15 Jan Walls Between Waters 2026

ABOUT THE PROJECT
In 2025 The Essex County Land Bank, in partnership with the North Country Rural Development
Coalition (NRDC), worked with the community to install six mural projects in the Town of
Ticonderoga. This program was titled, ‘Walls Between Waters,’ and it was funded and administered
by the Essex County Land Bank in conjunction with state funding agencies and partners. This project
coincided with the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) in Ticonderoga and the
250th anniversary of the American Revolution. The project focused on the creation of six murals in
the downtown corridor, accompanied by a community festival. The 2025 project transformed or
stabilized blighted, vacant, or under-utilized properties through highly visible public art. The themes
for the projects were history, lake/river ecology and wildlife, music and modern culture, and
regional industry.
A new ‘ARTSCAPES’ brand was developed to encompass cultural programs in Essex County. Through
ARTSCAPES Essex County can continue to invest in public art and cultural initiatives— integrating
public art, housing revitalization, and economic development into a cohesive, county-wide strategy.
Under the ARTSCAPES umbrella, Walls Between Waters mural festival will return to Essex County
with new mural locations in Ticonderoga and neighboring Land Bank communities!
WHAT IS A MURAL FESTIVAL?
Mural Festivals involve the implementation of a group of murals in a condensed timeframe. Often all of
the murals are located within easy walking distance. The festival atmosphere draws media attention and
outside visitors while inviting residents to be part of the public art creation.
The mural festival will culminate on the final day of the event, June 6, 2026, when all the murals are
complete and celebrated with fanfare.
WHAT WILL THE MURALS LOOK LIKE?
Take a look at our 2025 murals in downtown Ticonderoga! We are commissioning a diverse collection of
artworks, which embody different artistic styles and highlight our community’s story. The themes for the
2026 projects are in development. Some of the previous themes included preserving history, lake/river
ecology and wildlife, music and modern culture, and local food. The community will be asked to engage
in the design process. There will be Public Art Feedback Surveys and opportunities for the community to
participate in workshops that will further inform the themes of the artwork.
WHEN AND WHERE WILL THIS PROJECT TAKE PLACE?
These murals will be installed in the downtown corridors of Ticonderoga and Jay in 2026. Murals will be
installed from May – July 2026, with a large celebration in Downtown Ticonderoga on June 6, 2026!
Specific mural locations will be determined with a combination of consultant guidance and local input.
Events surrounding the project will take place near the new mural installations.

WALLS BETWEEN WATERS MURAL FESTIVAL | ABOUT SHEET Page 2 of 3
WHO IS LEADING THIS EFFORT?
Leaders of the project include the Essex County Landbank and North Country Rural Development
Coalition with strong support and collaboration from Alexandra Hall with A H Public Spaces
Consulting, LLC. www.ahconsultingllc.com The Essex County Land Bank and NRDC are actively
seeking community partners to join in this exciting initiative.
Committees for this effort:

• Essex County Land Bank and their leadership
• Local-Level Steering Committee(s)
WHAT ARE THE GOALS FOR THE INIATIVE?
Project leadership has identified five goals for this mural festival:
1. Enhance Community Identity: Strengthen community pride and identity through large-scale public
art installations.
2. Revitalize Vacant Spaces: Transform vacant and abandoned properties into vibrant public spaces.
3. Foster Community Engagement: Involve local residents, businesses, and leaders in the planning and
execution of the project.
4. Promote Economic Development: Attract visitors and increase foot traffic in downtown
Ticonderoga.
5. Educate and Involve Students: Implement apprenticeship and outreach programs to engage local
students in art and community development.
HOW MUCH DOES THIS PROJECT COST, AND WHO IS PAYING FOR THIS
PUBLIC ART?
Project leaders have identified a total project cost of approximately $150,000.00. The total cost
includes considerations for all facets of the project, including marketing initiatives, events, artist
fees, supplies, and more. Funding for the project will come from Homes and Community Renewal’s
Land Bank Initiative program. Essex County Land Bank will serve as the fiscal agent for the initiative.
HOW CAN LOCAL ARTISTS GET INVOLVED?
There are three ways local and regional creatives can join this initiative.
1. High-quality, large-scale mural installation requires experience and skill. There will be an opportunity for
creatives to apply to paint one of the mural projects—the artist open call opportunity closed in
December 2025.
2. If local creatives want to learn how to install murals, the mural festival Apprentice Program is meant to
offer aspiring mural artists an opportunity to garner valuable experience installing large-scale murals.
Through this program, volunteer apprentices will be paired with experienced muralists. Apprentices will
be asked to help assist in the mural installation during the mural festival.
3. Mural festival leadership is developing a Steering Committee, and local artists are encouraged to
participate on this committee. Being on this committee does not prevent an artist from applying to install
a mural or prevent them from participating in an apprentice opportunity.

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WHY INVEST IN MURALS AND PUBLIC ART?
Many communities are utilizing public art to create a positive impact in their hometown. Investing
in arts and culture initiatives creates an environment for prosperity and growth.
According to Americans for the Arts, public art engages a community, engenders a sense of pride and
community identity, and enhances a community’s quality of life. Investing in arts and culture initiatives
creates the environment for this prosperity and growth. When patrons attend an arts event, they may
pay for parking, eat dinner at a restaurant, shop in local retail stores, and have dessert on the way
home. Based on surveys conducted by Americans for the Arts, in 2018, the typical attendee spends
$31.47 per person, per event, beyond the cost of admission. 34% of attendees came from outside the
county in which the arts event took place, and they spent twice as much as their local counterparts
($47.57 vs. $23.44). Initiatives like this, which improve quality of life across the region, can increase
the quality of the regional labor force, which will continue to positively affect business and talent
attraction efforts. This will result in an increased per capita personal income.

The before and after images of 85 Montcalm Street, Ticonderoga, NY | 2025 Walls Between Waters; artist Arlin Graff

HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?
There will be various town hall workshops hosted by project partners and managed by Alexandra
Hall. Hall will visit Essex County on January 14th & 15th, 2026 to discuss public art implementation,
gather feedback from the community, answer questions, and further explain the mural festival
concept. The entire community is encouraged to attend these meetings.
A Public Art Feedback Survey has launched! This survey is anonymous, and it provides valuable
community feedback. Please consider taking the survey.
If you would like to be on a steering committee, please reach out to Nicole Justice Green or
Alexandra Hall.
Nicole Justice Green, Executive Director, North Country Rural Development & Essex County Land
Bank; Email: [email protected]
Alexandra Hall, A H Public Spaces Consulting, LLC. www.ahconsultingllc.com
Email: [email protected]