» New program puts ART IN PLACE

In 2021, the City of Roanoke began a pilot public/private partnership strategy to encourage public facing art on private property. Dubbed ART IN PLACE, the program requires a 2 to 1 match provided by the property owner and a neighborhood or business association.

To date, three projects have received approval from the Roanoke Arts Commission:

210 4th Street Southwest Mural
Floating, Together by Josh Nolan
Project Partners: Downtown Roanoke, Inc. and Benny’s Pizza
Learn more about the project here.

Grandin Village Art Walk
Nine-murals on community themes creating “Walls that Unite”
Project Partners: Grandin Village Business Association and Roanoke Co+op
Learn more about the project here

• City Market Building Historic Neon Signs
  Refurbishment and reinstallation of historic neon signage
  • See the Roanoke Times video here
  • WDBJ – “History restored: City Market Building lights up Downtown Roanoke again with neon sign“
  • WSLS – “Neon signs return to Roanoke City Market Building after more than a decade in storage”

Project Partners: Downtown Roanoke, Inc. and The Market Building Foundation

The Roanoke Arts Commission plans to continue dedicating a small amount of Percent for Art funds to advance murals, sculpture, and other public-facing art installations on private property. City investment in projects averages around $3,000. To be eligible, a project design must have formal RAC approval.

Once property owners begin looking into it, they realize that an arts element can be a small part of a project budget, and it can be entirely feasible without City contribution. In that case, the Roanoke Arts Commission is happy to help develop calls, promote calls, and help celebrate completed projects.

Barrows Inc.
The Arts Commission worked with Parks and Recreation to support the great work of corporate citizen Barrows, Inc. as they undertook a nearly 5,000 square foot mural on the Roanoke River Greenway near the Salem border. Barrows has been an ongoing greenway and art partner, and we appreciate their investment in making Roanoke more welcoming and beautiful.

See press: WSLS, WDBJ

FUN FACT
For an art project that does not include a signage element and in which the City is not investing, a property owner doesn’t have to work with the City at all. The project does not need RAC approval!

To begin a conversation about a project on your property, contact Douglas Jackson at 540-853-5652.