Arts & Culture

The City of Roanoke views art and culture as integral to the community because of their potential to enhance the quality of life for Roanoke’s citizens, increase tourism, support education, and stimulate the economy. Roanoke also sees public art as a tool to create livable cities, create a heightened sense of place and community identity, enliven the visual quality of public space, and enrich the spirit and pride of its citizens.

2020 WRITER BY BUS APPLICATIONS DUE MARCH 18

The City of Roanoke Arts Commission, Ride Solutions and the Greater Roanoke Transit Authority are partnering to once again to present a unique literary opportunity in summer 2020. Application packets will be accepted until 5 PM on Wednesday March 18.

A writer (or writers) will be provided a bus pass and paid an honorarium of $1,000 to create a unique work of literature while riding different bus routes. The work may be in any genre including short stories, poetry, essays, plays, etc. and may also include art, music or photography. The work will be published in the form of a chapbook as well as on the participating organizations’ websites and other venues as available.

Get more information in the 2020 project description.
Download the 2020 application.

CITY ARTS & CULTURAL FUNDING AVAILABLE

How-to-apply workshop was held December 6

The City of Roanoke provides programmatic funding to nonprofit arts and cultural organizations to help provide robust cultural offerings to residents and visitors of the region. To be eligible, organizations must be in good standing and have operated under their 501(c)3 status for three years. RSVP for the workshop here. Attendance at the December 6 workshop is required in order to receive funding. The workshop took place at 9 a.m. in the E.O.C. Conference Room (Room 159) on the first floor of the Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building at 215 Church Avenue, SW.  Contact Arts & Cultural Coordinator Douglas Jackson for more information.

Click the image for more information on the ARCHES project.

ARCHES

The Roanoke Arts Commission is responsible for overseeing the development of Arts and Culture in the City of Roanoke.

The mission of the Roanoke Arts Commission (RAC), as established in 1983, is to “advise and assist city council on matters relating to the advancement of the arts and humanities within the city” to establish Roanoke as a vibrant, prosperous community where arts and culture engage people in all aspects of life. The RAC increases the collective impact of the arts and cultural community by:

    • Advocating for arts cultural initiatives and investment
    • Managing and informing the City’s Public Art Plan.
    • Advancing the City’s Arts and Cultural Plan.
    • Guiding City investments in arts and culture.