LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE DONE
COMMUNITY PROJECTS
The “Welcome to Melrose” sign is a community art project led by the Melrose Area Arts Council (MAAC). It was unveiled on September 29, 2022 during Homecoming Weekend with a celebration event and public recognition of contributors. The sign was created and installed by MAAC as part of its mission to strengthen community connections through local art and collaboration. It was designed by Sign Lava and built with support from multiple local partners, including the Melrose Lions Club (excavation, infrastructure, cement, brickwork), Melrose Feed (space), the City of Melrose (lighting and permits), and Coborns (food for the event). It was the first major public art accomplishment for MAAC.
MAAC has been offering hands‑on children’s art activities at the Melrose Farmers Market each summer, giving kids a chance to explore creativity while families shop and socialize. These activities typically include simple make‑and‑take projects, coloring, painting, and small crafts led by volunteers who help children experiment with materials and express themselves through art. It’s a warm, low‑pressure way for young people to engage with MAAC and feel part of the community’s creative life.
For the past three years, the Melrose Area Arts Council helped brighten Main Street with a series of large flower containers placed along the downtown corridor, by the bridge and the welcome sign. Filled with vibrant seasonal blooms, these planters brought color, warmth, and a sense of care to the heart of the city. Their presence made every day errands feel a little more cheerful and offered a welcoming touch for visitors passing through. The project reflects MAAC’s ongoing commitment to small, meaningful improvements that make public spaces feel tended, inviting, and full of community spirit.
The Melrose Area Arts Council has hosted the annual Festival of the Arts, a day that brings together local artists, makers, students, musicians, and community groups in a joyful celebration of creativity. What began as a new initiative in 2024 has quickly become a cherished tradition, drawing strong participation and growing enthusiasm each year. The festival showcases the wide range of talent in the Melrose area—from professional artists and vendors to quilt exhibitors, student creators, and performers—and offers residents a welcoming space to connect, explore, and be inspired. Its continued success reflects MAAC’s commitment to fostering community pride, supporting local artists, and making the arts accessible to all.
The Edwin Clark Historical/Educational Marker is a planned commemorative sign near the Edwin Clark Memorial Bridge in Melrose, MN, developed with Minnesota Historical Society funding and created through the Melrose Area Arts Council as the recipient organization. The goal was to design, produce, and install a historical marker honoring Edwin Clark, known as the “Father of Melrose,” near the Edwin Clark Memorial Bridge in the City of Melrose. Edwin Clark was a 19th‑century figure central to Melrose’s early development. The Melrose Area Historical Society has long recognized his legacy, including placing a marker on his grave and preserving correspondence from the 1850s–1860s. It was an honor to partner with the Melrose Historical Society to have the commemorative sign installed during the 2025 MAAC Festival of Arts.
The Melrose Area Arts Council has completed its first large‑scale public mural, a vibrant installation honoring the past and present spirit of Melrose. Installed in August 2026 on the side of the Midwest Automatic Products building across from the Sauk River Park entrance, the mural brings color, storytelling, and a renewed sense of pride to one of the community’s most visible gateways.
Created at a smaller scale by local artist Justine Meyer, and printed by Sign Lava, the artwork reflects Melrose’s heritage, its people, and the landscapes that shape daily life. Throughout the project, MAAC engaged residents, gathered local stories, and collaborated with community partners to ensure the mural truly represents the place we call home.
This installation marks an important milestone in MAAC’s ongoing commitment to public art, cultural enrichment, and community connection. The council extends heartfelt gratitude to the supporters, volunteers, and local businesses whose generosity and enthusiasm helped bring this vision to life.
