Since 2009, the Shenandoah Arts Council (ShenArts) has partnered with Old Town Winchester to create an outdoor gallery in the historic district of downtown Winchester, Virginia. We also have a display in Middletown, Virginia. Artists of all ages are invited to participate in this juried art competition. Selected works are reproduced on banners that hang on light posts throughout the downtown area. The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley provides support for this program as the host sponsor, displaying the original works of art in its Art in the Halls program.
ArtScape is a public art program open to artists of all ages and aims to represent diverse perspectives and talents, creating a shared community art experience. The objective of ArtScape is to establish an outdoor gallery in the heart of the community where vibrant banners add visual interest to the downtown streetscape. Each banner showcases the work of local artists and their sponsors.
Artists interested in participating submit their work to ShenArts, where a jury reviews and selects the pieces. Participating artists vary in age and skill level. The selected works are professionally photographed and printed on vinyl banners, featuring the names of both the artist and sponsor. At the end of the show, the banners are removed and given to the sponsor. The sponsor does not receive reproduction rights to the work. However, they are encouraged to display the banner in their place of business, highlighting their support for enriching the community through public art programs.
