Vacation & Leisure magazine names Hattiesburg a ‘must-see’

Travel & Leisure Magazine not too long ago shown Hattiesburg, MS as 1 of the “must-see pieces of community art all around the earth.” The posting, penned by journey writer Patricia Doherty, involved 11 intercontinental places known for their prolific dedication to community art. The alternatives had been based mostly, in component, on a examine of “Arty Areas” by the London-primarily based company Revenue (bit.ly/3zoYFcx) and on social media presence. 

“Street artwork has come to be prevalent about the environment, encouraged with festivals and in many locations, promoted by community governments,” Doherty writes. 

Hattiesburg is one such town that has benefited from local government’s help of community art. Mayor Toby Barker explained that community art encourages the two regional economic growth and social connection, especially during the pandemic when quite a few indoor venues experienced to shut down. In 2021, he even went as far as placing the target to make Hattiesburg the “City of 100 Murals.” 

“To be a person of four metropolitan areas in North The us involved on a listing that speaks about general public artwork in areas like New York City, Paris and Berlin is just a solitary example of the talent and creativeness that exists appropriate listed here in Hattiesburg,” Barker claimed. “Public Artwork is a climbing star in our community, many thanks to numerous who have absent right before us and the Hattiesburg Alliance for Public Art’s continual management. We glimpse forward to continuing our trajectory as a leading arts destination.”

With extra than 40 public artwork installations, Hattiesburg has a selection of offerings for people of all ages and passions – from murals and sculptures to painted utility bins and seasonal pop-up artwork that cover topics like new music, civil legal rights, sports activities and the city’s history of rock & roll.  

“Hattiesburg is committed to creating art offered to all its citizens,” Doherty writes. 

In 2021, the Hattiesburg Alliance for Public Artwork, which oversees community art assignments for the city, finished four murals, 22 utility containers, a pop-up artwork show and obtained a $11,000 Mississippi Arts Commission COVID Aid grant. 

“HAPA is very fortunate to do the job with neighborhood associates and national and nearby artists to convey innovative, imaginative and varied imagery to the city’s general public spaces,” said Kristen Brock, Director of Packages and Promotions for VisitHATTIESBURG and Hattiesburg Alliance for Community Artwork. 

In 2022, HAPA’s to start with two assignments will be the Jan. 10 unveiling of a new mural at Duncan Lake called “Duck, Duck, Goose” and stage a few of the HBURG Utility Box sequence (artist apps owing by 5 p.m. on Jan. 19 at website: little bit.ly/3G03YSe). Extra information and facts on approaching functions and projects is out there at hburgart.com.