It’s difficult to miss the empty storefronts in downtown Natchez, but filling them may be much easier than you think.

Carolyn Weir, administrator of the Natchez Art Association, is launching the Empty Storefront Project to help beautify the downtown area for the tricentennial — Natchez 300th birthday in 2016.

The project invites residents of any age and skill level to come into The Art Center, 409 Franklin St., during Second Saturday festivities each month and paint a picture on wood, canvas or metal with acrylic or oil paints. The materials will be supplied by the center. The painting has to be 36 inches on at least one side, and the subject matter can be anything.

Well, just about anything.

“No nudes or anything that is political in nature,” Weir said.

After the paintings are completed, they’ll be placed in empty storefront windows, of which Weir thinks there are approximately 30.

“All of the artwork will be donated to the businesses’ owners,” Weir said.

The project had its origin approximately six years ago.

“It was something that the Natchez Downtown Development Association wanted to do about five, six years ago,” Weir said. “They had asked the artists to do it, and at the time I didn’t really have any resources to be able to do it. So I went ahead and took it on recently.”

Now, The Art Center is doing it as its own project for the tricentennial. The project will be formally submitted later this month to the Arts Committee for the tricentennial, chaired by Connie Burns.

“We’re hoping that the store owners will cooperate and allow this artist group to go in and make the windows much more appealing,” Burns said.

Weir doesn’t think she’ll have much of a problem.

“I can’t imagine someone wouldn’t want a free painting in their window,” Weir said.

Weir received a $500 grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission to get the supplies. Because the grant is only for reimbursement, she’s currently looking for initial funds for the supplies to get everything ready.

Weir said she already has 21 panels ready to be primed for the community.

“It’s just an opportunity to help dress up downtown and maybe make the space more appealing to the public,” Weir said.

For more information, The Art Center can be reached at 601-870-7717. It will be open for artists working on the storefront project from noon to 5 p.m. beginning this Saturday and continuing on the second Saturday of each month.