Hi, I’m Mia Cooper. Bellevue is changing fast. New buildings rise, transit expands, and patches of old Bellevue evolve. But amid all the construction and plans, something powerful often slips under the radar: the ways residents are shaping Bellevue’s identity through public art and the chance to decide what our neighborhoods become.
Art That Seems Like It Belongs Here
Walk Downtown Bellevue with friends, or across the BelRed Arts District, and you’ll see more than skyscrapers. You’ll see murals on utility boxes, memorable sculptures in parks, and commissions that reflect our region’s balance of tech growth and natural beauty. Bellevue’s Arts & Culture program oversees more than 140 fixed and portable public art pieces, and has been steadily adding temporary installations that brighten our city streets. These aren’t just pretty things—they’re stories told in paint, stone and steel.
BelRed and Old Bellevue: Roots and Renewal
The BelRed Arts District has been evolving into more than just an industrial zone turned mixed-use hub. In 2023 the BelRed Arts District Community Alliance was founded by volunteers and artists to increase visibility for artists and connect people with the art happening in their neighborhood. Meanwhile, Old Bellevue has seen a push for four place-making murals at Main Street and 102nd Avenue—designed by locals to reflect the spirit and history of that corner of Bellevue. These projects are efforts to ensure growth doesn’t wipe out character.
Residents’ Voices in Decision Making
Public art isn’t the only way Bellevue residents are participating. There are programs like the Neighborhood Enhancement Program (NEP) downtown, which recently opened up nearly $1 million in city dollars, and asked residents to propose how it should be used—from street lighting to public art, crosswalk upgrades to picnic shelters. These are real, budgeted opportunities for people to shape the physical places where they live.
Why This Matters
Feeling like you belong in your city isn’t just about being close to a park, a grocery store, or transit. It’s about seeing your values, your history, your stories reflected in the spaces you pass through. When murals go up celebrating local farming heritage, when shared spaces are designed for gathering and interaction, it strengthens belonging. It means Bellevue is not just a backdrop—it’s ours.
How to Take Part
Want to make a difference? Here are some ideas:
- Watch for NEP calls in your neighborhood to suggest and vote on projects.
- Check out Bellevue’s Arts & Culture or BelRed Arts District pages to see open calls, grant opportunities, or artist rosters.
- Attend walks and public events: Engage with art, ask artists about their inspiration, offer feedback about what you’d like to see.
- Talk with neighbors and local businesses to form collective ideas—many city programs respond better when there’s organized interest.
Bellevue is growing. And there’s value in growth—it means new people, new ideas, more culture. But growth that cares about residents—growth that’s co-created—leaves a city richer. Together, we can help preserve character even as we evolve. And public art plus resident voices are two of our strongest tools in doing that.
I’ll be watching what comes next—and I hope you will too. Let’s shape Bellevue, together.