Discover Dragonflies Downtown: A unique art hunt in Grand Rapids

Learn about “Dragonflies Downtown,” a new public art installation that will have you searching downtown Grand Rapids high and low.

The City of Grand Rapids has teamed up with Rotary Grand Rapids, Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., and The Right Place to launch “Dragonflies Downtown,” a public art discovery installation. This project includes 27 unique dragonfly sculptures placed throughout the downtown shopping district.

Funding for this initiative will come from a crowdfunding campaign announced by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) on August 26. If the campaign reaches its $50,000 goal by October 21, the project will receive a matching grant from MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places program.

About Dragonflies Downtown

The dragonfly sculptures are designed to be somewhat hidden, encouraging visitors to explore the downtown area to find them. Clues for discovering each dragonfly will be available online and from participating retailers.

A permanent monument will also be installed at Monroe Center and Ottawa Ave, serving as an information hub for the project. The installation aims to foster community engagement and future collaborations with private entities to expand the project.

Mayor Rosalynn Bliss emphasized the project’s potential to bring an engaging experience to the city. “The launch of the Dragonflies Downtown scavenger hunt is set to bring an interactive and fun experience to our city, inviting children and families to explore and connect with our vibrant downtown,” she said in the MEDC press release. “Through exploration and adventure, we are fostering a sense of community and encouraging everyone to discover the hidden treasures that make our city so special.”

The MEDC, through its Public Spaces Community Places initiative, supports such creative projects to encourage innovative community development. According to MEDC Regional Prosperity Managing Director Paula Holtz, this art installation could inspire future placemaking efforts.

The Public Spaces Community Places initiative, launched in 2014, has matched funding of up to $50,000 for various community improvement projects across Michigan. To date, the program has provided over $13.1 million in matching grants, supporting 388 successful projects with a 97 percent success rate in achieving their funding goals.

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This article may have been created with the assistance of AI.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

This story was generated in part by AI and edited by The ‘Gander staff.