HDDA’s Public Art & Mural Program

Where will your project take place?

In our DDA District on Railroad Viaduct over M59, Highland, MI 48357

Briefly Describe Your Project Idea:

We are ready to install our 2nd mural in our DDA district, as a gateway to our Downtown. M59 is a major thoroughfare that splits our business district into north and south and a mural will define when you are entering our Downtown. I’m on the Design committee that is working on this project.

Why does your community need this project?

Consistent with the HDDA’s strategic objective of enhancing public space for people to connect and gather, we have launched a Public Art & Mural Program. This program fosters the revitalization of Downtown Highland by improving the visual appearance of downtown buildings and structures and brings art to unexpected places. This mural will act as a gateway by letting people know they have entered Highland’s Downtown. The HDDA will continue to help reimagine and reinvent public and green spaces in DT Highland through this Place Making Initiative. Which in turn, will create additional reasons for our community and visitors to live and shop DT Highland, build public excitement for DT Highland through visual arts, improve the overall appearance of the DT, and increase pride in DT Highland. Our plan is that future murals and artwork will be installed, over time, throughout DT Highland on buildings, structures and in public spaces, creating a streetscape “gallery” of public art.

What do you hope to achieve through this project?

We hope this program fosters the revitalization of DT Highland by improving the visual appearance of DT buildings and structures and brings art to unexpected places. This is a place making initiative that will put Highland’s DT on the map and in turn, will increase the health of our businesses and the culture of our DT. Our goal over time is to add future murals and art pieces throughout DT Highland on buildings, structures and in public spaces, creating a streetscape “gallery” of public art. All of this will improve the overall appearance of our DT, increase local pride in DT Highland, help build public excitement, and increase numbers of people that want to live and shop in DT Highland, in turn helping our businesses thrive. This mural will be viewed by 30,000 cars daily along the M59 thoroughfare.