ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - The Albany Museum of Art has received a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to fund a new downtown Albany mural honoring four influential figures in American music history: Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Aretha Franklin, and Albany native Ray Charles.

The grant is part of the NEA’s Celebrating America250: Arts Projects Honoring the National Garden of American Heroes initiative, marking the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary. Only 50 grants were awarded nationwide, with the Albany Museum of Art receiving one of just two granted to projects in Georgia.

Museum leaders say the mural will celebrate the lasting cultural impact of these artists while enhancing Albany’s downtown landscape. The project will be led by Atlanta-based artist Shanequa Gay, whose work explores identity, history, and storytelling within the context of the American South. Gay previously collaborated with the museum during its 2020 mural exhibition.

The mural is expected to be completed in early May 2026 and will highlight the Chitlin’ Circuit, a historic network of venues that supported Black musicians during segregation. In addition to the artwork, the project will include a public unveiling, educational programming, panel discussions, and community engagement activities.

Museum officials say the mural will serve as a lasting landmark, honoring musical heroes who helped shape America’s cultural identity while providing greater access to the arts for the Albany community.

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