The Gainesville Housing Authority is commissioning a community empowerment mural to be painted by a local artist.
The mural, which will adorn the wall of the ELITE Training Center, must be an inspiring and uplifting art piece “as part of our efforts in partnership with the City of Gainesville and HUD’s Choice Neighborhood initiative aimed at revitalizing our East University neighborhood through creative placemaking and community engagement,” according to a GHA press release.
Last year the city of Gainesville and the East University Avenue Choice Neighborhood Plan held a workshop that featured east Gainesville residents voicing their thoughts about the construction of new housing and neighborhood improvements in the area that could result from a $500,000 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant from the federal government to create a plan to redevelop the Gainesville Housing Authority’s Lake Terrace and Pine Meadows properties and improve the surrounding East University Avenue neighborhood.
Led by Pamela Davis, executive director of GHA, the housing authority has opened its ELITE Training Center at 2626 E. University Ave. to provide job training and business development programs for GHA residents, as well as the broader Gainesville community.
Those interested in painting the mural must apply to do so by 5 p.m. Oct. 27, by emailing gabrielaf@gnvha.org.
Artists of all backgrounds, including emerging creatives who are 16 years old or older and are passionate about using art to inspire and uplift communities who can produce an original work of art in the available timeframe, according to the press release.
Those applying must submit high-quality images of past works, provide a short artist statement (300 words or less) on how their piece will reflect the specific of the training center, how their work align with the mission of the training center and what message do they hope to convey through their piece. Applicants must also submit a brief bio of no more than 150 words with contact details and any relevant portfolio links, concept proposals — sketches, color palette and narrative description.
The selection decision announcement will be made via email on Nov. 7, according to the press release.
For more information, call 352-727-0727.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Artist sought to paint mural for Gainesville Housing Authority
Reporting by Staff report / The Gainesville Sun
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