Downtown Ontario Improvement Association and City of Ontario, Museum, Arts & Culture Department Launch “The People’s Storefront” Temporary Public Art Project

Press Contact: Dan Bell, Communications and Community Relations Director

Phone Number: (909) 395-2400

Date: June 2, 2026

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

City of Ontario

Museum, Arts & Culture

Downtown Ontario Improvement Association and City of Ontario, Museum, Arts & Culture Department Launch “The People’s Storefront” Temporary Public Art Project

The Downtown Ontario Improvement Association, in partnership with the City of Ontario’s Museum, Arts & Culture Department, are proud to announce the launch of “The People’s Storefront,” a new temporary public art initiative celebrating creativity, local history, and the continued revitalization of Downtown’s historic core.

“The People’s Storefront” is a paid opportunity that invites artists to showcase their original works of art printed on vinyl for glass storefronts along the historic Euclid Avenue corridor. The Downtown Ontario Improvement Association, with support from the City of Ontario’s Museum, Arts & Culture Department, seek to select up to four artists or artist teams to create site-specific vinyl installations for local businesses in the Downtown cultural core.

Selected artists will transform storefronts into vibrant temporary public art displays that highlight local talent, activate the streetscape, and draw visitors to downtown. Through bold visual storytelling and creative placemaking, the project aims to strengthen connections between the arts community, local businesses, and the public realm.

The project title pays tribute to the city’s historic “People’s Store” founded in 1888 by Hickman “Mike” Phillips. The store became the city’s largest mercantile business and a beloved downtown destination rooted in supporting local businesses and community connections. Inspired by this legacy, “The People’s Storefront” a temporary public art initiative, reimagines storefronts as spaces for community expression, creativity, and cultural engagement.

“This project is about honoring Downtown’s history while creating new opportunities for artists and businesses to collaborate in meaningful ways,” said Ish Arias, Downtown Improvement Association Executive Director. “Public art has the power to transform everyday spaces into experiences that inspire curiosity, encourage exploration, and foster civic pride.”

The temporary public art installations are anticipated to be unveiled in early October 2026, bringing a new layer of visual energy and artistic identity to the Euclid Avenue corridor during the fall season. This timing aligns with the City’s eighth annual Ontario Arts Festival taking place on Saturday, October 17 and the O-Town Walls MuralFest project making fall season for the arts in Ontario.  

Deadline to apply is June 30, 2026 by 4 PM PST. Visit the City’s Public Art Program website for more information about artist eligibility and submission guidelines. 

 

For more information, please contact:

Ish Arias, Executive Director                                                                                                                                          

Downtown Ontario Improvement Association
(909)706-7877
director@downtownontario.org
 

Vanessa Murray, Public Art Coordinator                                                                                                                                   

City of Ontario, Museum, Arts & Culture Department
(909) 395-2510 
MuseumInfo@ontarioca.gov
 

About The Downtown Ontario Improvement Association 
The Downtown Ontario Improvement Association is a public benefit corporation whose primary function is to administer the Downtown Ontario Community Benefit Improvement District. Our goal is to keep Downtown Ontario clean, safe, and family-friendly, while also maximizing community benefit for business owners, property owners, and residents of the area. We plan to beautify the area, improve its functionality, and create a positive space in the city.

For more information visit DowntownOntario.org, call (909) 706-7877 or follow @DowntownOntario.DOIA on Instagram.

About the City of Ontario’s Department of Museum, Arts & Culture
The City of Ontario’s Department of Museum, Arts & Culture advances an understanding of regional history and art through museum exhibits, collections stewardship, educational programs, annual arts festivals, and public art. The Ontario Museum of History & Art was founded in 1979 and is located on tree-lined Euclid Avenue in a historic building that originally served as Ontario’s second City Hall. In 2022 Ontario’s City Council established the Public Art Program and the Museum department was expanded to encompass Museum, Arts & Culture. The department’s programs enhance knowledge and understanding of our community through dynamic and vibrant experiences that reflect pride in who we are, where we live, and our legacy. In 2023, the Museum achieved accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums, the highest national recognition afforded the nation’s museums.

For more information call (909) 395-2510, email museuminfo@ontarioca.gov, visit OntarioMuseum.org or follow @OntarioMuseum_ArtsCulture on Instagram.

# # #

About the City of Ontario
The City of Ontario is enhancing the quality-of-life by creating urban lifestyle districts that create sustainable places to live, work and play.  Located just east of Los Angeles and Orange counties, the City of Ontario is ideally situated as a gateway to Southern California. With major freeways, rail transportation and an International Airport, Ontario invites the rest of the world to be a part of a culturally diverse community with rich history that is well positioned for quality development and economic sustainability for its residents. Complementing its business and residential core, Ontario offers premium entertainment venues such as the Ontario Convention Center, Toyota Arena, and Ontario Mills. To learn more about the City of Ontario, visit OntarioCA.gov  or call (909) 395-2000.