Area students work on the Power Mural at Birchview Elementary School in Ishpeming. The mural will be unveiled at a Friday assembly at the school. (Photo courtesy of the city of Marquette Office of Arts and Culture)

ISHPEMING — The Power Mural, created in the Artists in Excellence program, will be unveiled at a 3 p.m. Friday assembly at Birchview Elementary School.

Artists in Excellence is a cross-district, arts-based extracurricular program for students from Marquette, Negaunee and Ishpeming high schools administered by the city of Marquette Office of Arts and Culture in partnership with local art teachers. Students developed and led the inaugural community art project — the Birchview mural — as part of the program.

Under the guidance of local muralist Hannah Milkie, whose work can be found on the walls of Trenary Toast Cafe and Blackrocks Brewery in Marquette, students from local high schools came together to design and implement a project they believed would make a difference in empowering the youth of their community and visualize the power of creative collaboration, the Marquette Office of Arts and Culture said in a news release.

AIE was created to satisfy multiple city Arts and Culture Master Plan objectives, including supporting an active and engaged community of healthy, lifelong learners and talent development, attraction and retention.

The program gives students direct experience with the local creative economy and builds a sense of place in their community beyond the walls of their high school and home, the city Office of Arts and Culture said.

Future student-led community art projects will take place throughout the greater Marquette area, connecting students across municipal boundaries.

AIE is funded by the Upper Peninsula Health Plan and matching funds from the Community Foundation of Marquette County’s Youth Fund.

For more information about the AIE program, visit MQTcompass.com or contact the city Office of Arts and Culture at 906-228-0472.