In Chautauqua County, government grants pay for murals around the county.

Here in Warren County that isn’t the case.

The City Council recently approved plans for a 40-foot-wide by 44-foot-high mural to be painted on the east wall of the WestPANet building at 216 Pennsylvania Avenue West. The wall faces the roundabout at Pennsylvania Avenue West and Market Street. The mural that will soon adorn it will be created by artist Sara Aiello and will depict themes significant to the city’s heritage. The city will coordinate the effort, which will be funded through private sources.

There is a role for government in the creation of public art, and Warren has perfected that role. The city should oversee and encourage, but the government doesn’t need to be the primary source of financial support. That’s not what tax dollars need to be supporting.

It’s quite a difference from Chautauqua County, which is putting local tax dollars into mural projects throughout the county. In the end, both areas are getting murals that improve the aesthetic of downtown areas, but we prefer Warren’s approach. The city is a partner, but not necessarily a financial benefactor. That’s the way it should be.

We can’t wait to see Aiello’s latest creation. It’s expected to be done by the Fourth of July – a day when downtown Warren takes center stage every year. This year will be different as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and the unveiling of Aiello’s mural is just another addition to what’s shaping up to be a whale of a celebration.