A Gwinnett Creativity Fund grant awarded to the city of Suwanee’s Public Arts Commission by Explore Gwinnett will fund a mural on the side of the historic Pierce’s Corner building in the heart of Old Town Suwanee.
The building, which was constructed in 1910 and is one of the oldest commercial buildings in the city, will feature a mural 97 feet wide and 30 feet high. Throughout its 113 year history, the building has been a general store, a silent movie theater, a dentist’s office, and antique store and a gas station. The second floor of the building was once home to a Masonic Lodge. The city purchased the building in 2005 for renovations and preservation.
According to the city, the Gwinnett Creativity Fund, now in its fourth year, provides financial support to nonprofit arts and cultural organizations that boost economic development and further the Gwinnett community’s diverse cultural scene. The grants are funded by Gwinnett County.
The $10,000 Gwinnett Creativity Fund grant for the mural is one of several grants the city and local organizations have received in 2023. The Suwanee Arts Center received a $10,000 operating grant for renovation and expansion and $4,500 in funding to support its 2023 summer camps; Suwanee Performing Arts was given a $2,500 project grant to support Broadway in the Park; and a $3,000 project grant for an event was awarded for the African American Cultural & Arts Festival, a free event set for Aug. 26 at Suwanee Town Center Park.
The Gwinnett Creativity Fund has awarded almost $200,000 in grants to various county organizations in 2023.
“We are fortunate to be part of a community with such a flourishing arts and culture scene,” said Lisa Anders, Explore Gwinnett’s executive director, who leads the Gwinnett Creativity Fund. “The contributions of the local organizations who received a grant in 2023 have made a profound impact on our community’s well-being, cultural growth and vitality.”
The city of Suwanee has received Gwinnett Creativity Fund grants for several projects since 2020, including the Ultimate Participation Trophy in 2022, the Town Center Park amphitheater stage wings project in 2021 and the Buford Highway mural in 2020.
