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Virginia Beach artists say city grants transformed public art and murals
Summary
Artists and students credited recent Virginia Beach grant programs with funding murals, framing and community-led projects that made public art more visible and accessible and gave students hands-on experience.
Artists and students in Virginia Beach credited recent city grant programs with funding murals, public installations and community-led projects that have made art more visible and accessible across the city.
"Public art is accessible. It's open 24 hours a day. It's free," said an artist who described how a pump track and accompanying murals have altered the look of a park and provided community members with hands-on opportunities to contribute to public pieces. The speaker noted that the track is visible from Linhaven Parkway and that the surrounding artwork includes a side labeled "Brigadun."
Another artist described the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad mural, saying Princess Anne High School students designed the piece, applied for grant funding and "they hired myself and another artist, Katie Nespet, to help them paint this mural." The speaker called the effort "this huge community endeavor" and said it had district support and the involvement of two paid local professional artists.
A student or participant who received grant support said, "With the grant, we were given that freedom to kind of express ourselves, not having to worry about where funds may be coming from or how we're going to pay for certain things." Speakers said grants were used for costs such as professional framing and prints, which can be expensive for individual artists.
One grant recipient called the funding "lifechanging," saying it gave them the confidence to pursue glass work and describing the city’s arts dedication as transformational. Speakers repeatedly emphasized that the city’s grant support allowed artists and student groups to create work that strengthens community ties and spreads arts and culture across neighborhoods.
The transcript records descriptions of projects, funding impacts and personal testimony but does not record any formal motions or votes on arts funding. Participants urged continued grant support so other local artists can access similar opportunities.
