The National Endowment for the Arts has awarded the Boone County Public Library a $25,000 grant to support a proposed outdoor mural project depicting several national heroes and trailblazers.
Through the grant, the Boone County Public Library proposed a project called In Words We Rise: Celebrating American Trailblazers, which would feature an outdoor exhibit at the main library in Burlington, consisting of eight mural panels measuring 8′ x 16′ each.
“Libraries are places where stories are preserved, shared and brought to life,” Grant Writer for Boone County Public Library Julie Althaver said in a news release. “This project allows us to take history beyond our walls and into the community, using public art to honor American heroes while inviting reflection, learning and conversation as we approach the nation’s 250th anniversary.”
Each mural will feature three individuals recognized as American heroes, in accordance with Executive Order 13934, and will be firmly attached to the building. The executive order, signed in 2020 by President Donald Trump, calls for the development of a national garden featuring 250 statues of notable Americans, including Founding Fathers, athletes, business figures, and pop culture icons.