Explore Gwinnett Awards More Than $99,000 in Placemaking Grants to Eight Gwinnett County Projects
Tuesday, October 27th, 2026
Explore Gwinnett, the destination marketing organization for Gwinnett County, today announced it has awarded more than $99,000 through the Gwinnett Creativity Fund's (GCF) 2026-27 Placemaking Grant cycle. The funding will support eight projects designed to enhance art and cultural spaces across Gwinnett County, including new murals, public art planning and restoration of local attractions.
“Placemaking is about giving people a reason to linger, look around and feel connected to where they are,” said Lisa Anders, Explore Gwinnett’s chief operating officer. “What stands out about this year’s group of recipients is how broadly that idea can be applied, from murals that add color to everyday spaces to restorations that give existing community assets new life. These projects will give residents and visitors new art to discover and new stories to experience in communities throughout Gwinnett County.”
The 2026-2027 grant awards range from $7,300 to $19,000 and will support projects throughout Gwinnett County, including murals, a sculpture, traffic signal box artwork, public art planning, theatre improvements and restoration work.
The 2026-2027 Placemaking Grant recipients are:
· $19,000 to Southeastern Railway Museum for baggage car restoration work
· $18,500 to Art in Motion for a mural at Discovery Park in Lawrenceville
· $13,000 to Gateway 85 for the ONE mural
· $12,000 to City of Suwanee Public Arts Commission for the "Better Buford Highway Project" murals
· $12,000 to Gwinnett Place CID for the "Gwinnett Place Placemaking Pilot" public art plan
· $9,600 to Norcross Public Arts Commission for the "White Squirrels" sculpture in Pinnacle Park
· $8,000 to Hudgens Center for restoration work of the Black Box Theatre
· $7,300 to Lawrenceville Arts Commission for the "At the Corners of Memory" traffic signal box wraps
“Art and culture are an important part of what makes Gwinnett special,” said Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson. “Through the Gwinnett Creativity Fund, we’re investing in projects that celebrate our diverse communities, honor our history, and bring new life to public spaces. These investments go beyond beautification. They create opportunities for people to connect, experience something new and see their communities reflected in the places they call home.”
The annual Placemaking Grant is part of the Gwinnett Creativity Fund (GCF), which was established in 2020 to support arts and cultural initiatives that contribute to Gwinnett County’s identity as a vibrant and inclusive destination. Managed by Explore Gwinnett and funded by the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners, the fund provides resources to local organizations and initiatives that strengthen Gwinnett’s creative and cultural landscape.
To learn more about the GCF, visit GwinnettCreativityFund.com. For details on Explore Gwinnett, visit ExploreGwinnett.org. Stay up-to-date on the latest news by following @ExploreGwinnett on Instagram or ExploreGwinnett on Facebook.
