Perth Amboy, NJ

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Public art installations

Description: Perth Amboy sought to create a welcoming space that reflects its cultural heritage and fosters intergenerational connections. The "Eternal Bonds: Stories of Love and Legacy" mural project installed three custom-designed murals in the Housing Authority's community room, with older adults shaping the design through a paint-and-sip event. The unveiling celebration drew more than 100 attendees, including local artists and residents. The murals transformed the room into a cultural hub for ongoing events, strengthened social ties and promoted local artists. Diverse involvement ensured the artwork reflects shared values, and the project is expected to boost community pride and engagement for years to come.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.

Holdrege, NE

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Public art installations

Description: A long-vacant building in downtown Holdrege left residents without a safe, accessible place to gather. To address this, the foundation created the Midtown Sculpture Garden, adding ADA-compliant seating, tables, decorative lighting, trees and a mural of a Nebraska sunset. Older adults joined a community painting day and quickly embraced the space, which now hosts casual visits and will serve as a venue for art festivals and musical events. "I'm feeling almost giddy with happy feelings when I hear and read about and see the sculpture garden. This will improve the...future for Holdrege," wrote one local resident, reflecting the pride and connection the project has sparked.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.

St. Thomas, VI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Public art installations

Description: The Virgin Islands Council on the Arts commissioned local artists -- all of whom were older adults -- to create four murals at a local recreational complex. Intended to extend the Yacht Haven Public Arts Initiative into more neighborhoods, the new murals focus on Virgin Islanders' heritage and history. Subject matter includes an ocean vista with sail boats, a scene from everyday Island life and an homage to local athletes. Project organizers say they hope the new public art instills a sense of neighborhood identity and adds color to walls that would otherwise go unnoticed.