This past week, three new murals bloomed across University Place, and at Sunday’s EMERGE LNK: Mural + Street Art Festival, you could feel it: a shift in the air. A new vibe. The Uni Place Creative District’s dream of building a vibrant hub of art, entertainment, and community is taking root—and last Sunday, you could feel it.

One of the district’s early muralists, Shawn Dunwoody, calls it “place activation”—art as the spark that awakens identity, belonging, and community. That spark was everywhere: in the brushstrokes of artists, the strolling of neighbors, the buzz of local businesses, and the support of partners like the City of Lincoln, Visit Lincoln, Lincoln Community Foundation, Union Bank & Trust, Lancaster County Commissioners, Nebraska Wesleyan, Black Hills Energy, and the LUX Center for the Arts.

“Since the beginning, Visit Lincoln has been supportive, cheerleading us all along the way—not just in spirit but with real support for new murals and attractions in Uni Place Creative District. We are grateful for their guidance and leadership,” said LUX Executive Director Joe Shaw.

The festival marked the LUX Center for the Arts’ third—and most successful yet—celebration on Sunday, September 21, 2025. More than a thousand visitors filled the district for a day of art, music, food, and connection, transforming University Place into one of Lincoln’s liveliest stages.

At the heart of it all: three striking new murals, each reflecting the Past, Present, and Future of University Place. Artists Joy Kjer, Matthew Mederer, and Margaret Kops Kuveke brought their visions to the neighborhood in bold color and line. And when Mo Java Café’s wall wasn’t quite ready in time, Kuveke surprised the community with an extra design for the LUX Ceramics Center’s east wall—painted live with the help of neighbors during the festival itself. Her Mo Java mural, completed just days later, is already drawing admiration.

The day unfolded with a Makers Market hosted by the Uni Place Creative District, family-friendly art activities, and bites from local food trucks like Ybor and The Corner Kitchen. Music spilled into the streets from performers including Mike Semrad & The Riverhawks, NWU Gold Standard, DJ SpenceLove, Madeline Reddel, and The Bergamot, while Senator George Dungan and City Councilmember James Michael Bowers offered words of celebration.

“This event highlights the synergy between art and the community. It’s great to bring together so many to celebrate our community,” Shaw reflected.

By the time the last note faded, the feeling lingered: Uni Place Creative District isn’t just changing—it’s becoming.