed in parks and public facilities in communities most heavily impacted by COVID-19.
How will this project be funded?
- This project is funded by the Creative Economy Grants Program, which was made possible by the Long Beach Recovery Act approved by the City Council on March 16, 2021. The Creative Economy Grants Program is designed to provide direct financial aid to arts, cultural, and historical organizations in Long Beach to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Who is working on the Long Beach Recovery Act Mural Program?
- The Arts Council for Long Beach is collaborating with the Parks, Recreation, and Marine Department and the Public Works Department of the City of Long Beach to present this project.
What is the goal of the Long Beach Recovery Act Mural Program?
- Invest in areas that the COVID-19 pandemic has heavily impacted, support public art that tells the community’s story, create a unique experience, engage residents, encourage increased foot traffic, foster appreciation for the arts and local artists, and uplift the overall spirit of the neighborhood.
How will the art and artists be selected?
- The Arts Council for Long Beach will conduct surveys in all council districts to ask residents what public art they want to see in their neighborhood. A panel of community members and leaders in each district will select three local artists (27 artists total) from the Arts Council’s Artist Registry to create mural proposals based on the community feedback collected in the survey. Once the proposals are submitted for all locations, members of the public will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite artwork, which will determine which nine artists are selected for the final murals.
What is the artist selection panel, and how can I participate?
- The artist selection panel will bring together community members and leaders in each council district to select three local artists from the Artist Registry to create mural proposals, which residents will later vote on. The artist selection panels will take place virtually in early 2024. If you would like to participate in an artist selection panel, please fill out the Long Beach Recovery Act Mural Program survey and let us know on questions 13 – 14 that you would like to be considered for this opportunity.
Where will the murals be installed?
The Departments of Public Works and Parks, Recreation, and Marine created a list of sites at public facilities citywide, which was narrowed down to the following nine locations:
- District 1: 125 Elm Ave (future site of Senior Center)
- District 2: Bixby Park
- District 3: Recreation Park Community Center
- District 4: Central Health
- District 5: Heartwell Park Community Center
- District 6: Ernest McBride Park Gymnasium
- District 7: Multi-Service Center
- District 8: Davenport Park
- District 9: Ramona Park
When will the art be installed?
- The nine murals will be installed in Summer 2024.