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United We Go asks Bay City for partnership as mural festival expands
Summary
United We Go founder Jinane Ayana outlined a three‑year mural festival program and requested a meeting with city leadership and foundations to discuss a sustainable public‑art partnership; the group reported about $54,000 in direct cash funding and extensive volunteer and in‑kind contributions.
United We Go, a nonprofit that organizes Bay City’s mural festival, asked the commission on Aug. 10 for a formal meeting with the city manager and local funders to discuss a longer‑term public‑art partnership.
Founder and president Jinane Ayana summarized the organization’s recent activity and funding model, saying the group has completed nine festival‑founded murals and facilitated four privately commissioned murals and has leveraged grants, business sponsorships, donated materials and volunteer labor. Ayana said, "Our direct cash funding totaled just over 54,000," and described additional fundraising, donated materials and volunteer hours that multiplied that cash investment. She asked city leadership and community funders to explore ways to support a sustainable public‑art strategy that could attract additional private and grant funding.
Mayor and commissioners welcomed the presentation and thanked United We Go for adding vibrancy to Bay City’s public spaces. Ayana said the group is installing two additional Friendship Wall murals this week and will continue festival projects in 2027 as new mural spaces are approved.
