Main Street Palm Springs, the Downtown and Uptown Business Association, announced a new program it has created that will help safely promote local businesses and increase community involvement. The new “Palm Springs Pride Window Design and Display Contest” will take place November 2 through November 9 and follows Main Street’s recent highly praised Street Art Bench project.
Businesses, including restaurants, hotels, retail, and service businesses, are encouraged to create unique Pride-related displays in their windows that will be visible from the street. While businesses can create their own displays, the Palm Springs Public Arts Commission has grants available for businesses to hire local artists for window designs and other art projects.
Business owners that would like to participate should sign up with Main Street by October 31 using the Contact link at palmcanyondrive.org or by visiting the Main Street Palm Springs Facebook page. Judging will take place via an online community poll November 2 through November 9, allowing for community members to view all displays at their leisure without any crowds while maintaining social distancing. Businesses are encouraged to post images of their displays on social media, allowing those who are sheltering in place to participate in the judging and voting.
All participating as well as non-participating Palm Springs businesses are asked to make a donation to the prize package. Winners will be announced in three categories: Restaurants, Retail, and Other. In addition, Main Street will award $250 in the winning business’s name to the Greater Palm Springs Pride Organization. Members of the community may also make additional donations to Greater Palm Springs Pride to support their awareness, education and outreach efforts
“We are working closely with local business owners to develop safe and socially distanced programs where they can promote their businesses and offer something to the local community,” said Joy Brown Meredith, Main Street Board Chair and owner of Crystal Fantasy, a popular Palm Canyon retail store. “The pandemic has prompted local governments to create strict guidelines to protect residents and visitors. Main Street is following these necessary health and safety guidelines as we plan fun and safe events for the community, which also support our local non-profits. The recent Street Art Bench
Project demonstrated that even during these times, when we all come together for a community effort we can create a win-win.”
Jeffrey Bernstein, also a Main Street Board Member and owner of Destination PSP added, “During this pandemic, many of our local businesses and their employees have struggled financially. Throughout the past six months we have seen the community rally around these businesses and we hope that this new Pride Window Contest will provide some needed recognition for these merchants and their employees.”
Details of all programs may be found at palmcanyondrive.org.