Efforts to bring murals, artisan markets, and a scale model of the solar system to Starke County have gotten a boost, thanks to the Lilly Endowment’s GIFT VII program. The Starke County Community Foundation says it’s gotten a $100,000 Community Leadership Grant. That money will be used to promote a number of arts and cultural opportunities the foundation is pursuing along with Constellation of Starke.
Constellation of Starke Project Coordinator Mary Perren told the Hamlet Town Council last week that artist Anthony Brooks has recently completed murals in North Judson and San Pierre. Now, Constellation of Starke is scouting locations for at least four more. “We’re looking at places like Koontz Lake and Hamlet and some of the other communities, to encourage people to visit, to encourage people to travel around,” Perren explained. “And we’ve discussed, once the murals are all done, having a brochure put together and, also, a section on a to-be-developed Constellation of Starke website.”
Plans are also in the works to bring in visiting artists or art exhibits and to continue to develop the Constellation of Starke Creatives’ Network.
Starke County Community Foundation Director of Development Jessica Martinović said in a statement that placemaking was just one of many community needs identified during last year’s planning process. Others included the need for grocery stores, daycare, transportation access, and addressing the opioid crisis.
But officials felt that the placemaking efforts “were more attainable with this size grant.” Martinović says they hope it will be just one small step to continue to build momentum.
Meanwhile, the Community Foundation of Pulaski County is using its $100,000 GIFT VII Grant for its Forward-Thinking Leadership Initiative.
