Putnam County Mural Festival receives $25,000 grant

The Putnam County Mural Project recently announced its participation in the CreatINg Places grant through the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA). This grant will help fund the first-ever Putnam County Mural Festival this fall. In order to receive the $25,000 match through the IHCDA program, the group must first raise $25,000 from the community by the June 5 deadline.

So far, the group has already secured a $10,300 gift from 100 Men of Putnam County and a $500 gift from the Greencastle Civic League. Donations are now being sought from individuals, corporations and other nonprofits to help meet the CreatINg Places match. 

Another condition of the CreatINg Places matching grant is to have as many donors contribute to the campaign as possible. The festival organizers are asking for donations at any amount in order to meet the specific crowdfunding requirements that are necessary for the $25,000 match.

In 2019, the Putnam County Mural Project also received a grant to create one of the state’s largest murals on the silos at the intersection of Veterans Memorial Highway and U.S. Highway 231.

“We are lucky to have a grant like this in Indiana that helps build vibrant communities,” said Chris Flegal, leader of the Putnam County Mural Project. “We wouldn’t be able to have a festival this ambitious without their support. Now, we’re hoping that the community will get as excited as we are about this countywide festival and help us meet our match. We are looking for as many donors as possible to meet the specific campaign requirements–any amount can help us get to our match.”

Donations are being accepted at putnamcountymuralproject.org. Funds raised will go toward prepping the walls and paying artist stipends and materials, as well as a community block party on Sept. 23, 2022.

The application period for artists to submit a proposal to the Putnam County Mural Festival will close on April 24 and the selection process will begin soon. The murals will be started in mid-September and completed by Sept. 23, 2022.

The mural locations will include the Banner-Graphic building and Putnam County Visitors Center in Greencastle, Off the Rails alleyway and Community Park building in Roachdale, as well as Tom’s Cookies in Fillmore.