One gift. Three times the impact. 

  • 1.

    You give $1.

  • 2.

    And the NEA and The City of Baton Rouge adds $2.

    The National Endowment for the Arts awarded The Walls Project an Our Town grant, which requires local dollars to match it. The City of Baton Rouge OCD gave $25,000, but can’t be used as a match. Every local dollar releases a federal and a city one.

$25,000 from us becomes $75,000 for the corridor. After December 31, gifts are still doubled, but this is the only window when every dollar is tripled. 

 Four zones. One reconnected downtown. 

The I-110 Corridor Creative Placemaking Initiative turns the dark, empty land under the interstate into public space worth walking through. It links to the Downtown Greenway and focuses on “The Stitch,” the stretch between the Central Business District and Downtown East. Residents and local artists design every piece together.

  • Zone 1

    Main Street Family Zone

    Art for kids and families, plus a fenced pocket park where neighbors can let little ones play.

  • Zone 2

    Laurel & Florida Street Zone

    Historical and experiential art along Florida Street, the line that has long divided North and South Baton Rouge.

  • Zone 3

    North Boulevard Greenway Belt

    Murals inspired by nature and interactive lighting that makes evening walks safer and brighter.

  • Zone 4

    Louisiana Ave / Beauregard Town Historic Zone

    Functional art built into a BMX recreation area.

Throughout the corridor: murals on the overpass pillars, seating, lighting, wayfinding signs, and a flamingo sculpture celebrating Mardi Gras.

About The Walls Project 

The organization behind the I-110 corridor — leading public art and placemaking work in Baton Rouge, Dallas, and Aurora.

  • Our Mission 

    The Walls Project leads programs, events, and alliances that work to break through and tear down the societal walls that discourage or prevent people from living safe, healthy, and prosperous lives.

  • Our vision 

    The Walls Project offers a bold vision for what’s possible in a community, creating pathways for economic prosperity; lifetime learning; creative expression; and healthy living for all, particularly for those impacted by poverty.

  • What we believe

    The Walls Project holds that the physical, social, and economic conditions of individuals ultimately and collectively inform the overall safety, health and well-being, and economic conditions of the entire community.

 Background

The Walls Project is one of the nation’s leading public art and placemaking nonprofits, boldly transforming America’s underinvested neighborhoods through large-scale murals, community-driven revitalization, and cross-sector collaborations. With roots in Baton Rouge and a footprint now spanning Louisiana, Texas, and Colorado, The Walls Project is at the forefront of place keeping, working hand-in-hand with communities that have experienced decades of disinvestment to reimagine their built environment, uplift local voices, and create pathways for equitable economic and cultural growth. Our work activates the power of art to spark systemic change, beautify public spaces, and catalyze long-term investment where it’s needed most.

Our programs 

The I-110 corridor is part of this wider work. These are the programs donors support across all of our communities.

  • Public Art Program 

    Our Public Art Program brings large-scale murals, collaborative installations, and design interventions to schools, businesses, and civic spaces. Focused on storytelling, history, and local pride, our murals often involve youth and community input. Nearly 250 murals have been created to date, covering over 100,000 square feet of public space.

  • ReActivate Program — Placemaking & Community Events 

    ReActivate energizes underinvested neighborhoods with block parties, mural installations, clean-ups, and resource fairs. These hyper-local events bring together residents, artists, and volunteers to co-create joyful, safe, and vibrant public spaces. In FY2025, the program activated 12 sites across Colorado, Louisiana and Texas, directly engaging more than 20,000 community members.

  • Culture Club Program — Youth Arts & Identity Development 

    Culture Club is a free after-school and summer program that helps youth explore identity, culture, and creativity through arts, storytelling, and digital literacy. The program reached hundreds of students last year and is expanding to additional school and community sites in FY2026.

  • Agroforestry Program 

    Walls transforms underutilized land into vibrant urban farms and food forests. Through community gardening, youth afterschool programs, and planting climate-forward trees, we combat food insecurity while teaching regenerative farming practices and creating community spaces for growth and nourishment.

Organization data

Organization: The Walls Project — 501(c)(3) nonprofit 

Year established: 2015

Tax ID (EIN): 45-5485171

Categories: Arts, Culture & Humanities · Community Improvement & Capacity Building · Youth Development · Food, Agriculture & Nutrition · Public & Societal Benefit

Headquarters: 509 St Louis Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Colorado location: 2340 Dayton Street, Aurora, CO 80010

Service areas: Baton Rouge, LA · Dallas, TX · Aurora, CO 

Phone: (800) 354-1953

 What divides us can bring us back together. 

When I-110 was built, it cut through neighborhoods and left a gap that still separates North and South Baton Rouge. The land under it became something people hurry past. Downtown’s population grew 16% from 2012 to 2021, but the corridor hasn’t caught up.

We think the space under the 110 can be the place where our city meets. Art does that. It slows people down, makes streets feel safe, brings customers to local businesses, and tells our story in our own colors.

The Walls Project has painted over 250 murals since 2012, from ten-story walls downtown to MLK Festival of Service projects in North Baton Rouge. This is our biggest chance yet to change how downtown looks and feels, and it will only happen if Baton Rouge builds it togethe

 Pick your piece of the 110. 

Give once. Every gift is tripled through December 31.

Triple your gift for the I-110 corridor

  •  Become a Corridor Keeper. 

    Give $15 a month and keep the 110 growing all year. Monthly donors get studio updates and early invites to every unveiling.

    Give Monthly 

  • Sponsor a pillar ($2,500) or become a Zone Builder ($1,000). 

    For organization, families, and groups that want to make a lasting mark. Sponsors are recognized on the on-site donor wall and on this page. 

    Talk to us about sponsoring →  ashlyn@thewallsproject.org

    Check Sponsorship Guide 

 FAQ 

How does my gift get tripled?

The City of Baton Rouge matches the first $25,000 our community gives, dollar for dollar. Together, those local dollars unlock an equal amount of federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts grant already awarded to this project.

What happens after December 31?

Gifts are still doubled by the NEA match until we reach our full $50,000 community goal. Only gifts made by December 31 are tripled.

What happens if we don’t reach the goal?

Federal grant dollars that aren’t matched with local money can’t be used, and parts of the corridor would go unfinished. That’s why every gift counts.

Where does my money go?

To artists, paint and supplies, lighting, seating, and installation for the I-110 corridor. Your gift is set aside for this project only.

Is my gift tax-deductible?

Yes. The Walls Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. You’ll receive a receipt by email. 

Who is designing the art?

Local artists chosen with neighbors through public workshops and design sessions, working with the Downtown Development District, Build Baton Rouge, the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, and the Baton Rouge African American Museum.