PRESS RELEASE

Above: Intersection of Chesnut Avenue and 15th Street. The green space indicates
where the crosswalk art installation will be placed and is not the actual artwork.

Long Beach, CA – The Department of Public Works, in partnership with the Arts Council for Long Beach, has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative. The grant, designed to fund visual art interventions on roadways, pedestrian spaces and public infrastructure in U.S. cities, will fund a crosswalk art installation at the intersection of Chestnut Avenue and 15^th Street to improve street safety, revitalize public space and engage the local community.

"We’re excited for this opportunity to help protect pedestrians and invest in public art in the Washington Neighborhood,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “This crosswalk will make our city safer, engage local communities and showcase the talents of Long Beach artists.” 

Public Works and the Arts Council will administer the grant and will collaborate with community partners to determine the design, theme and other artistic elements for the artwork. The Arts Council has partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles to lead the community engagement with the Washington neighborhood, along with support from other neighborhood organizations.

Community outreach with the Washington Neighborhood is currently underway. Community members are encouraged to provide their input on the crosswalk by completing an online public survey, available in English, Spanish and Khmer. Additional engagement opportunities will be available in April for input on the vision, artist selection and other logistics.

“I am so excited to see the crosswalk art project enhance pedestrian safety for the Washington Neighborhood. These improvements are necessary and benefit all residents. Thanks to the Arts Council and our incredible community partners, we are steadily continuing our work in the city,” said Councilwoman Mary Zendejas. 

The crosswalk is anticipated to be installed later this year. Long Beach is one of 26 cities across the country that received funding.

“When we heard that we were awarded the Bloomberg Asphalt Art grant, the whole team and board were ecstatic,” said Arts Council for Long Beach Executive Director Griselda Suarez. “The opportunity to increase safety and nurture neighborhood identity through art is special. So many lives will be impacted by the project and it serves as a spark for more collaboration with other organizations in the surrounding area.”

For more information about the upcoming project, please visit Asphalt Art Initiative page on the Arts Council for Long Beach website at artslb.org.

About Public Works
The Long Beach Public Works Department strives to operate, preserve, and enhance the City's physical infrastructure and transportation systems. The Department provides a variety of community services including the repair, rehabilitation and general upkeep of City streets, trees, sidewalks, and City structures. Public Works also provides emergency support services throughout the City. Visit us at www.longbeach.gov/pw, "Like" us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

About Arts Council for Long Beach
The Arts Council for Long Beach was founded by the City of Long Beach in 1976 as the Public Corporation for the Arts, becoming a 501(c)(3) organization in 1982. ACLB is a dynamic organization that receives and distributes public funds, and also raises funds through private donations, foundations, corporations and contracts for services. The Arts Council for Long Beach envisions a thriving Long Beach that benefits from universal access to and participation in the arts.