The
City of Issaquah has won the Sister Cities International 2018 Innovation Award
for Arts and Culture for a city with a population 25,000 – 100,000.
An
initiative led by Issaquah’s Sister Cities Commission in 2017, the City of
Issaquah’s utility wrap program was expanded to include original artwork from
sister city artists in Chefchaouen, Morocco and Sunndal, Norway.
The
awards competition, open to over 500 sister city programs nationwide,
recognizes the accomplishments of outstanding individuals and community sister
city programs that are promoting peace through mutual respect, understanding,
and cooperation.
Issaquah
was recognized for the dramatic transformation of the utility boxes from
function to finesse, changing the cultural landscape of the community while
reinforcing the cultural exchange with each of our sister cities.
These
new utility boxes are enjoyed daily by pedestrians and vehicle traffic. In
addition, Issaquah’s outdoor art collection has increased, and the community
landscape has been beautified.
This
project also provides a dialog about the sister cities, the art and culture
depicted, and provides opportunities for other community activities such as
wayfinding and scavenger type events to occur.
For
more information visit issaquahwa.gov/sistercities