Long Beach has launched a new art installation program that strives to revitalize business corridors with vacant storefronts.
The Department of Economic Development and Opportunity, in partnership with the Arts Council for Long Beach, announced this month the Vacancy to Vibrancy Storefront Program – a new initiative that will help transform those vacant commercial properties into visually engaging community assets through art installations created by local artists.
The program provides property owners with free-of-cost vinyl window wraps designed to enhance curb appeal, deter vandalism and attract new tenants to the city’s diverse business corridors, according to a Dec. 4 press release. Eligible property owners can apply to have their storefronts temporarily wrapped in artwork inspired by Long Beach’s unique neighborhoods, culture and history.
“The Vacancy to Vibrancy Storefront Program is a creative and community-driven initiative to bring life and color back to our commercial spaces,” Mayor Rex Richardson said. “By connecting local artists and property owners, we’re turning vacant storefronts into opportunities for creativity, connection and economic growth.”
Property owners interested in participating can review eligibility requirements and apply online. Some of those requirements include being a vacant commercial building or storefront at ground level or along a pedestrian pathway, being vacant for a minimum of 6 months and providing proof of ownership.
Department staff will lead the application and selection process to identify suitable vacant commercial properties, while Arts LB will manage artist engagement, design and installation, according to the press release. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, generally within 60 to 90 days.
Preference will be given to long-term vacancies located along key commercial corridors, the city said, and applications will remain open until all funds are exhausted. Once a vacant property is leased, the art installation will be removed.
“The goal is to enhance the beauty and vibrancy of Long Beach’s unique and authentic commercial corridors,” Bo Martinez, director of the Economic Development and Opportunity Department, said in a statement. “By integrating local art into these spaces, we are supporting homegrown talent, strengthening the vitality of our neighborhood marketplaces and demonstrating that Long Beach is a city that welcomes and celebrates businesses.”
The Vacancy to Vibrancy Storefront Program builds on the department’s broader revitalization and small business support efforts, officials said, including the BizCare Program and Visual Improvement Program, which assist businesses and property owners in maintaining attractive and welcoming spaces.
This effort also aligns with the city’s Grow Long Beach Economic Blueprint, which prioritizes investment in façade improvements, creative placemaking and small business corridor activation.
As part of the city’s fiscal year 2025 budget, the mayor and City Council approved the one-time funding of $25,000 to launch this program that supports the installation of artistic window wraps on vacant or underutilized storefronts to improve aesthetic appeal and deter vandalism, according to the press release.
“Artists have always been at the heart of Long Beach’s identity, and this program lets their creativity strengthen our neighborhoods,” Griselda Suárez, executive director of Arts LB, said in a statement. “Vacancy to Vibrancy is more than beautification – it’s an investment in local talent and a more welcoming city for residents and small businesses.”
For more information about the program, businesses can contact BizCare at , email BizCare@longbeach.gov, or visit longbeach.gov/bizdev.