At the Feb. 12 meeting of the Arts and Culture Commission, newly revamped for 2025, members discussed moving forward with the civic arena mural as well as the creation of new arts and culture grants.
In October, the board selected Artist Lili Lennox as the muralist for the Hastings Civic Arena mural.
“She did something unexpected for us […] we were floored by it,” said Vice Chair Steven Read. Lennox’s design is centered around a hockey player before Hastings City Hall and the Highway 61 Bridge with cards spanning the length of the building featuring players and locations notable to Hastings and Hastings hockey.
At the meeting the members discussed final tweaks to this design and how it would affect the overall cost of the mural. Changes centered around the content of the cards to include the Hastings Hockey Day Minnesota logo within the mural as well as to include female hockey players and skaters famous to Hastings like Amanda Truax.
The goal is to “have as much representation as we can for Hastings’ skating talent,” said Hastings Economic Development Coordinator Alex Menke.
The commission also voted 4-0 to increase the size of the cards by 25% from 5x7 to 6’3”x8’9”. The change is expected to increase the cost of the mural by some $12,410, bringing the total cost to $71,810.
Due to the Art and Culture Commission’s $20,000 annual budget, to pay for the mural, the commission will be taking out interest-free loans from the city’s general fund, that is expected to be paid off over the next four years.
This year the Arts and Culture Commission is also unveiling grants for arts and culture events in the city. The Arts and Culture Commission will be setting aside $6,000 for arts and culture grants and allowing local art and cultural groups to “be able to host more, or add to existing, events in Hastings,” according to the draft of the grant program presented at the meeting.
Applicants will be able to apply for up to $1,000 to host an event up to once a year. Funds from the grant can go towards reserving spaces, paying entertainers/artists, supplies, and applying for city permits for events that must be open to the public but not necessarily free.
This year the application window for both categories of grants will be on a rolling basis, with a dedicated application window to begin in 2026.
For more information on the Arts and Culture Commission, visit the Hastings City website at https://www.hastingsmn.gov/city-government/commissions/arts-and-culture-commission