Press Release
Contact:
Kathleen Achtenberg, MEDC
517.489.0557
[email protected]
Leslie McAndrews
Media Coordinator, Bright Walls
517.937.3383
[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 13, 2022
Crowdfunding campaign launched for the “Bright Walls Finale” In Jackson
$50,000 goal to win matching grant through MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places initiative
LANSING, Mich. – The Bright Walls Mural Festival in Downtown Jackson will complete its final series of installations and events through the anticipated success of a crowdfunding campaign, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the city of Jackson announced today. The campaign is being offered through the Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity.
If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $50,000 by July 12, the project will win a matching grant with funds made possible by MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places program. For project details and to donate, please visit: patronicity.com/finale.
“This project has changed the landscape of downtown Jackson, adding vibrancy and brightness around every corner,” said MEDC Senior Vice President of Community Development Michele Wildman. “We are pleased to once again support and provide resources for the Bright Walls project through our Public Spaces Community Places program.”
Bright Walls is a public art and mural festival founded and run by volunteer members of the Jackson Young Professionals. The Bright Walls Team is comprised of 14 talented members who carefully select a diverse roster of mural artists from across the globe to paint in downtown Jackson.
The city comes alive when artists arrive for Bright Walls and events are hosted around the murals. There is so much energy during the festival because people from near and far come to join the fun and festivities. The goal of this festival is for everyone in the community to be able to access arts and culture and, most importantly, enjoy murals for years to come. This campaign will provide funding for the Bright Walls Grand Finale. The dollars raised will be used to host the international mural exhibition and festival, along with creating new events for attendees during the festival and permanently lighting the murals.
“With support from the PSCP matching grant program we’re able to make our community’s contributions go even farther in creating an accessible gallery of world-class art in downtown Jackson. The PSCP is helping another Michigan community excel through the work they do,” said Clay McAndrews, Bright Walls Founder and Co-Director.
MEDC previously supported Bright Walls in 2019, with a successful crowdfunding campaign that raised more than $50,000 and received $50,000 in matching funds from MEDC. To read more about the Bright Walls Mural Festival, visit here.
Public Spaces Community Places is a collaborative effort of the MEDC, the Michigan Municipal League, and Patronicity, in which local residents can use crowdfunding to be part of the development of strategic projects in their communities and be backed with a matching grant from MEDC. Communities, nonprofits and other business entities can apply at https://patronicity.com/puremichigan.
“The Michigan Municipal League is a strong believer in creating strong, thriving communities through community wealth building,” said Dan Gilmartin, CEO and Executive Director of the League. “The Bright Walls murals speak directly to the arts and culture pillar of community wealth building. These murals have and will continue to enhance the human experience for all for years to come. This is what community wealth building is all about.”
The Public Spaces Community Places initiative started in 2014 with MEDC providing matched funding of up to $50,000 for community improvement projects throughout Michigan. As of April 30, 2022, MEDC has provided more than $9.9 million in matching grants. Since the launch of the program, 310 projects have been successful in reaching their goal, with $11.5 million raised from 52,895 individual donors. Communities have a 97 percent success rate in achieving their goals and earning our matching funds.
About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.