MIDDLEBURGH - A new mural is being completed on the formerly blank walls at the old bus garage at Middleburgh Central School.

The mural is being completed through a CHARM Mural Grant, a creative placemaking initiative from Governor Hochul.  It is being painted on the rear exterior walls of the former MCS bus garage, which is located adjacent to the Middleburgh community pool. The artist is Casey Beal, the same local artist who completed the mural near the Middleburgh Elementary School parking lot last year.

The theme for this mural will focus on local aquatic life and the important role that water has played in the formation, history, and identity of the Middleburgh and Schoharie Valley. Given the location of the building next to the community pool, district officials thought the theme was a particularly good fit. It should also complement the upcoming improvements planned for the pool area.

The grant is funding the artwork, so there is no cost to the district for the mural itself. The district's role has primarily been to provide permission to use the space and prepare the exterior walls for painting.

One of the nice aspects of this year's grant is that it also includes an educational component. The artist will be mentoring Johanna, a local Schoharie-area student who is working with the Schoharie County Youth Bureau this summer. Johanna will be a junior at SUNY New Paltz this fall and is studying art education, so she'll have an opportunity to work alongside the artist and gain some hands-on experience through the project.

The grant requires the mural to be completed by September 15.

For the district, MCS Superintendent Mark Place said, "It's a great opportunity to improve a visible part of our campus while also celebrating something unique to the community our students call home. I especially like that the project brings together community, education, and the arts while also providing a learning opportunity for a future art educator."