Award-winning initiative brings brightness, beauty to Fort St. John
It’s been a whirlwind two years getting the Public Art Initiative off the ground, the City’s Arts and Culture Coordinator, Victoria Butler told Council on Monday afternoon, but the result – an Economic Development Award from the North Central Local Government Association - made the project even more rewarding.
Created in collaboration with the Mayor’s Standing Committee, through the Business Façade Grant, through the amalgamation of public art initiatives and suggestions from local artists, the art installations around the city – from the temporary interactive installation the Drum of Concordia by Ovvian Castrillo-Hill, the 2024 CreateSpace Public Art Resident, to the mini-murals on concrete barriers, unique bike racks in the downtown core and artistic wraps on utility boxes – have complimented seasonal beautification like the painted flower planters, and banners.
Mayor Lilia Hansen presented the NCLGA’s Community Leadership Award for Economic Development to Butler and Stephanie Peters, the City’s Manager of Economic Development, praising the pair for their hard work and the ideas they brought forward.
“It’s great to see [the work of] local artists in our downtown,” Hansen said.
Councillor Byron Stewart agreed with Hansen, noting that the brightness the art brought into the community is both beautiful and needed.
“As a person who enjoys travelling and looking at different art through different communities, it is nice and appreciated to come back home and see that art developing throughout the community,” he said.
The City isn’t stopping with the beautification of the community through works of art. Butler says there are plans for more of the utility box wraps and more mini murals. But the focus this summer is going to be on downtown activation with Visitor Centre summer students.
“They’re going to do a mobile info cart and do pop-ups; and they’ll be encouraging people to take in public art,” Butler said.