AUBURN - Leslie Clark of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce gave an update on the Auburn Creative District.

She said Honeybees in the Heartland, a public sculpture project that began as a Nemaha County Leadership project tin 2019, gave the district its underpinnings and is still buzzing today.

Investigations into possible art themes, rediscovered that Auburn teacher Louise Howe and her third grade class led the charge to make the honeybee the state insect. Their legacy is now celebrated with 27 sculptures.

Auburn Arts and Events then hosted the Auburn Plein Air Paint Out and the Auburn Uniqueness mural series.

The Auburn Creative District attained state certification with the honeybee prominent in décor and gifts, bee sayings murals, community mosaic and international muralist Matthew Willey with the Good of the Hive.

The district is planning to collaborate with the Lied Center in Lincoln for a professional theater production and the American Legion Auxiliary for events to celebrate America 250.

The inaugural Honeybee Festival is scheduled Sept. 13.