The coastal cityscape of Long Beach has just gained a splash of vibrant hues and stories thanks to its Public Mural Program which reached completion with ten new murals, according to a press release from the City of Long Beach. This program, a subset of the City's Creative Economy Grants Program, was designed to breathe new life into areas hardest hit by the pandemic; its murals span across the city, each a symbol of recovery and communal uplift.
Mayor Rex Richardson was quoted praising the program's impact, saying, "These new murals not only beautify our city—they celebrate the vibrant spirit of our community and will inspire and connect us for years to come," as stated by the City of Long Beach. The locations for murals were carefully chosen, reflecting Long Beach's diverse council districts and engaging spots that experienced significant distress due to COVID-19 the artists, whose works are varied and unique, were honored at a City Council meeting on February 11, with a notable piece by Tracy Negrete at the LBWIN Youth Career Services Center, a project that also provided mentorship opportunities for young creatives in the region.
Each mural tells a different story, with titles ranging from "Kaleidoscope of the Beach" by Alycia Shiann, to "History isn’t made, it’s built" by Omar R God; the complete list of artists and their mural locations can be found on the ArtsLB website. Griselda Suarez, Executive Director of ArtsLB, emphasized the value of the Creative Economy Grants program, stating, "It underscores Long Beach’s commitment to fostering creativity as a vital component of our community’s resilience and growth," the City of Long Beach noted.
Funding for these artistic endeavors was taken from the Long Beach Recovery Act earmarked to aid in both economic and public health recovery post-COVID-19 approximating one million dollars in total, with $122,000 specified for mural maintenance and future projects. Details of this Recovery Act are available on the City's website for those interested in the breadth of its scope.
