The Tulip City Walls Mural Festival is a vibrant, award-winning public art event transforming Holland's Eastcore neighborhood. With support from you, this year's festival will extend our impact by increasing access for underrepresented youth in the arts through a free Mural Camp with Michigan artist Dustin Hunt of Muralmatics.
Youth Mural Camps give middle and high school students the chance to create professional-quality murals while developing technical and personal skills. By incorporating students' interests and ideas into the designs, these camps celebrate their stories and contributions to their communities. Students learn techniques like spray painting, using ladders, and the "scribble grid" method while building relationships and creative confidence.
Learning Outcomes include the following.
- Build Strong Relationships
- Grow Confidence Through Accomplishments
- Step Into Leadership Roles
- Learn New Artistic Skills
- Create Meaningful Public Art
- Engage Mind and Body
- Experience Community and Celebration
In supporting our Youth Mural Camp, you will provide valuable education for the next generation of our neighborhood while enhancing public spaces as a part of our Tulip City Walls Mural Festival.
The Tulip City Walls Mural Festival began after neighborhood listening sessions revealed the number one desire of residents was for more connection: to each other and to a neighborhood identity. We first debuted two (2) new murals in 2022, paired with a neighborhood block party that drew over 200 attendees.
In 2023, 3Sixty and community partners organized the inaugural Tulip City Walls Mural Festival, which installed five (5) permanent murals around Eastcore's Columbia Avenue commercial district. Our festival featured a DJ, food trucks, a beer tent, a dog parade, a chalk art contest, a car and coffee show, a vintage sale, and a community resource expo highlighting other local nonprofits and their services. According to data from the Holland Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, over 2,200 neighbors, Holland residents, and out-of-town guests visited throughout the four-day event.
Our success in 2023 even earned 3Sixty national recognition when we were nominated and awarded a 1st Place "Neighborhood of the Year" award for Physical Revitalization/Beautification by Neighborhoods, USA (NUSA). In total, our 2024 Tulip City Walls Mural Festival drew approximately 3,100 individuals from throughout the Great Lakes Region to witness the creation of six (6) new permanent murals from eight (8) muralists, including internationally recognized artists from the Netherlands, Canada, and the U.S.
In addition to the outcomes associated with our first-ever Youth Mural Camp, our goals for 2025 include:
- Create 10 new permanent murals that reflect our theme for this year ("Invest in Community") with accompanying artist statement plaques in Eastcore
- Host 100 attendees for our first-ever free-to-the-public "Meet the Artists" Reception and Dialogue where community members can interact with muralists through a facilitated discussion on art's power to cultivate neighborhood pride
- Increase our attendance to 3,500 over the course of the festival
*Organization Impact
For years, the Eastcore neighborhood was dismissed as "the ghetto," but public art has rewritten that narrative. The murals have brought people from across Holland and beyond, fostering understanding of the immigrant journey and creating a deeper connection between cultures. What was once a neighborhood many avoided is now a thriving destination filled with art, culture, and community.
Tulip City Walls is more than painting walls--it's about shifting perspectives, fostering connections, and celebrating the diverse stories that make our community stronger. The festival turns blank walls into canvases of storytelling, cultural expression, and public dialogue. Through artist talks, workshops, and interactive mural-making, residents actively engage in shaping their public spaces.
The impact extends beyond cultural enrichment:
National Recognition: The 2023 Tulip City Walls Mural Festival received a 1st national award from Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) for 'Neighborhood of the Year', recognizing our physical revitalization and beautification work in our Eastcore neighborhood.
Social Justice & Inclusion: Recognizing the murals' role in transforming Eastcore and fostering a more inclusive community, the City of Holland's Human Relations Committee awarded 3Sixty the 2024 Social Justice Award for Community Relations. This honor highlights how public art can be a powerful tool for representation, belonging, and equity.
A Festival Unlike Any Other: Mural artists from across the U.S. and abroad have praised Tulip City Walls for its unique approach. Unlike many for-profit mural festivals, 3Sixty, as a nonprofit, is not driven by commercial gain. The festival is more intimate, bringing art directly to neighborhood streets, allowing residents to witness the creative process up close. Artists are treated as friends, embraced by the community, and given a family-like experience that makes this festival stand out.
Economic Growth: Studies show that for every dollar spent on a mural, communities can see up to $24 in economic activity. The Tulip City Walls Mural Festival has increased foot traffic along Columbia Avenue's business corridor, supporting the growth of local businesses including Mi Favorita, Colin's Bakery, and JJ Auto Sales.
Tourism & Visibility: Public murals attract visitors, supporting small businesses and creating landmarks within the city.
Community Pride & Safety: Research indicates that areas with murals experience less crime due to increased foot traffic and neighborhood pride.
Representation & Belonging: For many, these murals provide a long-overdue sense of visibility and affirmation. As longtime resident Juan Mascorro shared, "After I saw the murals, I finally felt like I belonged here."
Supporting Artists: The festival gives muralists a platform to engage with the Eastcore community and refine their skills. Up-and-coming artists gain valuable experience through "box murals," allowing them to create large-scale works for the first time and learn what it takes to be part of a mural festival.
Additionally, partnerships with educational institutions like Black River Public School further the festival's reach, providing students with opportunities to engage with artists, learn about cultural narratives, and participate in meaningful public humanities programming.
By investing in public art, we are investing in a stronger, more connected community--one where every story has a place and every resident feels seen. Tulip City Walls is not just revitalizing Eastcore; it's redefining what our neighborhood stands for.