A partnership between the Flint and Steel Coalition and the Studio Art & Art History Association at the University of Texas at Tyler was announced Friday when the association’s student officers voted to join the coalition to help develop two projects.

Wood County Walls, which is developing the county-wide mural trail, and ART House in Mineola will benefit from the students’ efforts.

“As early as this December, you will see UT-Tyler art students on the ground in Wood County bringing their talent, skills and passion to our communities by creating public art inventory for Wood County Walls,” according to a Flint and Steel release. “Additionally, they will be assisting with the design and renovation efforts to create ART (Artistic Recreational Therapy) House in Mineola. Also, some of the SAAHA students will be serving as School Outreach Coordinators focused on reaching out to local high schools, middle schools and home schools with the hopes of getting those organizations involved with developing collaborative projects that involve our students with the UT-Tyler students in community art projects as part of Wood County Walls.”

A formal memorandum of understanding between Flint and Steel, a non-profit, and the university is in the works.

Wood County Walls is seeking smaller walls to help kick off the project with simple, interactive art. There will be no cost to the owner.

Multiple art disciplines are represented, so projects may be something other than murals.

This will be targeted for smaller walls, unlike the large murals that were painted during the first Texas Street Art Festival in September.

ART House will serve as the base of operations. The building, donated by the city of Mineola on Front St. just across from the depot, is being renovated for a variety of creative outlets, from art to graphics and music. Current need is for an electrician.

Contact Todd Witt at witttodd@aol.com with photos and dimensions of walls so the students can begin developing concepts for consideration.