2026 marks the 11th year for Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) 's 'Gritty to Pretty' Placemaking Grant Program.
In May, DHBC's Placemaking Action Team sifted through 27 applications and selected 15 projects to be funded this year.
On top of this, we sponsored the Halifax Mural Festival in July, giving us another (extra) 15 murals scattered throughout Downtown Halifax.
Sketch N' Stroll
Organized by Argyle Fine Art and funded by Gritty to Pretty.
Top: Danae Lavallee, Fern Pellerin, Rebecca Betts, James Janson, Kerry Hodgson, Matthew Mongraw, William Froude
Bottom: Emily Krueckl, Amber Solberg, Jason Skinner, Kassandra Lois
Three of the drawing installations will remain up for viewing until the end of September. See the art in the windows of the Roy Building, the Vogue Building and next to Weird Harbour on Barrington Street!
2026 Picnic Table Murals
GRAFTON PARK
PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP PARK
RAYMOND TAAVEL PARK
2026 Murals
I Heart Bikes, 1549 Lower Water Street
Mary's African Cuisine, 1701 Barrington Street
1660 Hollis Street
2026 Halifax Mural Festival in Downtown Halifax
Coming soon
5195 Blowers Street
Project Name: From Here to There: II by Jeighk Koyote
1729 Barrington Street
Project Name: Freak Lunchbox 25th Anniversary Lighting Display
1549 Barrington Street
Project Name: Barrington at Blowers Illumination
1549 Lower Water Street
Project Name: I Heart Bikes: Lighting Up Our Love of Bikes & Art