Mayor Mallory wins City Livability award from U.S. Conference of Mayors

Earlier this month ArtWorks Director Tamara Harkavy hinted at a "huge national award" that was going to be awarded to Cincinnati for MuralWorks - a program that has brought 34 murals to more than two dozen neighborhoods throughout Cincinnati.  That award was announced last week by the U.S. Conference of Mayors as they handed out their City Livability award to Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory for the program.

The "large city" award was given to Mayor Mallory for his leadership in developing and implementing a program that "improves the quality of life in an American city, focusing on leadership, creativity, and innovation."  More than 200 applicants were a part of this year's awards.

"It is a great honor to have a program in Cincinnati recognized by mayors from around the country," said Mayor Mallory.  "It is undeniable that MuralWorks is transforming our neighborhoods.  ArtWorks does great work throughout Cincinnati and I am proud to work with them to share beautiful public art with the people of Cincinnati."

Since the Mayor's MuralWorks program teamed with ArtWorks, 280 youth have been hired over the course of the summer months.  Mayor Mallory pushed the partnership in 2007 when he asked ArtWorks to do at least one mural in each of the city's 52 neighborhoods.

ArtWorks' Harkavy estimates that more than 200 million motorists will be exposed to the murals on an annual basis following the completion of the summer program's six new murals this year.

At the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) 78th Annual Meeting, judges described Cincinnati's MuralWorks program as an overwhelming winner and many of the mayors hoped to replicate it in their respective cities.

"For more than three decades now, the City Livability Award has been one of the most prestigious awarded by this organization, and one of the most competitive," said USCM President and Burnsville Mayor, Elizabeth Kautz.   "Each year, hundreds of mayors and their city governments submit a wide range of programs for consideration, vying for the honor to call themselves a City Livability Award winner."

Harkavy stated that ArtWorks interviewed 385 children for the program this year and was only able to hire 75 due to current economic conditions.  You can support the nationally acclaimed program by making a donation online or by mailing a check made out to "ArtWorks" at 20 East Central Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45202.

Writer: Randy A. Simes
Photography by Scott Beseler
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