9 Local Artists and Mural Concepts Selected for City’s Public Mural Program

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PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach has announced the selection of nine local artists and their mural concepts for its Public Mural Program, part of the City's Creative Economy Grants Program that is funded by the Long Beach Recovery Act and administered by the Arts Council for Long Beach (ArtsLB). The final murals will begin installation before the end of the year at locations throughout the city and in communities most heavily impacted by COVID-19.

"Arts and culture are the heartbeat of Long Beach and we are committed to celebrating the inspirational and diverse voices in our city," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "By supporting and investing in the arts, we not only beautify our city, but foster a shared sense of connection and creative expression."

In June, the City opened the Public Mural Program's public voting period, inviting community members to vote for the concept they would like to see implemented at each selected mural location. The voting period ran until July 8, 2024, and nine final artists and their concepts were selected from a total of 27 finalists, three finalists for each location.

Earlier this year, the City and ArtsLB conducted a community survey to determine themes that best reflect the local community. Mural locations were selected based on a number of factors, including the impact of COVID-19 on local communities and the availability of wall spaces at public sites throughout the city. One location was selected in each Council District.

Selected artists, their proposed murals and installation locations are listed below. More information, including renderings and location maps, is available on the ArtsLB website.

• "Kaleidoscope of the Beach" by Alycia Shiann (125 Elm Ave., future location for the new Long Beach Senior Center)
• "Nature after hours in Long Beach be like…" by Charlótte Medina (Bixby Park Community Center)
• "All for Fun, and Fun for All" by Cory Bilicko (Recreation Park Community Center)
• "Nature's Dance" by Ms. Yellow (El Dorado Park West, Thomas J. Clark Community Center)
• "Unleash Nature" by Peak Murals (Heartwell Park Community Center)
• "History isn't made, it's built" by Omar R God (McBride Park Gymnasium, Interior)
• "There is Healing for Us" by Trinh Mai (Multi-Service Center)
• "LBC'in You" by Michael Che Romero (Davenport Park)
• "World Within a World" by Brenda Cibrian (Ramona Park Community Center)

The City, in partnership with the ArtsLB, first launched the Creative Economy Grants in 2022 as part of its Recovery-related programs. The program provides funding to local arts, culture and history nonprofits and professional artists to be utilized for operational recovery, public murals, community projects and professional artist fellowships. ArtsLB continues to administer the Creative Economy Grants Program, which includes $135,000 to support the Public Mural Program, for which the City has made public facilities citywide available to artists for new mural artwork.

This opportunity is made possible by the Long Beach Recovery Act (Recovery Act), a plan to fund economic and public health initiatives for residents, workers and businesses critically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of $900,000 has been allocated from the Recovery Act to support the City's arts and culture organizations. Additional information about the Long Beach Recovery Act is available at longbeach.gov/recovery.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

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