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2023 City Walls campaign announces 23 new mural locations to transform more Blight to Beauty
- 1st wave of 2023 City Walls campaign is the biggest yet since 2017
- 25 artists selected to paint murals in 23 locations across the Motor City, with sponsorship from DTE and Invest Detroit
- Mural sites include 7-story mural on Corktown’s Godfrey Hotel
- Program has resulted in more than 100 murals so far and growing
Mayor Mike Duggan today joined with artists and community partners to announce 23 additional locations across the city that will be beautified with stunning murals through the 2023 City Walls campaign.
The announcement follows an extensive search through a series of open calls where 25 artists were chosen to transform and create beauty in 23 locations across the city. In May, the City will issue a second wave of open calls for the 2023 season. In total, more than $500,000 will be distributed to local artists in the form of commissions to create 40 new murals across the city this summer.
City Walls was created initially in 2017 to replace graffiti-covered walls and viaducts in the city with attractive murals. This year marks the seventh year for the City Walls program and will be the biggest yet, building on Mayor Duggan's Blight to Beauty campaign. Over its first six years, City Walls has resulted in more than 125 beautified locations across the city, including the program’s 100th mural “The Spirit” by Detroit artist Waleed Johnson, which represents an African American woman as the Spirit of Detroit. The mural is located on Van Dyke at Mack Avenue.
“City Walls helps bring the community together in celebration of something beautiful and gives residents a sense of pride in the places they live,” said Mayor Mike Duggan. “Thanks to Zak Meers and his team, this program has provided dozens of Detroit artists an opportunity to help create the city of beauty we all can be proud of.”
City Walls is a major piece of a citywide effort, involving multiple city departments, to bring beautiful murals to city neighborhoods. The 25 new City Walls murals will be added to the Detroit Mural Map as Detroit seeks to become the No. 1 city in the country in the creation of beautiful murals. USA Today recently ranked the city #4.
As it beautifies the city, the City Walls program also highlights the values and identity of the communities in which the artwork is being created. More than 70 artists have already taken part in the City Walls program, which has boosted the local art economy by providing artists with funding and resources, so far infusing more than $1,000,000 in the Detroit arts community.
The increase in funds available for this year’s City Walls program is made possible by community partners who have added more than $400,000 to the program’s budget, which will allow for several large-scale projects around the city.
The Godfrey Hotel, under construction along Michigan Avenue in the heart of Corktown is one of our program’s partners and has contributed $67,500 for their hotel to receive a 7-story mural and another 2-story mural. Both murals will be created based on feedback from the community about what neighbors would like to see.
DTE Energy is funding a mural project with $75,000 going to an artist to paint the Corktown Substation, located at Trumbull and Porter.
“Artwork has the ability to bring people together in celebration of the story behind the work and what it represents,” said DTE Regional Relations Manager for the City of Detroit, Julie Jozwiak. “This mural will showcase the diversity, opportunity and vibrancy of Detroit, and it’s made even more special that it will be created by a local artist for everyone to enjoy. At DTE, we’re truly grateful to be part of an initiative that is so dedicated to elevating the city and the community.”
Invest Detroit will be funding two Strategic Neighborhood Fund mural projects along the Dexter Corridor and the Gratiot/7 Mile areas respectively, totaling over $200,000.
Bethany Howard, City Walls’ new program manager, is excited to lead the seventh year of City Walls and help to beautify the city she loves. “When I learned the Spirit mural at Mack and Van Dyke that I drive by nearly every day was part of this program, I became even more excited to ensure I do my part to uphold the foundation of the City Walls program: community visions advancing public art,” said Howard.
The city of Detroit will be funding a $20,000 commission for a mural in Stein Park, located at W Chicago and Stahelin Ave. on Detroit’s West Side. The city will also commission a handful of murals at the Joe Louis Greenway West Warren Trailhead Park.
“We could not be more thrilled to be releasing these open calls and infusing more than a half a million dollars into the Detroit arts ecosystem this summer,” said Zak Meers, director for the city of Detroit’s Blight Remediation Division. “Having completed over 125 murals across the city landscape almost exclusively with Detroit artists since 2017 we are confident that these community-driven projects will not only have a massive positive impact on Detroit’s environment but will also serve to strengthen the shared community fabric that weaves us all together.”
Artists who have been a part of the City Walls program encourage others to get involved. “The City Walls mural program is a great example of how philanthropy, community and up and coming artists can unite to beautify our neighborhoods, activating colorful, inspirational art that motivates and creates hope to the youth and elders alike,” said Fel’le, 2022 Open Call Winner and creator of the MI Heath Mural located at Grand River and Wyoming.
“Painting the mural for the recreation center was a huge opportunity for growth. I was able to work with the community to develop the design. I then learned about the logistics of painting a design on that scale and how to work within the allotted budget,” said Quinn Faylor, 2020 open call winner and creator of the United Way Mural located at the Lasky Recreation Center on Fenelon. “Sometimes it’s hard to get your foot in the door with large scale murals. I think the City Walls program does a good job of supporting emerging artists who are living and working in Detroit”.
The second wave of City Walls artist selections will open in May, with awards for those projects being granted in July. Artists can apply at www.detroitmi.gov/citywalls/calltoarts.
