Frequently Asked Questions & Answers Q: What exactly is the SGIA Canal Street Initiative? A: The SGIA Canal Street Initiative is an entirely volunteer-based project that will donate large-format graphic panels to the city of New Orleans. Once installed, the graphic panels will enrich the urban landscape on Canal Street with photos and images of the city’s distinctive heritage and culture. Q: Why did the Association take on this ambitious community effort? A: First and foremost, SGIA has been a big supporter of the reconstruction efforts in New Orleans. The Association saw a key opportunity to enhance storefront facades on Canal Street by bringing in digitally printed, large-format graphic panels that would be installed over plywood-covered doors, walls and windows. Additionally, the SGIA Canal Street Initiative demonstrates to the imaging community and the general public the aesthetic benefits and possibilities of incorporating large-format graphics in renovation and construction areas. The panels are expected to be durable and viable for the next three years, in time for SGIA’s annual convention in New Orleans, SGIA ’09 (October 6–9, 2009). Q: Where on Canal Street will the large-format graphic panels be installed? A: Approximately 80 large-format graphic panels are expected to be installed over construction sites and plywood-covered areas on Canal Street — from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center to French Quarter. Q: How has SGIA made the Canal Street Initiative possible? A: SGIA has worked with the City of New Orleans and New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau to initially coordinate installation plans with local storeowners. The Association gathered photos and images representing the essence of the Big Easy from the convention bureau and independent photographer Alexey Sergeev. SGIA’s creative graphics department formatted the images to create files for the large-format graphic panels. Those files were sent onto 11 SGIA member printers from across the United States. These printing companies produced the panels for free, using donated substrates from SGIA member suppliers. The panels have been shipped to volunteer installation service companies, which affixed the panels along Canal Street storefronts. Q: Who is involved with the initiative? A: This entirely volunteer project has received generous support and contributions from SGIA member companies and business partners. (See the entire list at SGIA.org) Q: When is the printing and installation taking place? A: Printing of the panels started in late summer, with the first round installation occurring September 5. SGIA projects the project work to continue through October, with all of the graphic panels in place sometime in November. Check out the continuously updated SGIA Canal Street Initiative Timeline for the latest details. Q: How many panels will be installed? A: SGIA plans to have approximately 80 large-format graphic panels installed once the project is completed.  Q: Will photos of the installation and graphic panels become available to the media? A: Absolutely. SGIA will post photos as soon as we receive them on SGIA.org, Keyword: NOLA. Q: Where can I go to learn more about SGIA and its Canal Street volunteers? A: Visit SGIA.org, Keyword: NOLA.