Feature Story and Photos By Larry H. Oskin
The exciting City of Clermont Art Walk is rapidly moving toward its opening later this fall. The unique Art Walk partnership has been created with local area developers and a Nashville resource to bring a new high-end art focus to Downtown Clermont. Art Walk is being built in the former parking lot area between the South Lake Animal League and the Engel & Volkers office.
Alex, Ryan, Jayson Stringfellow and Troy Stackhouse of The Art District, LLC provided the planning, design and processing approvals with the assistance of Clermont City Council and Staff.
The Clermont Art Walk project is a special public-private partnership between the City of Clermont and The Art District, LLC., owned by Alex and Ryan Stringfellow with Troy Stackhouse.
As part of Clermont’s $30 million Master Plan to revitalize downtown, this beautiful brick open-air Art Walk thoroughfare will be an exciting new venue for local residents and area tourists can shop, visit art galleries and eat with the adjacent new Clermont Art District. Art Walk will have a partially covered pavilion area closer to West Montrose as well as to have plans for large fans to keep visitors and shoppers cool during the warmer months.
Primary Art Walk Goals: This project has three primary goals. First, the Art Walk team is working to help rebrand this important Downtown Clermont block. Secondly, they want to help make the Art Walk festival, shopping and pedestrian-friendly spaces that will energize more pedestrian traffic per day to the entire Downtown Clermont area. Third, they want to specifically help accelerate our Downtown Clermont community improvement to foster an appreciation of the arts.
There will be 8 dedicated spaces on this inviting bricked thoroughfare for large wall art murals and interactive art. There will be plenty of room for artists and crafters to set up festival tents for Downtown Clermont events, by working in unison with the City of Clermont and the Clermont Downtown Partnership. While the special event tents will go up and down, the interactive art will be permanent, for the benefit of the public.
Art Walk Sponsors & Donors: Public space has been dedicated to showcasing those civic-minded benefactors who have graciously donated money towards this Clermont beautification project.
Thirty bronze plaques will soon recognize each of these donors along the entire brick walkway for Phase One of this project between West Montrose and West Minneola Streets. Twenty-Three of the thirty total plaques have been sold. There remains room for another seven donors to support this Downtown Clermont re-development program.
The plaques along the brick walkway are from individuals and families, not corporations. The intent is to honor a family or individual who has served, influenced or lead the community or exceptional community-minded employee or board member. Businesses and corporations are encouraged to help sponsor the Art District by dedicating a Plaque to honor someone 
outstanding.
The East Side of Art Walk Plaques will help recognize the long-standing families, matriarchs and patriarchs of our community. The West Side will help recognize the younger up and coming Clermont community leaders, influencers and philanthropists.
While Art Walk, LLC is fronting most of the costs for this enormous project, the City of Clermont will eventually reimburse all but 10% of the costs. The second phase of the Art District will also require more sponsorship funding to expand down to West Osceola Street by Lake Minneola.
Clermont Art District: The first phase of the public Art Walk in the Art District will be from Montrose Street to Minneola Avenue. The public Clermont Art Walk will eventually be developed to go from West Montrose to the Lake, before complete finalization. The Art District building is now leasing to permanent tenants as it will be ready to house a series of galleries, gift shops and restaurants at 1000 to 2000 square feet each. The Stringfellow team will eventually develop the adjoining parcel to the Art Walk at the site of the former Elks Club on Seventh Street.
Interactive Art & Outdoor Wall Murals: The large outdoor interactive art gallery with 8 wall murals are now just beginning to be installed. A special set of sculptured ‘wings’ with a blue sky painted against a brick wall will allow visitors to capture and promote their visits to our Clermont Art Walk. One large wall art mural will soon be selected via competition from the local Clermont High School art departments.
One of the first confirmed Clermont artists is Dexel Lopez, who will install a special metal, glass and painted piece of mood art. To enter the Art Walk wall mural competitions and to be a considered artist, contact Jenna Degan Stringfellow at 352-217-7710 andJenna@StringfellowPlanning.com for more information and an application.
This project has involved an endless number of city officials and residents. Once open, Art Walk and Art District have plans to work closely with the City of Clermont, the Clermont Downtown Partnership and the South Lake Chamber of Commerce.
For more Clermont Art Walk & Art District information, contact Alex Stringfellow at 1455 West Lakeshore Drive, Clermont, FL 34711-2941, Phone: 352-394-6004, Email: Alex@StringfellowPlanning.com.
