LONG BRANCH — Currently getting under way in downtown Long Branch, the Urban Canvas Project is designed to turn the façades of 40 unoccupied buildings on lower Broadway into a communal work of art that will inspire and beautify the neighborhood, create a one-of-a-kind local attraction and put forth a message of energy and solidarity in the arts community.

The buildings are slated to be demolished, but in the meantime, the Long Branch Arts Council (LBAC) and the City of Long Branch have teamed up to offer interested artists a unique opportunity to be part of a project that will be documented through photos, video and media from the planning stages on through to its eventual destruction.

The Urban Canvas project is the brainchild of LBAC member Carl Hoffman, who explained in a press release, “We hope to increase foot traffic and to draw individuals into a neglected and mostly abandoned, yet highly vital area in the city, and to use the project as a catalyst for developing all kinds of arts and cultural events in the neighborhood.”

Interested artists are encouraged to visit the area along Broadway between Second Avenue/Long Branch Avenue and Liberty Street/Memorial Parkway and to acquaint themselves with this eclectic collection of structural styles and surfaces. Images of all the buildings have also been posted online at www.longbrancharts.org/canvas/urban.html.

Artists can apply to take part in the project by selecting one façade of their choice and submitting a fully colored drawing of their concept for the surface. All submissions must be submitted in scale — dimensions for all the façade surfaces are available — and the Urban Canvas Committee will choose one artist for each site from among the submitting candidates. The committee will also take into consideration how each entry works with the whole to create an integrated cityscape and work of art.

Primer, paints and painting supplies will be donated by Siperstein’s Paints, whose owners are involved in the redevelopment of the lower Broadway arts district.

While there are no limits as to subject or theme, these publicly displayed works will be considered family-friendly and subject to the approval of the committee. All selected artists and support staff will work as volunteers for the city under the coordination of the LBAC.

Interested artists should be prepared to work outdoors during daylight hours, weekdays 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and weekends 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit the “Call to Artists” page at www.longbranch2ndsaturdays.org for full details, submission guidelines and images of the buildings, or contact imaginelongbranch@ gmail.com for additional information.