PPG has announced the completion of a Colorful Communities project in Valenciennes, France, that helped to revitalize the local university and its surroundings and to create a “Plastic Landscape” exhibition along with the Department of Fine Arts. The Colorful Communities program provides PPG volunteers and products along with financial contributions to bring color and vitality to communities where the company operates around the world. It increases PPG’s commitment to invest in communities by adding $10 million to support efforts made during a 10-year period.

From the start of the project in January to its completion in May, 60 PPG volunteers from the company’s nearby plants in Saultain and Marly spent about 40 hours helping to paint and renovate the university’s exhibition hall, as well as to clean the surrounding grounds and canal. The company provided $16,800 for the project, including 90 liters of SEIGNEURIE® paint products.

PPG employees also helped collect materials that students in the university’s Department of Fine Arts recycled into art pieces for a “Plastic Landscape” exhibition, which is the first to be displayed in the renovated hall. The Department of Fine Arts of the University of Valenciennes and Hainaut Cambrésis (UVHC) trains students in plastic and digital art, from licensing through doctorate, for careers ranging from exhibition management to graphic and interactive design to digital scenography. The co-created exhibition opened May 28 and is on display through June.

“This project has brightened the Valenciennes community by revitalizing the University District, and by making culture available to local residents with an innovative art exhibition that builds awareness of the importance of sustainable development and waste recycling,” said Pascal Vanhamme, plant manager of the Saultain and Marly sites. “Our PPG volunteers were present and available for each step of the project since January. Thanks to their help, the exhibition successfully opened in May as planned.”

The Colorful Communities program is PPG’s signature initiative for community engagement efforts, with the aim to protect and beautify the neighborhoods where PPG operates around the world. Together with community partners and PPG employees who volunteer, the program supports projects that transform community assets using donated PPG products. In 2015, PPG completed 11 Colorful Communities projects, and it expects to complete about 30 more this year.