Embrace and Belonging 

In the summer of 2021, the City of Burlington's Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (REIB) office conceived of a public art project that would become a landmark focal point for the community. REIB Partnered with Burlington City Arts (BCA) and Burlington Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront (BPRW) to find a suitable location for the project. Dewey Park was viewed as an ideal location based on a variety of factors, including its central location in the Old North End and proximity to the Integrated Arts Academy, which would make the artwork highly visible to a broad community, especially Burlington’s youth. The park is also home to a farmer’s market in the summer, reinforcing the project’s commitment to strengthening community involvement and use of the park. REIB partnered with BCA to issue a call to artists, support the selection process, and manage the implementation of the project.

For the most up-to-date information on this project, please refer to the Embrace and Belonging page created by City's Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging.