A new 3.000 square foot space across South Main Street from the Clipper Restaurant that the City has acquired will soon become the venue for displays by local artists. A plan by the city will invite local artists to contribute paintings and sculptures to an area that was once the location of the Park Cafe. Teen members of YouthBuild assisted with cleaning up the space and installing panels on the back wall of the park where paintings will be secured. Beginning on Arbor Day each year, artists will be able to submit design proposals which will be reviewed by the Greater Fall River Art Association board members. The theme for this public art project is "Nature." Winners will be selected and announced on July 7, 2011. A reception to celebrate the project and artists will be held on August 13, 2011 and the "Arbor Mural Art Project" will be unveiled to the public on August 15th. Click here for the Fall River Spirit article.  Click here for photos of other art work in the city. For more information, contact Neighborhood Outreach coordinator Perry Long at 508-676-0324.

(Top row, left) Local artist John Almeida poses in front of one of the walls that he painted for the gallery space. (Top row, center and right) Artist Ben Silva is greeted by Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan before he opens the events with some comments about the value of art to the community. (Middle row) MillBilly Art Studio owner Sean Foley listens as Fall River Art Association president Tiago Finato talks about the growing art community in Fall River before making some remarks of his own. (Bottom row, left) YouthBuild director Terry Moran, whose students provided much of the work to create the site, talks about the project as City Council Vice-President Ray Mitchell and Mayor Flanagan listen. (Bottom row, right) Fall River Mass In Motion coordinator Julie Kelly talks with Sean and Ben about their possible involvement with some of the park design work underway in the City.