Dearborn will be part of a unique project to create art exposure in southeast Michigan when the Detroit Institute of Art's Inside|Out program comes to the city in July.

Now in its third year, the program will come to 13 communities this summer. The participating cities, including Dearborn, will receive a number of high-quality reproductions of art pieces from its collection in highly visible places throughout each city.

The program will run July 3-Sept. 30.

“This is one of many ways the DIA serves the community,” said Graham W. J. Beal, DIA director. “We’re glad to be continuing our third year of the extremely popular Inside|Out program, and we look forward to 2013.”

Dearborn will receive eight pieces of art, which will be clustered within walking or biking distance from each other to encourage people to get out and view them all.

"By reimagining area cities and suburbs as a grand, open air gallery, the project aims to connect with audiences outside of traditional museum walls," organizers said in a written statement.

Although Dearborn has participated in the program before, the DIA has assured that "the reproductions will be placed in different locations to maintain the element of surprise of seeing the artwork in unexpected settings." It is expected that most pieces will be placed along Michigan Avenue, including at the Henry Ford Centennial Library, the Bryant Library, Starbucks and Bailey's Pub and Grille.

A number of events, including a narrated art walk and a discussion about the works at the Henry Ford Centennial Library, are expected to take place during the time that Inside|Out is in Dearborn.

Additionally, residents of each participating city will be granted a day of free access to the DIA. Dearborn's "free day" will be July 29.

"This will encourage them to come to the DIA to experience 'their' works of art in person and enjoy the variety of activities the museum offers," organizers said.

Inside|Out, which is in its third year of operations, received a $250,000 grant from the Miami-based John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to continue the community outreach program through 2013. This is Wyandotte's first year participating.

In addition to Dearborn, the summer 2012 program includes Canton, Troy, Waterford, Garden City, Trenton, Royal Oak, Ferndale, Clawson, Clinton Township, Harrison Township, Northville and Detroit.