Beautification + Arts & Sciences
Revitalize, Experience & Inspire
The City of Flagstaff Beautification, Arts and Sciences Program enhances a sense of place, humanizing the built environment while weaving in the natural environment.
Beautification
Beautification focuses on aesthetic enhancements of public space. From community gardens and neighborhood paths to colorful flowers and vibrant public art, Beautification enlivens the city. Staff work with individuals, groups, non-profit organizations, and small businesses, as well as the Beautification and Public Art Commission, to implement projects that provide a lasting benefit to the community and include:
Landscaping
Beautification & Public Art Features in Streetscapes
Small & Large Community Projects
Arts & Sciences
Arts & Sciences revolves around cultural nonprofit funding and public art within the community.
INITIATIVES
Public Art Program
Public art gives cities and neighborhoods distinct character and a sense of place. It encourages communication, promotes neighborhood identity, and creates urban exclamation points for visitors and residents alike. Whether a sculpture, mural, mosaic, or photo collage, each artwork tells a story—some inspiring, some meditative, many with whimsical surprises, while others are expressly intended to leave a legacy for future generations. Public art under this program is funded and owned by the public. It is accessible to all and viewable with no admission fee.
Public artworks are typically solicited through a call-to-artists process and are juried by a selection panel made up of community members. The Beautification and Public Art Commission reviews all public art projects. Many of the city’s pieces are inspired by the natural surroundings and local culture of Flagstaff and northern Arizona to reflect the rich heritage of the area.
Among Trees by Marie Jones, Flagstaff Municipal Court
The Coconino Scroll by Pete Goldlust and Melanie Germond, Flagstaff Pulliam Airport
Touch home, reach sky by Maria Salenger/Jones Studio, Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library
Traffic Cabinet Art-Wraps by mostly local artists
Learn more about the City of Flagstaff’s public art collection and take a self-guided tour using the
Discover Flagstaff: Public Art and Art Map.
Arts & Sciences Non-Profits
Arts & Sciences non-profits help enliven Flagstaff, bringing theater, the arts, and scientific activities to the Flagstaff community. The city's flow-through funding to Creative Flagstaff supports more than 40 local arts and science organizations annually with both operating and project support.
Beautification in Action Grants
The Beautification Program awards up to $4,500 for streetscape art and beautification projects that enhance the urban environment and strengthen community relationships. Community members, groups, schools, local businesses, and nonprofits are eligible to apply and receive funding for publicly accessible and/or publicly visible projects like community gardens, benches, murals and more.
Flowers Program
Hanging baskets, barrels, planters, and a pollinator garden grace Historic Downtown, brimming with climate-appropriate plants and flowers. From spring to fall, Flagstaff’s floral displays bring beauty to residents and visitors and support pollinators and wildlife including bees, butterflies, birds, and bats. During winter, flowers are replaced by hardy yet festive blue spruce trees.
Route 66 Interpretive Trail
During its heyday, Route 66 signage directed travelers to nearby national parks and monuments. This project adopts the same rustic “Parkitecture” design on its commemorative monuments installed along 15-plus miles of Route 66 within Flagstaff city limits. Existing highway signage, Walk this Talk, and numerous murals celebrate the road’s importance.
Project Maintenance
To preserve the community's investment in beautification, ongoing maintenance of these projects is overseen by this program. Currently, City of Flagstaff crews maintain more than fifty acres of enhancement landscaping.
Historic Preservation
For more on this program, focused on preservation of the historic environment of Flagstaff, visit the Heritage Preservation page.