Project Name: The Lakeside Cross Walk Art Project
What is your first and last name?
Contessa Alexander
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?
City of Muskegon: on Lakeshore Drive, between Moon Street to Blodgett Street.
Briefly describe your project idea:
The Lakeside Cross Walk Art Project will bring together local artists from the community to provide art for the crosswalks in the Lakeside Neighborhood. We will provide the opportunity to all local artists who will send in their proposals. Their art should celebrate Muskegon by including nuances of
How will you be involved in this project? Who will you worth with?
The BID-CIA board plans to engage the community by seeking local artists for this project. The four chosen artists will be from the area and will have great knowledge about the Lakeside District and its history, and will be willing to talk with the BID-CIA, business owners, and residents about what they would like to see portrayed in their community.
Project partners will market this project heavily if awarded the grant funds. Partners and city staff will reach out to our local media contacts to increase the visibility of the project so that we can gain support when it is time to vote. City staff and board members will also market on social media introducing the project to the community.
Describe the artist’s or artists’ work. This is not about credentials—what do they do as an artist?
Louise is the owner of the Art Cats Gallery. She paints and creates pottery pieces.
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?
The Lakeside community needs this project in order to provide a dash of color in the business district, celebrate the Lakeside community, and provide traffic calming along a main street between downtown and the city’s Lake Michigan beach at Pere Marquette Park.
The City of Muskegon has two major downtown district areas that include the Downtown Social District, and the Lakeside District. There are about a few miles that separate the two, both having its own identity, and culture. The Downtown district is vibrant with various art sculptures, murals, and entertainment. The Lakeside is the beach side of town. There are lots of small businesses, restaurants, and other attractions unique to the area. However, there is a lack of lively artwork and eye-catching murals that embodies the uniqueness of this neighborhood. This grant would assist with providing a beautiful, and colorful streetscape for four crosswalks in the Lakeside District. Adding more art would increase the areas attractiveness and add in elements related to the environment and business community.
It is so important for a community to have art that reflects their residents, invites visitors and celebrates the community as a whole. This is what has been missing in this area. This project would provide the funds necessary for artists to showcase the Lakeside District and engage visitors.
Lastly, the Lakeside desires this project in order to provide traffic calming. In the Lakeside District there have been ¬¬¬¬89 vehicle crashes since 2021. According to the Asphalt Art Safety Study: Historical Crash Analysis and Observational Behavior Assessment at Asphalt Art Sites prepared by Bloomberg Philanthropies in April 2022, “the art itself is often also intended to improve safety by increasing visibility of pedestrian spaces and crosswalks, promoting a more walkable public realm, and encouraging drivers to slow down and be more alert for pedestrians and cyclists, the most vulnerable users of the road.” Bloomberg Philanthropies tracked fresh asphalt paintings on crosswalks and bike lanes in Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York. Bloomberg Philanthropies found the following, surprising information, “50% decrease in the rate of crashes involving pedestrians or other vulnerable road users, 37% decrease in the rate of crashes leading to injuries, and 17% decrease in the total crash rate.” This data alone speaks volumes to the importance of including artwork in community crosswalks.
What do you hope to achieve through this project?
Through this project the board hopes to provide a prouder, safer and more prosperous Lakeside District. A true identity is important for every community. Art helps with establishing that identity that represents its community members and businesses. This project will capture just that and fill the gap that has been missing in the Lakeside area for years.
How do you plan to spend the $5,000 microgrant?
We plan to spend the $5,000 microgrant by dividing between the artists and the supplies needed to accomplish this project. Please see below for details.
1st Artist – $1,000 time and talents
$250 art supplies: including paint, paint brushes, sealant or varnish
2nd Artist- $1,000 time and talents
$250 art supplies: including paint, brushes, sealant or varnish
3rd Artist- $1,000 time and talents
$250 art supplies: including paint, brushes, sealant or varnish
4th Artist- $1,000 time and talents
$250 art supplies: including paint, brushes, sealant or varnish
Total = $5000
The paint brand and type would be up to each artist. This could include either of the following spray paint, acrylic paint, epoxy paint, acrylic markers etc.
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 project starts with longstanding business and neighborhood organizations known for completing successful projects. The project also has the formal support of the BID-CIA board as well as a potential financial contribution.
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. *
Yes
Anticipated project launch date:
July 27, 2023
Will you serve as the primary point of contact for this application?
[291]Lead Artist First and Last Name:
Louise Hopson
Lead Artist Website (If Applicable):
Business 1: Business Name:
Art Cats Gallery
Business 1: Business Type:
Art Gallery
Business 1: Business Owner First and Last Name:
Louise Hopson
Business 1: Physical Location Address
1845 Lakeshore Dr, Muskegon, MI 49441
Business 1: Twitter Handle (If Applicable)
Business 1: Facebook Page Link (If Applicable)
Business 1: Instagram Handle (If Applicable)
Business 2: Business Name:
Wonderland Distillery
Business 2: Business Type:
Restaurant
Business 2: Business Owner First and Last Name:
Allen Serio
Business 2: Business Physical Location Address:
1989 Lakeshore Dr, Muskegon, MI 49441
Business 2: Twitter Handle (If Applicable)
Business 2: Facebook Page Link (If Applicable)
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): Cross Walk Sites
Image 1 (if any):
Image Caption 2 (if any): Blodgett Crosswalk
Image 2 (if any):
Image Caption 3 (if any): Mann Crosswalk
Image 3 (if any):
Image Caption 4 (if any): Moon Crosswalk
Image 4 (if any):
Image Caption 5 (if any): Torrent
Image 5 (if any):
