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Council hears update on ARPA-funded Cambodia Town public art project; selection committee received submissions
Summary
Staff reported that Lowell received a New England Foundation for the Arts spatial-justice grant for a Cambodian Town installation; selection is underway and six movable panels will be displayed temporarily at JFK Plaza before permanent placement at Clemente Park.
The council received an update March 25 on an ARPA-funded public-art program focused on Cambodia Town. City staff and partners said Lowell was the only municipality in the recent New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) spatial-justice grant cycle to receive funding for a public-art installation that highlights an historically underserved community.
Peter Crewe (CASE/Cultural Affairs) described a selection process in which 14 artists submitted applications from Massachusetts and beyond. The selection committee — which includes members of the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association (CMAA) and local community representatives — will review applications and select artists this week, Crewe said. YouthBuild has delivered six 4-by-8 panels to the city; staff said the panels are intended to be movable so they can be displayed at JFK Plaza this summer and later installed permanently at Clemente Park after park renovations.
Councilors praised the project’s goal of affirming the Cambodian community’s history in Lowell and noted that the timeline seeks some completed pieces in time for Khmer cultural events in May. Staff said grant agreements and contracts with selected artists will be expedited by city law and arts staff once selections are complete.
No formal council vote was required; the item was presented as an official report and accepted as progress.
