Kentucky Lottery, Community Partners Unveil ‘Jackpot Factory’ 11th Street Mural in West Louisville

LOUISVILLE, KY (November 21, 2024) — Kentucky Lottery President and CEO Mary Harville today joined community partners to unveil an inspiring mural on the 11^th Street side of its Louisville downtown building titled the “Jackpot Factory.”

The mural, painted by local artist Wilfred Sieg, will welcome neighbors and guests as they travel along 11th Street in West Louisville to the anticipated Phase IV of Waterfront Park along the Ohio River.

“The Kentucky Lottery likes to create fun and excitement in everything we do,” Harville said. “We are taking ‘Fueling Imagination’ to the next level with this interactive mural that will ‘put a little play in your day’ while telling the story of the Lottery’s beneficiaries and our funding of higher education in the Commonwealth.”

The Kentucky Lottery, their partner, BCH Agency and various community leaders envisioned a public art project along 11^th Street. The creation of the mural comes at the perfect time with Waterfront Park PlayPort, the first phase of the westward park expansion expected to open in the spring.

“Access to art has been shown to improve academic success, so it is fitting to celebrate the Kentucky Lottery’s role in supporting education through the production of a new piece of publicly accessible art,” said Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg. “We are excited to see community agencies, like the Kentucky Lottery, partner with artists to amplify Louisville’s public art program. This installation will undoubtedly strengthen the Portland neighborhood’s reputation as a growing hub for creative expression.”

“As we are nearing completion of Waterfront Park PlayPort, we want to thank our neighbors at Kentucky Lottery for their enthusiastic support of the project,” said Waterfront Park President Deborah Bilitski. “Vibrant artwork like this mural along the corridors leading to our waterfront plays a key role in creating a welcoming and memorable experience.”

“Thanks to Kentucky Lottery for adding colorful artwork which makes a huge difference in a downtown streetscape,” said Rebecca Fleischaker, executive director of Louisville Downtown Partnership. “A vibrant downtown includes whimsical and meaningful public art that showcases Louisville’s unique sense of place.”

The Jackpot Factory was the creation of BCH Agency and local artist Seig. The mural features an artful and whimsical nod to all the systems at work of the Lottery to create the fun and exciting lottery games Kentuckians play every day. It also depicts the output of the factory – Lottery proceeds that fund higher education for Kentucky students.

“We developed ‘Fueling Imagination, Funding Education’ with the Lottery to be more than a tagline; it’s at the core of the organization’s being,” said Brian Garr, creative director with BCH Agency. “It’s the daydream of a player’s lucky numbers being pulled, the joy of handing a check to a winner, the pride of providing Kentucky students educational opportunities. The mural is a piece of art that expresses those truths in a way the community can enjoy.”

“The concept is looking through a hole in the wall at a Seussical factory of imagination and whimsy,” Sieg said. “I wanted to carry the viewers eyes through the landscape with color and movement. The interwoven pipe work and playground of machines are full steam ahead, with all parts working at pumping out educational opportunities. I believe the mural works well in conjunction with the design of the new park. I hope it will help create a fun atmosphere and greet visitors from all over that are entering into the newly opened waterfront playground.”

In 2024, the Kentucky Lottery paid out more than $1.5 billion in prizes. Since 1999, Kentucky Lottery proceeds have funded more than $5 billion in scholarships and grants for Kentucky college students.

SOURCE: Kentucky Lottery.