Mandan is turning a downtown alley into a canvas for history and culture. With $40,000 in grant funding, the city is launching an art alley project, bringing five to six murals to a pedestrian-friendly space on West Main Street. The artwork will celebrate the heritage of the Northern Plains, with one mural inviting the community to take part in a paint-by-numbers design. Murals begin in June, with a fall unveiling—turning an ordinary alley into a vibrant reflection of Mandan’s identity.
Mandan isn’t the only place with activities like this taking place. We expect to be sharing similar news from Minot before too long. It’s all part of a new model of economic development called placemaking. Rather than try to attract jobs, communities simply make themselves nice places to live that residents have pride in; the jobs follow.
