Downtown Challenge Fund: Transforming the Everyday

We all know Macon is Where Soul Lives, but there haven’t always been public places for people in the community to appreciate art that showcases this soul. In recent years, many people have been actively working to change this.

In December 2017, NewTown Macon and Main Street Macon won a grant from the Downtown Challenge Fund to install public art pieces in the urban core and to establish a public art process that benefits the entire community. NewTown Macon and Main Street Macon partnered with Macon Arts Alliance and Commissioner Virgil Watkins and immediately began having meetings with local artists and art organizations. They researched and discovered the process to install public art to Macon needed some refining.

By November of 2018, the Macon-Bibb County Commission voted to approve a Public Art Ordinance for Macon-Bibb County. This ordinance created a Public Art Commission that will review applications for public art installations throughout the county, vote, and provide recommendations to artists. Macon Arts Alliance is Macon-Bibb’s designated arts agency and will provide support to the Public Art Commission.

Where can you see public art today? We’re so glad you asked. Go by Terminal Station to see the beautiful mural at MTA’s transfer station. After that, see all four of Macon Sculpture Walk’s art pieces downtown. These sculptures are titled Orange Pop, Come Together, ELLI3, and Self made Peace, and they are pictured below. As you explore downtown and take pictures with this art, use #DTMac for a chance to be featured on our social media!

Don’t forget to come downtown this Friday to Bright City Opening Night along the brick path of Macon’s Second Street Lane. Bright City features a curated group of local and national photographers who have shown that through their lens they can transform the everyday into something curious and illustrate the emotional state of Macon. There will be a small reception at NewTown Macon where you can grab a drink and map of the exhibition, as well as music by DJ  B3. This event is completely free and open to the public and will be an event you don’t want to miss!