Committee discusses banners, Jefferson Street 250th displays and upcoming programming

Committee members reported on ongoing banner programs and a potential companion public sculpture for Veterans Alley, and discussed plans for special 250th‑anniversary banners on Jefferson Street.

At the meeting, the programming committee said the call for banners is open again this year for East and West Court Streets and for South Main and North Main; the group plans to standardize banner sizes to match newer, larger banners already in place. Committee members discussed the Jefferson Street banners as a special 2026 feature tied to the country’s 250th anniversary and said those banners will be unique for that year only; other areas will return to the regular artwork after 2026.

Dave Windisch and others described design work for the Jefferson Street 250th banners and said the committee will present designs when ready. The committee emphasized that some existing banners are in good condition, that most banners have multiple years of life, and that the committee will restart the open call for submissions and outreach to artists who had previously applied.

The committee also reviewed the programming committee’s schedule: the next community art committee meeting is December 11, with a programming committee meeting tentatively set for October 23 at 8 a.m. at Coffee House 5 and another programming meeting on November 20. Members discussed partnering with Parks and Recreation on a revised “fun guide” split into two six-month sections for 2026 programming.

No formal action to authorize specific banner purchases or contracts was recorded in the meeting minutes for this topic. Members asked staff to follow up on design presentations and to coordinate banner dimensions and placement across downtown corridors.

Danny Causey, Dana and others noted the committee’s role in supporting Parks and Recreation events by sourcing artists and coordinating programming; staff will circulate follow‑up emails with schedules and design proposals.