Northeast Michigan is brimming with talent.

As highlighted regularly on our Lifestyles page, our region is beautified by the work of homegrown painters, sculptors, woodworkers, musicians, and more.

Art is as much a part of the fabric of our community as is hunting and fishing, boating, and other outdoor recreation.

Recently, Lifestyles editor Darby Hinkley reported that the Alpena Downtown Development Authority is seeking artists of all ages to submit designs for the winter banners that will hang from downtown streetlights beginning next winter.

Artists have until Jan. 31 to submit a winter-themed design to the DDA.

“When we were looking at banner options, we could have gone with something generic, like we have now,” DDA Executive Director Anne Gentry noted. “But we have so much local talent. We thought, ‘Why not make our banner a little more unique and give artists a chance to have their art featured downtown?'”

We’re glad the DDA is going that route, and we hope officials there are overrun with submissions from local artists showing their pride for our creative community.

We can’t wait to see what the DDA unveils.

(THE ALPENA NEWS)