The City of Harrisonburg, with partners The Arts Council of the Valley and Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, is currently working to select an artist who will be responsible for bringing a new public art project to serve as a gateway to the City’s Downtown.
The project will sit at Downtown’s northern entrance, where North Main Street and Liberty Street split in the area of Merge Coffee. The sculpture, which will be funded by federal Community Development Block Grant funds, should be a project that will stand the test of time, bring the Harrisonburg community together, and showcase the values and vision of The Friendly City.
Potential themes include aesthetic elements that reflect the diversity of the people in Harrisonburg, while showcasing the physical beauty of the city and Harrisonburg’s reputation for having a friendly and welcoming nature. The history of the African American community in the area, and the promise of hope for the future based on the values of the city’s people, are additional themes that this art could highlight.
More information will be available as the project moves forward in Spring 2023.