I HeART Main Street

The I HeART Main Street program by STEPS Public Art, supported by RBC, is an annual initiative since 2020 that strengthens local main streets through creative placemaking and public art services. Partnering with BIAs and artists across Canada, the program fosters co-created artworks, arts workshops, and local story sharing while enhancing tourism through creative wayfinding. Outcomes include vibrant murals and photographs that animate public spaces, celebrate equity-deserving artists, and address urban challenges. By combining cultural planning with community engagement, I HeART Main Street produces lasting public art that revitalizes shared spaces and models how creativity can drive local resilience.

Organization:
STEPS Public Art

Interactions:
Public art-making like mural projects; Tourism-focused placemaking like selfie stations, local story sharing and wayfinding; Community engagement project like arts workshops, co-created artworks.

Link to project ↗

Keywords: Public art; co-creation; story; photography murals