Community Feedback

Public Art Initiative

Lowell Arts is leading an exciting public art initiative that will bring new energy to our community in 2026.

As the lead consultant for the City of Lowell's public art program, we're working closely with community members and city partners to identify meaningful locations and themes that reflect our town's unique identity and strengthen civic pride.

What is Public Art?

Then & Now Project

Project Dates

June 28 – July 19, 2025

About the Project

Lowell Arts partnered with the City of Lowell Downtown Development Authority to develop a public art initiative for our community. In summer 2025, we launched the Community Assessment & Engagement phase, consulting with various community sectors to identify meaningful locations and thematic priorities for public art in Lowell.

We kicked off this planning phase with an interactive gallery experience. "The Then and Now Project" invited community members to:

Learn about the organization's past public art endeavors and share their own stories of interacting with art in our community
Add their voice to a large-scale city map by marking locations where they envisioned public art and sharing ideas about themes and stories to represent
Join fellow community members in envisioning a more vibrant, culturally rich Lowell by examining inspiring examples from other communities

Public Art Survey Results

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Public Art Survey (June 28–Sept 30, 2025)! Your ideas about murals, sculptures, community-driven installations, and landmark structures are helping shape this initiative.

What types of public art would you like to see in Lowell?

Top Responses:

Large-scale Murals
Functional Art
Freestanding Sculptures
Art that encourages participation
Interactive Installation
Placemaking Signage
Light or Projection Art

Other Responses:

Painted utility boxes
Gateway entrances to the city (new or improved)
Artistic refurbishment of historical buildings
Sculpture park
Art that enhances nature experiences (benches, gazebos)
Play structures or interactive activity spaces
Pedestrian bridge
Recycled metal sculptures
Kinetic art
Seating around trees
Musical art
Mosaics
Water feature

Other Responses:

Along the river but not in it
A foot bridge over the Flat River
Away from the river and other natural areas
Along Alden Nash and M21
By old fairgrounds as vehicles drive into town
Around the curbs and sidewalks along Main Street
Locations seen from Main Street
Side of the Lowell Arts building
Side of Edward Jones building
On building along the river (former LLP building)
On the King Milling silos
Creekside Park, Grand River Park, Richard’s Park
Sculptures along the riverwalk and the library
Near schools and athletic fields
On large, empty walls, dumpsters
Open property north of library
At the schools

Along river below dam
Foot bridge by boy scout cabin
Art/sculpture at entrance of Lowell near Meijer
Art based disc golf at Creekside Park
Murals on buildings facing the river along main street
Large permanent banner designating east historic boundary
Parking lot art
Resurrect island park
Paint old, abandoned building by new condos
Mural on the yellow sewer pipe behind the train tracks
Raised brick seating around trees in downtown area
Paint back of buildings

What themes should public art in Lowell have?

Top Three Responses:

Other Responses:

Blend historic vibe with art
Lowell – where the rivers meet
Future of Lowell (Where are we going?)
A river theme showing Lowell through the ages
Chief Cobmoosa store and story
Research-based murals about ecology in the Lowell area
Curiosity, thoughtfulness, reflection
Wildlife - bald eagles, coyotes, bob cats
Water fowl (ducks) of MI
Stories about the first people here – native people
Troll statue memorial
Map of N. Main Street and river with photos of old lumber operations
Wildflower/native plant features on sidewalks