Prairie Arts Center
North Platte, Neb. - Over the next couple of weeks, you will see new artwork added to the downtown area. The Prairie Arts Center will bring Sculpture Walk Across Nebraska (SWAN) to North Platte this spring. The non-profit arts organization has been working with SWAN communities of Norfolk, Grand Island and artists from Wayne over the last year. PAC learned about the program two years ago, when they purchased a sculpture with a grant from Mid Nebraska Community Foundation by artist Mike Fluent through the Sculpture Walk Across Grand Island program. Since then, Sculpture Walk Across North Platte was created.
The program allows communities to rent sculptures for one year. Community members can participate in a walking audio tour through Otocast, which connects listeners to an audio file of artists and communities talking about each project. This year five sculptures will arrive in the spring in North Platte. PAC worked in conjunction with the City of North Platte, The Downtown Association and the Canteen District on placement of the sculptures. You can log onto prairieartscenter.org for more information on sculpture placement.
Holly Carlini, Executive Director of the PAC says, "We've been waiting a long time for the sculptures to be placed. SWAN is a cooperative effort between NP, Grand Island, Norfolk, Valentine and Wayne, Nebraska that provides a revolving art experience in walking districts. The goal is to add art that will inspire, entertain and attract visitors."
Over the next few weeks the City of NP will install bases and Wymans will weld the sculptures into place. We are working with businesses and organizations for sponsors of the sculptures. This year The Canteen District, Schmidt Foundation and the Downtown Association will sponsor the sculptures. Kwik Stop is sponsoring the Otocast program.
The Canteen District will sponsor sculptures over the next few years. Some of the sculptures are interactive and have traveled across many states. Sculptures will rotate on an annual basis between communities, providing ever charging art that will beautify the Creative Arts District in Downtown North Platte.
The Prairie Arts Center is home to the first permanent sculpture from the Sculpture Walk Across Nebraska Program. The North Platte Sculpture Walk is a yearlong, self-guided tour with access to the Otocast App which you can download for additional information on artists, sculptures, sponsors and locations.