BIA seeking students to help beautify downtown

The Oshawa Downtown BIA is looking to beautify the downtown landscape through a banner initiative to fill the city’s streets with artwork.

The BIA is seeking emerging graphic design students and artists from Durham College to submit proposals for design of its fall/winter and/or holiday banners.

The BIA will be responsible for printing the digitally submitted artwork onto banners and installation.

“The Downtown Durham College banner competition is an exciting opportunity for our students to have their art displayed  prominently throughout the downtown core, while at the same time contributing to the beautification of our downtown,” said Don Lovisa, Durham College president in a news release. “Public art is important to the social fabric of our community and society, as it engages citizens in conversation and can make public spaces more approachable. We are very pleased to be a contributor to this exciting public art project.”

Using a community development lens, BIA officials want to involve different stakeholders to enhance and support the art scene of Oshawa.

According to the media release, the colours chosen for this initiative are meant to represent the different aspects of downtown – from its streets and green spaces to its businesses.

“We’re excited to be working with the leaders of tomorrow to design a new look and launch our new logo – community development is at the heart of all Oshawa BIA projects,” said BIA executive director Amanda MacDonald.

The deadline for submission is Oct. 31 at 4:30 p.m., and can be sent to MacDonald at amanda@downtownoshawa.ca, in person, or by mail at the Oshawa Downtown BIA at 21 Simcoe Street in Oshawa.

The winning bid will receive a prize of $500.