Auburn Hills Tax Increment Finance Authority Announces Public Art Initiative
Funding available for Michigan artists available for Downtown Auburn Hills

Media contacts: Stephanie Carroll, City of Auburn Hills; 248.364.6802; scarroll@auburnhills.org; Thomas A. Tanghe, Assistant City Manager, City of Auburn Hills; 248.370.9440; ttanghe@auburnhills.org

Auburn Hills, Mich.—March 17, 2014— The Auburn Hills Tax Increment Finance Authority (TIFA) announced today its Public Art initiative for Downtown Auburn Hills.  Funding for Michigan artists to produce artwork for the City’s downtown will become available in the form of grants to artists from the TIFA.  This comes on the heels of the recent announcement by the City of Auburn Hills that it has been named a recipient of the DIA’s 2014 Inside/Out program, whereby the DIA will display nine reproductions of its most famous masterpieces in locations throughout Downtown Auburn Hills from mid-April to mid-July.

 “For those who have been following the progress of the city’s downtown, you already know that we are expanding regularly and creating a downtown with a special sense of place”, said Tom Tanghe, Executive Director of the Auburn Hills TIFA and the city’s Assistant City Manager.  “This is one more logical step in that progression and a truly worthwhile investment”, he added. 

 TIFA’s public art initiative provides artists with an opportunity to propose artwork of great variety, but only requires the finished product have relevance to the City of Auburn Hills – past or present, its downtown, or the concept of downtown living.   “We want artists to consider all that Auburn Hills has to offer as a dynamic, multi-faceted city, and run with it from there”, Tanghe said.  All of the artwork must be suitable to exist year-round in an outdoor setting.  Artwork may be installed on buildings where permitted and in public areas such as on sidewalks or in parks.  “We’re excited about the potential this initiative brings to our downtown and the uniqueness it will create”, said Patrick Hassett, Chairman of the Board of the Auburn Hills TIFA.  “The addition of public art to Downtown Auburn Hills is just another reason why it pays to consider locating your business there or to visit our growing downtown”.

 Michigan artists interested in learning more about the TIFA’s Downtown Auburn Hills Art funding can do so by visiting the city’s website at www.auburnhills.org where they will find the necessary details and requirement for participation.  An announcement on the city’s main page will link you to the complete application and the individuals you may contact for more information.  Tanghe noted that the TIFA has made the grant application relatively straight-forward and they have avoided a tedious application process. 

 Artist applications will be accepted until Friday, May 2, 2014. The selection of artists and their work taking place shortly thereafter.  The TIFA is expecting all art pieces to be complete and ready for installation in the city’s downtown by September of this year.

About Auburn Hills TIFA

The Auburn Hills Tax Increment Finance Authority (TIFA) is responsible for capturing the growth in tax revenue in three separate and distinct development districts within the community and establishing priorities for the use of that capture. The Board of Directors strategically reinvests these captures dollars back into the community through infrastructure improvements and other public/private partnerships as a means of promoting greater private capital investment in the community.

 About Auburn Hills

Celebrating 31 years as a city in 2014, Auburn Hills is home to 21,000 residents and also serves as Michigan’s global business address, with 40 international corporations from 32 countries housed here, including Faurecia and BorgWarner headquarters. Auburn Hills’ residents enjoy the amenities of city and suburban living with parks, a revitalized downtown district and a welcoming city complex with a library and community center. Additionally, the city has five colleges and universities, the award winning Palace of Auburn Hills entertainment complex and Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, one of the state’s largest destination shopping centers, providing a variety of cultural, social and educational opportunities to residents, workers and visitors. Learn more at www.auburnhills.org.

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