TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Downtown Partnership wants to add more murals to the Channelside area in an effort to add culture and increase tourism in the Tampa Bay area.
Artist Terry Klaaren is the eigth artist to receive a $2,500 grant as part of the Activate Downtown Micro-Grant Program.
For Klaaren, the project has special meaning.
His mural, located near Washington and 12th Street, is in honor of his late wife. She passed away earlier this year.
"It's very therapeutic to me to work on something that will be around hopefully for a long long time here and it kind of tells a story or gives an idea of who my wife was, the wonderful person that she was," says Klaaren.
Klaaren has lived in Tampa for many years, In fact, he painted murals on more than 100 schools, hospitals and homes throughout Hillsborough County. Fun fact: if you visited MOSI he designed the Recyclosaurus.
Linda Remund says the Downtown Partnership still has grants available for an artist who wants to improve the area.
"It really just adds to the eclectic nature of the community," says Remund.
If you know an artist that wants to get involved, click here to find out more.
