City of Long Beach
Public Information Office
411 W. Ocean Blvd,
Long Beach, CA 90802
www.longbeach.gov
Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach, in partnership with the Arts Council for Long Beach (ArtsLB), unveiled the final installations of 10 murals as part of the Public Mural Program. The selected artists were recognized for their contribution to Long Beach’s vibrant arts and culture at the Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, Long Beach City Council meeting following a reception celebrating the artists at Long Beach City Hall. The Public Mural Program is an entity of the City's Creative Economy Grants Program that was funded by the Long Beach Recovery Act (Recovery Act) and administered by ArtsLB. The new murals were installed in communities most heavily impacted by COVID-19 and with the goal of uplifting the spirit of the neighborhood and improving the experience of public spaces.
“The Public Mural Program has been a wonderful success in recognizing and uplifting the unique and diverse voices of our local artists and youth,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “These new murals not only beautify our city—they celebrate the vibrant spirit of our community and will inspire and connect us for years to come.”
Installation of all 10 murals was completed in January 2025 at various locations throughout the city. Mural locations were selected based on a number of factors, including the impact of COVID-19 on local communities and the availability of wall spaces at public sites throughout the city, with one location selected in each of the nine Council Districts. An additional mural was completed at the City’s Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network (LBWIN) Youth Career Services Center, which brought together local youth and Economic Development Department staff to create a meaningful community mural that uplifts the voices of youth in Long Beach. This mural was funded by savings from the Recovery Act’s ActivateLB Cultural Events Program that were transferred in May 2024 to the Creative Economy Grants Program.
The 10 artists, their completed murals and mural locations are listed below:
Throughout the Public Mural Program, the City and ArtsLB worked closely with the community and local leaders to identify local artists, mural locations and final mural concepts. In January 2024, the City and ArtsLB conducted a community survey and convened selection panels of community leaders to determine mural themes that best reflect the local community. In June 2024, the City opened the Public Mural Program’s public voting period, inviting community members to vote for the concept they would like to see implemented at each selected mural location. Additionally, local youth actively participated in the LBWIN Youth Career Services Center mural project to provide input on the final design, as well as work alongside and receive mentorship from the artist and gain hands-on experience in artistic techniques and creative expression.
More information about the program and the final murals is available on the ArtsLB website.
The Creative Economy Grants program provided funding to local arts, culture and history nonprofits and professional artists to be utilized for operational recovery, public murals, community projects and professional artist fellowships. ArtsLB administered the Creative Economy Grants Program, which included $155,000 to support the Public Mural Program, for which the City made public facilities throughout Long Beach available to artists for new mural artwork.
"The Creative Economy Grant Program has been a transformative initiative for our city, providing critical support to artists and cultural organizations while driving economic recovery and innovation,” said Griselda Suarez, Executive Director of ArtsLB. “It underscores Long Beach’s commitment to fostering creativity as a vital component of our community’s resilience and growth."
This opportunity was made possible by the Long Beach Recovery Act, a plan to fund economic and public health initiatives for residents, workers and businesses critically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately one million dollars was allocated from the Recovery Act, including $122,000 in savings from ActivateLB for additional murals and ongoing mural maintenance, to support the City’s arts and culture organizations. Additional information about the Long Beach Recovery Act is available at longbeach.gov/recovery.
About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.
For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.