Art Meets Science in Searcy

(Editor’s Note: Each year, Arkansas Business partners with the Arkansas Municipal League to present the Trendsetter City awards, which recognize exceptional initiatives underway in municipalities across the state. Large, medium and small-sized cities were honored in six categories: Diversity and Inclusion; Education/Workforce Development; Infrastructure and Water; Public Works/Environmental and Green Management; Technology and Security; and Tourism Development/Creative Culture. Below is one winner’s story. For more, click here.) 

Tourism Development/Creative Culture
Winner • Over 20,000

The Challenge

Searcy faced a challenge in revitalizing its downtown area, which had become a place people simply passed through. Leaders and community members’ goal was to enhance the city’s cultural landscape through the arts with creative placemaking. This led to the Think Art Project, which focused on bringing public art and murals to the area to boost local engagement and improve the city’s image​.

The Solution

Searcy launched a series of public art projects starting in 2018. The first project involved a mural on the historic Quattlebaum Music Center, followed by the creation of Art Alley. In 2024, the city leveraged the April 8 solar eclipse to create a mural tour featuring QR codes, allowing for self-guided experiences with artist insights. The community came together to produce and edit videos with context from the artists.

Space Age Art

Searcy unveiled a new space-themed mural two weeks before the April 8, 2024 eclipse. Local students also created space-themed mini-murals for the Eclipse Mural Tour.

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