We create vibrant and welcoming public spaces that encourage people to work, live, shop and explore downtown. Through partnerships with the City, businesses and community organizations, the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ supports place-based designs and advocates for community initiatives including street furnishing, planting, temporary design installations, public art, streetscape enhancement and public space design.
Colourful murals, flowers, art installations, and banners, create a vibrant backdrop in Downtown Winnipeg. Bringing the outdoors to life — and bringing life outdoors — public spaces provide a venue for gathering, celebrating, and connecting. These engaging, memorable spaces help make Downtown an inclusive and welcoming neighbourhood.
We help provide accessible, vibrant spaces for daily life by collaborating with the City of Winnipeg, local businesses, community groups, and artists! If you have a project idea or would like to partner with us, contact our Public Realm team. We are always looking for new public-facing spaces and partnerships for murals!
CHINATOWN ZODIAC BANNER
In celebration of the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Snake, we unveiled the 2025 Chinatown Zodiac Banner. This vibrant design was created in collaboration with Victoria-Albert School, artist Natalie Mark, and Pauline Leung.
In December 2024, our Public Realm team hosted four workshops where students explored the Zodiac calendar and created snake-inspired artwork that shaped this year’s design. These vibrant banners are now displayed throughout Chinatown and North Main, honouring cultural heritage and continuing a long-standing Downtown Winnipeg BIZ tradition that has evolved from a design competition into a meaningful community collaboration.
RETURNING TO OUR ROOTS
Created by local Métis artist Justine Proulx, Returning to Our Roots is a visual exploration of Indigenous teachings and values. It reflects the sacred number four in many Indigenous cultures, with each panel representing a different season, direction, medicine, and overall, the circle and seasons of life.
Returning to Our Roots spans nearly a city block installed on four panels totaling approximately 200 feet in length and 9 feet in height.
This project – the largest we’ve undertaken and over two years in the making – represents reconciliation in action by honouring and celebrating Indigenous culture in our neighbourhood. The mural is also a beautiful example of collaboration and community, and we want to thank the committee and all the partners involved in bringing this project to life, adding vibrancy downtown.
The Downtown Winnipeg BIZ works with a variety of partners to enhance public spaces. For current Requests for Proposals click below.
Public art is a key component of enhancing vibrancy in downtown Winnipeg. From short term installations to long-term large-scale murals, our Public Realm team works to maintain and introduce new public art throughout the year in partnership with downtown businesses and community organizations. Check out our public art map and come see for yourself.