In partnership with Puerto Rico’s local art community, Discover Puerto Rico, the island’s destination marketing organization, has launched the “Blank Canvas Initiative,” a call to street artists around the world, inviting them to share their craft on the walls of Puerto Rico’s streets and join the island’s booming arts scene. Puerto Rico boasts exceptional art museums, a flourishing art gallery scene, independent collectors, curators, quality events and highly skilled artisans, offering their work across the island, and a thriving street art and mural experience, Discover Puerto Rico says.
Internationally recognized Puerto Rican artist Alexis Bousquet, also the founder of the Santurce es Ley street art festival, is teaming up with local artists Celso González, Vero Rivera and Bob Snow. Together, they are joining forces to identify wall spaces throughout Puerto Rico, including the well-known Santurce neighborhood in San Juan, to create “Reserved for” signs, which will serve as “blank canvas” invitations for street artists around the world to feature their art alongside Puerto Rico’s own.
“Some areas of Puerto Rico are a true haven for mural art, yet we’re not a destination typically visited for that,” says Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico. “In addition to Santurce es Ley, our island offers many options for travelers looking for rich arts and culture to be inspired—from our artisan’s work, widely available throughout the island to museums and art galleries open year-round and other art-focused events like the MECA Art Fair.”
As a lead-up to the holiday season and the Santurce es Ley festivals, Puerto Rico hosts the annual MECA Art Fair from November 21 through 24. The largest in the Caribbean, the event brings together a variety of talent that ranges beyond traditional canvas works to sculptures and more.
All in all, the island has more than 70 museums and 50 art galleries that contain works ranging from ancient Indigenous and African to Baroque and Victorian and contemporary works of art.
Beyond its arts scene and historic culture, Puerto Rico is on a path towards a record-breaking year for tourism, with growing visitor arrivals and air lift globally. For global artists interested in joining the “Blank Canvas Initiative,” Discover Puerto Rico asks them to contact [email protected]. For more information about Puerto Rico, visit DiscoverPuertoRico.com.
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