Project Name: Welcome to Bessemer – Our Past Creates Our Future
What is your first and last name?
Samantha Dorr
What are your preferred pronouns?
She/her/hers
What city or village do you live in?
[534]Does your neighborhood have a name? If so what is it?
[535]Are you connected with anyone in your local government?
[536]Are you applying as a business owner, artist, non-profit, DDA, or Commercial Improvement District?
[280]Where will your project take place?
Downtown Bessemer, MI – 200 S Sophie St, Bessemer, Michigan 49911
Briefly describe your project idea:
Through the community’s request, the DDA wants to create a mural to commemorate Bessemer’s history and ethnicities. Samantha Dorr, city staff/ DDA liaison and Karen Stevens, business owner and DDA member will oversee the project. The DDA board will promote and assist with the project.
How will you be involved in this project? Who will you worth with?
1. Working with students – no one spreads the word about a new creative initiative more quicky than young people.
2. With social media and newspaper coverage the artwork project will be in the forefront of the community. We will discuss the design of artwork at a public DDA meeting and invite residents to make suggestions
3. The progress of the mural will be tracked on our web page and Facebook so that all can watch the transformation.
4. When the mural is finished, we will have an event bringing the community together to celebrate their planning and enjoy the fruits of their labor.
Describe the artist’s or artists’ work. This is not about credentials—what do they do as an artist?
Rachael Hendges is an art teacher at our Bessemer high school. She teaches art in many visual disciplines including painting.
Please upload a letter of support for your project from your local governing body:
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Additional Attachments (if any)
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Why does your community need this project?
Bessemer was a booming mining town until 1966 when mining collapsed and people moved away. With COVID people needed to distance from one another. They were unable to travel to by air, so they drove to the Western Upper Peninsula (UP) – particularly the Bessemer area. The visitors began to enjoy all that the area has to offer. The area is thrilled with the influx of people, but the negative attitude of a “run down city” prevails.
Bessemer has worked hard to improve the community. We have done this by becoming a certified Redevelopment Ready Community and working on needed infrastructure improvement. For the last 2 years we have had a major road, water and wastewater systems construction project leaving the citizens in mud and frustration over the lack of a vibrant downtown.
Now that Hwy US 2 construction through the community is finished, the citizens are ready to do something that is more “attractive, decorative and inviting and will enhance the downtown. Citizens have seen public art in neighboring communities and have requested that the city investigate doing similar things. Just the suggestion of this has received an overwhelming response.
What do you hope to achieve through this project?
Our success will be in the transformation of a positive image for the city. We have faced negative perceptions through these 2 years of construction and our plan is to celebrate our community, our differences. As newer residents are coming here, having a mural that celebrates our differences promotes a fresh, welcoming image that aligns with our long-range goals which are reflected in our master plan.
With this image, we will judge success by more people visiting our downtown and a renewed economic interest in bringing new business to the main street.
How do you plan to spend the $5,000 microgrant?
$3,000 lead artist and support personnel
$2,000 for materials to create the mural.
What resources do you already have to make this project successful? Resources could include things like time, partners, expertise, donated goods/materials/space, matching funds, and more. Please approximate the in-kind value if possible.
The building location is selected & approved
The artist is in the community
Student and community input is free
DDA volunteers labor and financial support
City staff will coordinate the project
City DPW will donate equipment & labor
Estimate in-kind value $2500 + building & location is priceless
Will your project require special permits from the community you are in? For example, anything that requires a street closure or installing a permanent art piece will likely require a special permit from your local governing body or zoning board. If your project is funded, the MML Foundation is happy to help you navigate that process. Please note that all applicants must obtain any necessary permits for their projects, if selected for funding. *
No
Anticipated project launch date:
August 1, 2023
Will you serve as the primary point of contact for this application?
[291]Lead Artist First and Last Name:
Rachael Hendges
Lead Artist Website (If Applicable):
Business 1: Business Name:
General Insurance Agency
Business 1: Business Type:
Insurance on main floor and engineering on second floor
Business 1: Business Owner First and Last Name:
Mark Malmberg
Business 1: Physical Location Address
200 S Sophie St, Bessemer, MI 49911
Business 1: Twitter Handle (If Applicable)
Business 1: Facebook Page Link (If Applicable)
Business 1: Instagram Handle (If Applicable)
Business 2: Business Name:
Leather and Gift Shop
Business 2: Business Type:
Retail
Business 2: Business Owner First and Last Name:
Ted and Karen Stevens
Business 2: Business Physical Location Address:
410 W Lead St, Bessemer, MI 49911
Business 2: Twitter Handle (If Applicable)
Business 2: Facebook Page Link (If Applicable)
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057218989546
Business 2: Instagram Handle (If Applicable)
Business 3: Business Name:
[325]Business 3: Business Type:
[507]Business 3: Business Owner First and Last Name:
[326]Business 3: Physical Location Address
[327]Business 3: Twitter Handle (If Applicable)
[374]Business 3: Facebook Page Link (If Applicable)
[373]Business 3: Instagram Handle (If Applicable)
[383]Please list the names of any additional partners:
[336]Image Caption 1 (if any): Front of the building facing Main Street with iconic clock
Image 1 (if any):
Image Caption 2 (if any): Mural location on building
Image 2 (if any):
Image Caption 3 (if any): Ethnic Commons adjacent to mural location
Image 3 (if any):
Image Caption 4 (if any): The miner sculpture in Ethnic Commons with the building for the mural behind it
Image 4 (if any):
Image Caption 5 (if any): Letter of support from building owner
Image 5 (if any):
