In the Spring of 2020 Emporia Main Street worked with Coffelt Sign Company and the Kansas Arts Commission to produce a series of temporary interactive murals in the downtown area of Emporia. Public Art has many benefits for the community it is showcased in. Public art adds enormous value to the cultural, aesthetic, and economic vitality of a community. It is now a well-accepted principle of urban design that public art contributes to a community's identity, fosters community pride and a sense of belonging, and enhances the quality of life for its residents and visitors.

Thanks to a generous gift from Brock & Mary Kretsinger and a grant from the Kansas Arts Commission, Emporia Main Street can continue the placement of interactive murals within the community in 2021.

The interactive murals for this program are made from a 100% recyclable material and will be placed in a location for 18 – 24 months. Emporia Main Street plans on implementing 3-4 new murals in the Fall of 2021 and we are calling for submissions from local artists. After submissions are collected, Emporia Main Street will create an online voting platform to collecting insight from the public on which designs should be considered for installation. We are looking for designs that are interactive - something that you can take a picture with! Please click here for more information on submission guidelines: Mural Project Instructions.

Submissions are due April 12, 2021.