A handful of runners and walkers, 20 perhaps, participated in the first ever “Run for the Arts” on Saturday Oct. 17, a downtown 3-mile run organized by the Arts Council of the Blue Ridge. The fundraiser was conceived as a way to heighten awareness for publicly funded art in Roanoke, and as a way to raise money for Arts Council education programs.
Roanoke City Mayor David Bowers arrived on the brisk morning to see runners off from the starting line, declaring that “Roanoke City remains committed to one percent for the arts,” a program initiated by his predecessor, Nelson Harris, that sets aside city money to buy and install public art.
“Let’s continue in these hard times to continue to make that commitment,” said Bowers. Runners on Saturday followed a course that went by a half dozen pieces of public art purchased under the “Percent for Art” program.
Bowers also revealed that, pending a City Council vote, the old Fire Station No. 1 on Church Avenue will become the new home for the Arts Council of the Blue Ridge sometime in the future. Executive Director Laura Rawlings envisions the renovated building as an “arts information station” where visitors can learn about all sorts of cultural attractions in Roanoke.
Rawlings said brochures and information on various arts happenings “gets lost,” at the Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau. Part of the fire station would also become an historical exhibit featuring area firefighters, according to Rawlings.
By Gene Marrano [email protected]