The Arts Council for Long Beach or ArtsLB in partnership with Elders Rising and Long Beach Historical Society: Rainbow Heroes have announced a groundbreaking initiative, Rainbow Heroes Project. This citywide public arts program aims to recognize and celebrate the invaluable contributions of LGBTQIA+ Elders in Long Beach. By installing interactive murals in all nine city council districts, the city will preserve their legacies and inspire future generations. The interactive nature of this project will invite visitors and residents to stand underneath the rainbow arches, becoming a part of the elder’s story. To ensure inclusivity and accessibility, translations in Spanish, Khmer, and Tagalog will be available.
ArtsLB introduces its first honoree, Dr. Angela Bowen, a dance icon, activist and professor at California State University, Long Beach. To commemorate her extraordinary life, ArtsLB will host a free public screening of the documentary The Passionate Pursuits of Angela Bowen at 2 p.m., June 30 at the Burnett Library.
By engaging the community through public art, the Rainbow Heroes Project aims to ensure that the struggles for equality undertaken by LGBTQIA+ Elders will never be forgotten. But instead, continue to inspire future generations. ArtsLB encourages you to nominate LGBTQIA+ Elders for recognition and suggest potential project site locations throughout Long Beach by visiting its website at https://artslb.org/programs/public-art/rainbow-heroes/.