Art Belongs Here: New initiative to keep art in the community

RENO, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — In January, the City of Reno Arts and Culture Commission launched a new initiative to bring community-based public art projects to neighborhoods.

The initiative, Art Belongs Here, is a neighborhood placemaking and revitalization project that creates temporary artworks in public space.

The Arts and Culture Commission created a special committee to review proposals that included city staff from various departments and representatives from each of the five Neighborhood Advisory Boards (NABs). Funding has been awarded to seven community groups for their Art Belongs Here: Neighborhood Public Art grants proposals.

The following groups have been awarded funding for projects that will happen in various locations throughout the City of Reno for a total amount of $34,350:

• Be the Change Project, NDOT and artist Asa Kennedy for a mural along the underpass at Wedekind Road
• Center & Pine Investments, Washoe County and artist Erik Burke for a mural on the Washoe County parking garage on Center Street across from the Downtown Public Library
• Custom Ink, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony and Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows for a mural on the underpass at Keystone Avenue and Foster Drive
• Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation, Biggest Little Dog Park, Montage and artist Mike Burke for artistic bike racks at the downtown dog park and Montage
• Reno Air Races, Reno Fire Department and artist Kendel Leslie for a mural on the doors of Fire Station 9 in Stead
• Reno Bike Project, 4th Street Brewery District and artist Mike Burke for artistic benches made from repurposed bicycle parts to be placed on 4th Street
• Reno Rodeo and artist Michael Gray for installation of Good Luck Horseshoe on the Livestock Events Center grounds

“We are thrilled to launch this placemaking public art program to bring our community together,” said Megan Berner, Public Art Program Coordinator for the City of Reno. “The Arts and Culture Commission wanted to see citizens and artists working together to create something meaningful to them. This program will allow residents to transform their neighborhoods with public art, through community collaborations.”

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This initiative hopes to enrich the lives of Reno residents and visitors by integrating arts, culture, and creativity into daily life with art.