Overview: Mission Hills banners
With judging taking place back in January, the award winners will be honored at a reception on Feb. 23 at the Library Shop – Mission Hills.
One of the keys to having a strong and productive community anywhere is getting the young people involved.
Such is the case in Mission Hills, where a hand-painted banner art contest has sparked a greater interest among youths in the community.
“In 2019, the Colors on Canvas children’s hand-painted banner program featuring Mission Hills businesses was launched,” said the Mission Hills Business Improvement District‘s executive director Susan McNeil Schreyer. “It has grown into an annual community building event. It unites the entire community.”
The current variation of the contest was launched last September. The banners were placed throughout Mission Hills last Dec. 22.
With judging taking place back in January, the award winners will be honored at a reception on Feb. 23 at the Library Shop in Mission Hills.
“Colors on Canvas hand-painted banner art contest has been the most important public art that our school has been involved in,” said Sarah Ekedal, an art coordinator at Grant School who oversees the children’s hand-painted banner art.
“The volume of work that the students put forth and the hours of excited creativity they engage in are awe-inspiring. It has been my absolute joy and privilege to be a part of this wonderful community engagement.”
“Colors on Canvas continues to be a great way to highlight our small businesses through children’s hand-painted art,” added Jamaal Jackson, president of the Mission Hills Business Improvement. “These huge banners engage the whole community through the eyes of schoolchildren.”
The project is a win-win in the eyes of those who are parents and own local businesses.
“As a Mission Hills mom, resident, and small business owner, it truly means so much to be part of this event,” said Backbone Floral owner Jesse Zmuda.
Of course, the project would not have come to fruition were it not for the students involved.
“It’s so cool to see my and my friends’ artwork of Mission Hills businesses on lampposts around the neighborhood,” said Billie Burnell, an eighth-grader at Grant School.
More information on the program can be found here.
