We want to expand our Youth Art in Windows project to two more Detroit neighborhoods, to highlight more Black - and immigrant- and women-owned businesses and share more youth art. We also want to encourage more people to visit neighborhoods and stroll around and get to know these small independent businesses.
We will work with the Women of Banglatown on the one in Hamtramck and with another youth-serving nonprofit on the next one. And we want to pay our emerging musicians and chalk artists to enliven our opening day celebrations.
This idea builds on the Mint Showcase on Livernois which placed art in a half dozen Black businesses in October. We received such favorable feedback from locals and out-of-area guests that we want to grow this project this year. And because much of it happens along sidewalks or a parking space, it is relatively safe during covid-19.
We are in discussions with two neighborhood groups - on the East Side and in Southwest Detroit - to host our Youth Art in Windows. Having some funding lined up will make it easier to schedule as many as four of these this year.