Hibbett | City Gear x The World Games 2022 Announce “It’s the Right Time” Mural Project

On Thursday, October 14, representatives of Hibbett | City Gear and The World Games 2022 hosted a press conference in downtown Birmingham to announce Hibbett’s sponsorship of the upcoming Games and unveil the first look at one of four city murals commissioned by local artists as part of this partnership.

Birmingham will host the World Games next summer, becoming only the second city in the United States to host the World Games in its 40-year history.

“Our goal with The World Games is not only to bring an exciting international sports competition to Birmingham but to also leave a legacy of lasting improvements to our community and state,” said CEO of The World Games 2022, Nick Sellers. “Our legacy mural project is a big part of that effort, and we are thankful to be working with an excellent partner in Hibbett | City Gear.”

The city-wide project aims to promote diversity and inclusion through a series of paintings featuring messages of acceptance, teamwork, compassion, and kindness including “It’s the Right Time to Believe in Birmingham.”

“We are excited to partner with The World Games 2022 on the ‘It’s the Right Time’ mural campaign that features talented artists in our community,” said Mike Longo, CEO of Hibbett | City Gear. “We have called Birmingham home for over 75 years, and we’re proud to welcome others, like The World Games, to our beautiful city. We are looking forward to seeing these murals come to life and the Opening Ceremony next summer.”

Not only is this opportunity exciting for it being the first major international event to take place in America in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, but members of The World Games 2022 Birmingham organizing committee also see this as an opportunity to introduce the world to the “new” Birmingham.

“What we want to showcase is that we’re not the South of the 60s that people still tend to think about when they think about Birmingham,” said Jonathan Porter, Chairman of the Board for the organizing committee. “We are an exciting, vibrant city that is poised for growth in the future.”

The artists selected to bring this project to life exemplify the growth the city is seeing today. Meghan McCollum is one of four artists honored with the task of spreading the “It’s the Right Time” message throughout Jefferson and Shelby counties.

Meghan is the founder and owner of Blank Space Bham, a public arts initiative that “seeks to reclaim public space, strengthen communities, foster creativity, and advocate for the (re)development of inclusive urban environments through the transformative power of public art.”

The official first look at her “It’s the Right Time to Believe in Birmingham” mural was the central focus of the October 14 press conference held at Pepper Place off Third Avenue South in Birmingham.

Meghan spoke about how often people see ordinary everyday structures like the exterior walls of buildings and give them very little second thought.

“This is an awesome opportunity to have a very intentional campaign that redirects those thoughts into not only something that’s a beautiful piece of art, but something that’s encouraging, and that’s sharing a message beyond just the paint on the wall,” she said.

Like Birmingham, Meghan describes her mural – which features neon purples, pinks, greens, and yellows – as vibrant and in-your-face. The multiple circular rings depicted in her piece represent the continual energy and forward movement of the city.

In the coming months, artists Shawn Fitzwater, Belinda Youngblood and students of the Fine Arts Academy at Briarwood Christian School, and Marcus Addison will join Meghan in this legacy project with murals of their own.

Themes for two of the remaining murals will read “It’s the Right Time to be One” and “It’s the Right Time to Love One Another.” The final mural will depict “It’s the Right Time” messaging chosen by the community through social media voting.

“We are recognizing that there is more that brings us together than divides us, and these murals will be a great representation of that,” World Games 2022 CEO Nick Sellers said in his press conference introduction.

Nothing brings people together like sports, and in July 2022, the World Games will bring 3,600 athletes from more than 100 countries to the Magic City to compete in 34 unique sporting events like sumo wrestling, climbing, and flag football.

To learn more about The World Games 2022, Hibbett | City Gear’s ongoing partnership projects with the organization, and information regarding the purchase of tickets and opening ceremonies, please visit https://twg2022.com/.