QC, that’s where we display our region’s culture and history, quirky originality and creativity within a gallery of sidewalks, alleys and parks. QC, that’s where public art reflects our values, illustrated within vibrant murals and wood and metal sculptures that draw visitors and residents to explore areas once dormant, now fully alive. It is where partnerships and regional artists elevate placemaking, QC identity and pride. And it is where we are striving to incorporate so much more.
This summer, through the Quad City Arts’ Public Sculpture Program and Metro Arts Youth Apprenticeship Program, our region celebrated 16 new installations across our family of communities. The new sculptures and murals are on display in Bettendorf, Davenport, Moline and Rock Island. And they are in addition to the collection of sculptures and numerous murals already on public display throughout our region.
For more than 20 years, Quad City Arts has facilitated the selection and display of public sculpture for our cities, business and organizations; facilitating murals and street paintings by its Metro Arts student apprentices; and providing art programming and events that allow us to express and share the QC’s creative current with the world.
“Public art is one of the most important aspects in a community and often gets overlooked. Studies clearly show It drives tourism, increases civic pride and showcases our community’s values,” said Kevin Maynard, Executive Director, Quad City Arts.
The Quad Cities Chamber and our affiliated placemaking and place management organizations: Downtown Bettendorf Organization (DBO), Downtown Davenport Partnership (DDP) and Downtown Rock Island recognize and value the impact the arts have on our region and in the work we do.
DDP has a long history of leading public art projects and collaborating with its partners to bring more creative energy to downtown. It began in the early 2000s with the introduction of rotating sculptures, of those, nine of the pieces remain on permanent display today. Building on the city’s strong arts and entertainment backbone was identified as a key growth strategy in the Downtown Davenport Master Plan, which was finalized in 2021. “Arts and culture are a huge part of our identity and we are investing in activating our public spaces through the arts,” said Alisha Espey, DDP Director, Programs.
This summer DDP worked with Quad City Arts on the installation of four new sculptures on 2nd Street and two new murals at 4th and Pershing streets that highlight our region’s Indigenous history and wealth of diversity. “We have many more projects and ideas up our sleeve. In the next year we hope to add one large-scale mural and will be making infrastructure improvements to key alleyways in preparation to activate the spaces in the future with art displays and programming,” Espey said.
“It’s easy to make the case that cities gain cultural, social, and economic value through public art investment. For us, it’s about improving the quality of life and using art to create a better sense of place. We’re excited for this next chapter in DDP’s history and to showcase the artistic talent in our community,” she added.
Downtown Bettendorf has eight sculptures on display, four of which are permanent and four which were installed in June and will be displayed for a year. To bring even more art into the downtown, DBO held a student banner design contest. In all, 60 new banners were installed last summer.
The City of Bettendorf and DBO also identified the addition of public art as a priority in the Downtown Master Plan. “As downtown Bettendorf’s renaissance continues, we appreciate the importance art can play in our community. For example, the new I-74 Bridge is a work of art itself and we look forward to seeing how it will be showcased in artwork for years to come,” said DBO Executive Director Ryan Jantzi.
Rock Island has a rich history of arts and cultural programming and events, especially in downtown. Last summer, Quad City Arts and Downtown Rock Island launched a mural program with a large-scale piece created by Rock Island teen Riley Jones. It is part of a larger, ongoing revitalization project in the 300 block of 20th Street and surrounding area.
“It was such a collaborative project, and that’s what made it so successful. When done well, public art and placemaking weave together many different partners, which shows investment and creates a positive win for the entire community,” said Jack Cullen, Director, Downtown Rock Island.
Building on that momentum, the City of Rock Island and Downtown Rock Island applied for, and will be awarded a $267,181 State of Illinois grant to complete the renovation and activation of Arts Alley into a vibrant urban gallery, event venue and family-friendly destination for Quad Citizens and visitors.
Planning is underway. “We are asking community members to provide their thoughts and suggestions on what they would like to see in Arts Alley. We need public input and buy-in to make this a successful project,” Cullen said.
Murals and public sculpture brighten areas that may have been dormant or simply undiscovered. When there are multiple pieces of public art in a walkable area, such as in a downtown, it becomes an attraction for residents and tourists. It strengthens our regional identity, sparks investment and drives tourism. “Public attractions draw positive foot traffic, which generates economic activity,” Cullen said. “In addition, public art can lead to the further revitalization of a neighborhood, such as new streetscape improvements, better stewardship of adjacent properties and even new business interests,” he added.
QC’s creative current is showcased in our many theatres and museums, on stages and bandshells, and a never-ending stream of programs and events that build on each other. QC, that’s where we are proud of the fact that for a region our size, we are way ahead of the curve.
“I encourage everyone to take some time to walk around and look closer at our community,” Maynard said. “Our region is very lucky to have a wealth of art and art amenities. From murals to public sculptures, art programming and cultural events, there are so many things in the QC that you’d be hard pressed to find in other communities of our size, or even larger.”
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