Welcome to Hastings Mural, (Dallas Nau, Central Nebraska Today)
HASTINGS — The Business Improvement District and the City of Hastings invite the public to an open house to learn more about the future of public art in downtown Hastings.
The public art plan open house will take place 5-6:30 p.m. on June 25, in Meeting Room A at the Hastings Public Library, 314 N. Denver Ave.
A short presentation is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about and provide feedback on potential project types and locations and priorities for the district, which may include:
• Art installations
• Murals
• Public events
This open house will highlight the history of public art in the downtown area and present opportunities for public input as the community looks ahead to the next phase of creative development in the newly designated Heartbeat Creative District.
The Heartbeat District was named a Nebraska Creative District in November 2024 and was awarded a $10,000 Nebraska Arts Council Certification Grant. The Nebraska Creative District Program utilizes the arts as an economic driver to support communities in Nebraska by telling their stories and elevating the value of the arts.
With the $10,000 certification grant, the Partners Undertaking Local Solutions for Expression (PULSE) are exploring options to further the marketing efforts for downtown through the development of marketing materials, as well as the translation of the Creative District Strategic Plan.
The open house is the next step in a public involvement process that is anticipated to culminate with approval of the Heartbeat Creative District public art plan by the Hastings City Council in Spring 2026.
