Creative Bus Shelter Program
The Mainer Project by Pigeon (Orson Horchler)
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Portland, MaineRegion:
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Visual artPopulation Density:
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Project Website:
https://www.creativeportland.com/creative-bus-sheltersOVERVIEW
Creative Portland, in partnership with the Greater Portland Metro and the Greater Portland Council of Governments, has initiated a Creative Bus Shelter program made possible by a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) "Our Town" grant award. Four artists were selected for Phase I of the project to install their vision using the canvas of the bus shelter for public art. In May 2021, Creative Portland received a second award from the NEA to continue and expand the project. Phase II commenced July 2021 with an open call for five more bus shelters, with installation completed in late summer 2022.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
The project strengthens communities by engaging local artists and arts administrators, in partnership with transit providers, and in collaboration with the Office of Economic Opportunity and the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center, for positive social impact and systems change. The goals are to encourage multi-modal transportation, increase ridership, and to promote awareness and social acceptance through art installations that utilize bus shelters as the canvas for public art on the theme of celebrating diversity and inclusion.