Project Grant

The monumental signage that we promote to the community will measure the enthusiasm for the arts and how it can be a driving force of pride for the city. This will help change the behavior of citizens attitudes for the arts in a very positive way. ; The outcomes we look to achieve with this proposal is to have a complete and approved plan from the community and city stake holders to move forward in installing a monumental welcoming sign for the City of Melrose that will be a beacon for the community. This will create a boost of pride in the community and foster an added awareness of the arts and the possibilities of what other future art related projects could bring. By offering a survey to everyone, we hope to develop a future pathway to enhancing the city of Melrose with the arts. This survey is inclusive of all age ranges and ethnicity. We hope to use our efforts to build a bridge between the Latino community and its already German heritage. Thirty percent of the population of Melrose is Latino. To have a strong community means to have a united Melrose community. We will have gotten feedback and support from the City of Melrose, Planning and Development, and all of the citizens of the community to move forward with a sign that represents their city. We will have engaged the community in their feedback as to what best artistically represents their community. This will foster a sense of collaboration within the community and open a door to their voices being heard in making a choice for their surrroundings. We will have gotten multiple artists to participate in illustrating their renditions of the words "Strong, Diverse, and Connected" and what that means to the City of Melrose and will have paid them $350.00 each for their work. This will give these artists an opportunity to get paid for their work. It could also advance their careers through gaining recognition and value from showcasing their renditions. The winners of the murals will be able to add this acknowledgement to their portfolios, aiding them in possibly getting future work. The survey that we will make available to the community will inspire and gather attitudes/preferences for how their city will be represented. This will measure the enthusiasm for the arts and how it can be a positive driving force of pride for their community. This could help change the behavior of citizens attitudes for the arts in a very positive way. This sign is a first project for MAAC but will be an influential catalyst for future endeavors in the arts for this area. Many of the comments we have received after presenting our goals and mission have claimed a yearning for Melrose to have more of an influence of the arts represented in their community and downtown area such as murals and benches. One of our missions is to connect the community through the arts. The goal of establishing this monumental sign along a main thorough way and the Wobegon Trail will build a strong sense of connection and pride for the community. They will learn through the process of how the sign will be built and how it can lend itself to a prominent work of art. It will be a talking point for the citizens and will become a visual landmark for the pride of our township. It will bring enjoyment and create a new appreciations for the arts. Through the survey method everyone in the community will be invited to fill out a simple and concise questionnaire that informs the artistic choices for the signage. ; Through the survey method everyone in the community will be invited to fill out a simple and concise questionnaire. It will be available at the City Center as well as published through the Community Newsletter and the local paper, The Star. It will also be forwarded to an email base where they can complete the survey online (through Google Forms). The survey will be presented in both English and Spanish languages. We will look to answer the following questions. 1) Person's first choice for each of the three murals d