Impact: Art & Creativity
Public art is a key feature of the Downtown Greenway design and placemaking as we tell the stories of Greensboro, North Carolina.
Connecting us to the larger world, public art creates a common language for better understanding. With more than 40 pieces on the Downtown Greenway, these include those for inspiration, works to celebrate history, and functional pieces such as benches, bike racks, and signage. See these works on the Public Art page.
Local History Highlighted
Four major works of public art are located on the corners of the four-mile Downtown Greenway loop. These cornerstones represent important elements of Greensboro’s history, showcased through four themes: Freedom, Innovation, Motion, Tradition. In recognizing our city’s heritage, these works also look ahead to its future.
Community Stories Shared
A commitment to community engagement as artists are commissioned to create work has ensured that community stories are told in meaningful and authentic ways with input from local voices.
Artistic benches represent the eight neighborhoods that the Downtown Greenway passes through, while murals highlight Greensboro’s civil rights impact, and sculptures reveal unknown or underrepresented stories of the community.
Intentional Art Selection Process
An Art Selection Panel composed of art professionals, city staff, and community members guides the process, which includes artist selection, proposal review and approval, and oversight of fabrication and installation. Bike racks are commissioned from local artists, benches are commissioned from North Carolina artists, and special features and larger pieces are commissioned from a national pool. In many cases, national artists have partnered with local artists to create the finished works and these relationships have had lasting impacts.
All of our public art is funded by donations from the private sector and through grants. Over $3 million has been invested in public art along the Downtown Greenway.
A Creative City Greensboro, NC
Our city enjoys a rich collection of public art throughout Greensboro. Many other organizations are actively involved in the support and promotion of the creative arts. To learn more, visit:
Creative Greensboro – the City of Greensboro’s office for arts and culture.
The Arts Council of Greater Greensboro – a non-profit organization dedicated to ensure access to the arts for all to preserve, enhance, and strengthen the places we call home.
The Public Art Endowment at the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro – a permanent fund for the creation of new community artwork.