Crowdfunding campaign launched for the ‘Bangladesh: Coming to America Mural Project’ in Hamtramck

$22,000 goal to win matching grant through MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places initiative

Lansing, Mich. – A vacant wall in Hamtramck will be transformed into a public art piece for the whole community to enjoy with the help of a new crowdfunding campaign, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and the Peace Action Education Fund in partnership with OneHamtramck announced today. The campaign, being offered through Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity, will create a giant visual tribute to Bangladeshi history and culture.

If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $22,000 by April 15, the project will win a matching grant with funds made possible by MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places program. For project details and to donate, please visit: www.Patronicity.com/BanglaMural.

“Public art and murals can help transform community blocks and bring life and vibrancy to a new part of town. We are proud to serve as a partner to help increase the connections between community members and foster diversity,” said MEDC Senior Vice President of Community Development Katharine Czarnecki. “Crowdfunding is an innovative way for residents, businesses, and other stakeholders to generate excitement, pool resources, and fill funding gaps to activate great public spaces and community places.”

This community-led art project will be located on the Hamtramck/Detroit border on the east wall of the Bridge Academy West school. The large mural, painted by world-class Mexican muralist MARKA27, will shine throughout the Bangladeshi community and serve as a beacon for all the neighbors who hold diversity and respect for all cultures as essential in living together in harmony. The Bangladesh: Coming to America mural will be the first large outdoor Bangladesh-themed mural in America.

“OneHamtramck is proud to once again produce a large mural for a community of people who deserve more attention and respect. Our previous mural has become a symbol for the Yemeni Arab Muslims that have been severely marginalized since their arrival to the area in the 1950s. It has become a beacon drawing world attention to the existence of a proud and productive community,” said OneHamtramck Executive Director Bill Meyer.

Public Spaces Community Places is a collaborative effort of the MEDC, the Michigan Municipal League, and Patronicity, in which local residents can use crowdfunding to be part of the development of strategic projects in their communities and be backed with a matching grant from MEDC. Communities, nonprofits and other business entities can apply at https://patronicity.com/puremichigan.

“Culture and diversity are essential elements to a thriving community,” said Dan Gilmartin, CEO and executive director of the Michigan Municipal League. “The Bangladeshi mural will show the community and the rest of the world that those attributes are alive and well in Hamtramck.”

The Public Spaces Community Places initiative started in 2014 with MEDC providing matched funding of up to $50,000 for community improvement projects throughout Michigan. As of February 15, 2018, MEDC has provided $4,700,666 in matching grants. Since the launch of the program, 154 projects have been successful in reaching their goal, with $5.6 million raised from 28,416 individual donors.

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.