Tulip City Walls Mural Fest concludes 5-year run, leaving legacy of public art in Holland
After half a decade of transforming local alleyways into open-air galleries, the Tulip City Walls Mural Festival is wrapping up its fifth and final year, leaving behind a lasting artistic legacy in Holland’s Eastcore neighborhood.
HOLLAND — After half a decade of transforming local alleyways into open-air galleries, the Tulip City Walls Mural Festival is wrapping up its fifth and final year, leaving behind a lasting artistic legacy in Holland’s Eastcore neighborhood.
Launched in 2022 by 3Sixty—a neighborhood-focused nonprofit founded in 2005 — the festival grew out of an intensive, year-and-a-half community survey. Volunteers knocked on 800 doors across the central neighborhood to gauge resident desires.
“We asked them; if you could wave a magic wand, what would the perfect neighborhood look like?” said Lori Appeldoorn, co-founder of 3Sixty.
The overwhelming consensus: residents wanted more public art and beauty.
What began as a small proof-of-concept featuring two artists and a block party quickly gained traction. By 2023, the festival expanded, earning national recognition from Neighborhoods USA for its revitalization efforts. According to Appeldoorn, the murals generated neighborhood pride while boosting local foot traffic, tripling customer volume for nearby businesses.
By the end of this year’s festival, the committee will have added 28 walkable murals to Eastcore. The finale features eight artists, including the internationally recognized street-art duo Studio Zepa. While murals of this scale typically cost $25,000 or more, participating artists receive a $3,000 stipend as part of a collaborative effort with building owners, 3Sixty, and the city.
This year's event centers on the theme "Walk the Walls," inviting visitors to tour both new and existing works. Festivities include live music staged near past murals, local food vendors, and youth activities at Rosa Parks Green hosted by community partners, including the Holland Area Arts Council and the Saugatuck Center for the Arts.
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While the mural festival is concluding its planned five-year run, organizers view the milestone as a launchpad rather than an ending. 3Sixty is establishing a committee to explore converting Columbia Avenue into a dedicated arts district.
“This vision has met its goal, but the next step is using that as a catalyst for the next vision,” said Alexis Rosado, who leads festival marketing.
Festival schedules and map information are available online at 3-sixty.org/tulip-city-walls-2026 or via the organization's Instagram page.
— Mallory Burt is a reporter for Ottawa News Network. Contact her at newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.
