Belfast mural project aims to promote the bicentennial — and the city
COURTESY / BELFAST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The city of Belfast will seek funds from the Maine Bicentennial Commission to create and install banners designed to promote both the state’s bicentennial and the city.
Plans are in the works to adorn some of Belfast’s downtown and waterfront buildings with signage promoting Maine’s bicentennial and the city.
The city council recently approved a request from Economic Development Director Thomas Kittredge to apply for a grant from the Maine Bicentennial Commission, and to provide matching funds up to $5,000, to execute the project.
Councilor Michael Hurley organized a working group for the project. The group includes the Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce, Our Town Belfast and the Belfast Creative Coalition.
“It will help to promote both Belfast and the state of Maine,” said Kittredge.
The budget hasn’t been finalized yet. But so far, Kittredge said, he estimates there will be at least $4,500 in expenses.
Hurley said the plan is to produce six heavy-duty, photo-printed vinyl banners, which would be professionally mounted on the sides of prominent buildings with the owners' permission. A brochure and a public unveiling event would help publicize the murals, which would remain in place for about a year.
The working group has identified locations to hang the banners that include commercial buildings, Front Street Shipyard’s spar shed on the Belfast Harbor Walk, and the police station. The Belfast Historic Society and Penobscot Marine Museum are working together to determine images that convey different aspects of Belfast’s history, Hurley explained.
“We’re imagining multiple images on each banner,” he added. The banners would also carry city and bicentennial logos.
Local companies have offered to donate in-kind services for installation and other help with the project, Hurley said.
The Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce, Belfast Creative Coalition and Our Town Belfast have been looking at collaboration opportunities over the past year as a way to leverage promotion and marketing resources for the city as a whole.
An example of collaboration occurred a year ago, when the chamber changed the scheduling of its annual Belfast Winter Whoopla festival to coincide with Our Town Belfast’s downtown cabin fever sale.
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