Howell Art Project

Community: Howell
Population: 2,500-9,999

The Howell Art Project was completely revamped and overhauled in 2019, to now feature different forms of art happening live every day in downtown Howell. The Project was designed to bring the community together in transforming spaces and further beautifying the town that we all call home! From high school art students to local chalk artists, professional muralists and more – there’s something for everyone as art took over our town May 13-18, 2019. Want more details?

During the Howell Art Project the community was treated to an art experience while they ate at an outdoor community picnic. They saw crosswalks that capture the eye and the heart, murals that are larger than life, and both residents and visitors became artists themselves through chalk art classes led by David Zinn. They also had a chance to paint a community mural that will be hung and unveiled in September as part of a wrap-up to summer and community art walk that ends with a one-of-a-kind illuminated, animated 3D light show projected on the side of Howell’s historic county courthouse! This show will feature Howell’s history through the decades, captured through archived local photos!


Replicability:

We have an entire project work plan that other communities can work off of, however the best part about the Howell Art Project, is that its easy for any other community to take the core concept of having art happen live everyday and make it their own, having different types of art featured that fit their communities needs or interests.

Creativity and Originality:

The Howell Art Project was inspired by a number of other community arts intiativtes, but we made ours unique as we brought multiple forms of art together - all in one week! From murals that are larger than life, to art while you eat and culinary art, chalk art, and crosswalk works of art (created in with MDOT grade paint) we encouraged artists of all abilities to be a part of this community collaborative effort! Plus, the planning team with this being the first year of our week-long arts celebration, the plannning team wanted to focus on selecting muralists that all had connections with the State of Michigan, with 3 of the 4 muralists, all having connections with the Howell community!

Community Impact:

This week-long initiative resulted in unprecented levels of people of all ages personally connecting with each other in the community. We had members from 6 months old-87 walking and driving throughout the downtown district everyday to witness the murals happening live each day, or to create chalk art together, to paint a piece of the community mural, and celebrating their love of food together at 2 different food truck events that week. Our highschoolers felt personally connected to the downtown and left their mark in their hometown, as they designed and then created fun and funky crosswalk art various downtown intersations. But better yet, the positive effects continue as the Howell Art Project addressed diversity without having to say a think about it! Plus, even people who weren't positive about the designs, admitted that some very important conversations took place because of the different artists and types of art happening that created a feeling of energy, enthusiasm, and connectivity that they had never imagined. And we continue to see people coming back to downtown to have their photos taken with the murals, to teach each other about the different art pieces created, and a stronger sense of pride in what was created - and will last - in their town.

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