PHOTO #1: This concept art provided by local artist Josh Vega of Free Art Victoria shows a proposed design for a crosswalk in downtown Victoria.
A recent donation from the Victoria Rotary Club will help the City of Victoria Main Street Program to implement a new public art program that will put a spring in residents’ steps.
The club on Feb. 8 donated $1,000 to the Victoria Main Street Program and the Victoria Fine Arts Association toward the creation of a crosswalk art program downtown.
PHOTO #2: The Victoria Rotary Club at its Feb. 8 meeting donated $1,000 to the Victoria Main Street Program and the Victoria Fine Arts Association to create a crosswalk art program downtown. Shown at the grant presentation, from left, are Danielle Williams, economic development director for the City of Victoria, accepting the grant on behalf of the Victoria Main Street Program; David Faskas, president of the Victoria Fine Arts Association; and Victoria Rotary Club President Linda Caldwell.
Decorative crosswalks were identified in the City’s downtown master plan as one of ten low-cost “easy wins” that could help to spur downtown development. The plan also advises the City to use resources efficiently by working with community partners to implement the plan. The Victoria Main Street Program is partnering with the Victoria Fine Arts Association and local artist Josh Vega of Free Art Victoria for the crosswalk art program.
The Victoria Main Street Program is seeking additional sponsors for the program. Interested sponsors should contact Economic Development Director Danielle Williams at dwilliams@victoriatx.gov or 361-485-3060.
PHOTO #3: This concept art provided by local artist Josh Vega of Free Art Victoria shows a proposed design for a crosswalk in downtown Victoria.
The project is expected to reflect well on downtown when the Victoria Main Street Program this year applies to have downtown recognized as a cultural district through the Texas Commission on the Arts. This designation would give the Victoria Main Street Program access to more grant opportunities.
The Victoria Main Street Program originally planned to start painting the crosswalks this year, but the project is being postponed while the department explores other streetscape projects that might require the crosswalks to be repaved. Painting is now expected to begin in March 2023.