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Public Art board approves Beachwalk 3-D designs, hears mural and festival updates
Summary
The Clearwater Public Art and Design Board approved three 3-D Beachwalk designs and received updates on several North Greenwood murals and a new Chalk the Bay Art and Music Festival slated for January 2027; staff will return with City Hall and BayCare proposals in July.
The Clearwater Public Art and Design Board on May 14 approved three 3-D art designs for new concrete pads on the Clearwater Beach Walk and heard progress reports on multiple mural projects and an upcoming arts festival.
Amber Bryce, Arts and Cultural Affairs Manager, told the board that three murals in North Greenwood are complete — at the North Greenwood Library by Ashley Kasins (funded through the Clark Turner Trust), at Safe House by Carlos Jefferson, and at Cherry Harris Park by Zulu Painter — and that a mural of longtime neighborhood leader Ese Gully is slated for the Ese Gully Head Start building with the subject’s permission. "Currently, there are 3 new murals in the North Greenwood area that have been completed as part of the Art Oasis Mural Festival," Bryce said, and she encouraged the public to view them in person.
Bryce also announced a new Chalk the Bay Art and Music Festival planned for January 2027, with artists beginning work on Friday, Jan. 15. "This will be a 2 to 3 day event aimed at highlighting both visual arts, while supporting economic activity for surrounding businesses," she said, adding that nearly 50 artist applications have already been submitted and that 80–100 artists may be feasible depending on budget and sponsorships.
On the Beachwalk project, Bryce described three 3-D designs by Laura Thomas — seashells, a stone crab and a tarpon — that parks staff approved for installation on new concrete pads near bedrock and water fountains. She said the artwork will receive a protective coating and likely need touch-ups every few years: "I mean, they will have a special coating on top, but...maybe it'll be an every 3 year thing. We'll do touch ups too," Bryce said.
Jonathan Barnes moved to approve the three Beachwalk designs. The board voted in favor; the chair declared the motion approved.
Bryce said staff also selected five artists to develop proposals for two larger commissions: a rear-facing BayCare Sound facade mural and an interior City Hall stairwell installation. She said the stairwell project will move quickly because the new City Hall is slated to open in October and that the board will review proposals at its July 9 meeting.
The Arts Alliance will rewrap several signal box artworks on Clearwater's beaches that were damaged in recent hurricanes, Bryce said, using Arts Alliance funds while replacement signal boxes await installation.
The board discussed festival programming and outreach, including plans for an emerging-artist/student zone on Cleveland Street and a kids' chalk area, and members suggested outreach to local ensembles such as the Pinellas Youth Symphony for possible performances. Members also discussed a small-city identity program (flower-themed art) to raise funds for the Clearwater Arts Alliance and support local artists.
The board did not take any additional formal action on the festival or the City Hall/BayCare proposals at the meeting; staff will return with proposals and funding requests for future meetings.
