The Roanoker Sept/October 2023 - 33
Arts Programming
are necessary because the consensus within these same
communities is that there is a lack of intentional programs
that welcome diversity. In 2020, the nation was in
the midst of the COVID pandemic and racial tensions
were at an all-time high. This motivated RAC outreach
efforts, which included local artists creating an " END
RACISM NOW " mural located in front of the Noel
C. Taylor Municipal Building. Everyone loves murals
and there are several of these " Instagrammable " gems
around the city; however, sometimes painful realities can
be brought to the forefront in art that is created. This is
where so many conversations can begin surrounding the
role of art in social activism.
The Year of the Artist (YOTA) by the RAC, launched
in 2022 and for the first time in Roanoke, is a spotlight
on art and community helping to break down siloes that
exist across all demographics. We Are Art, the theme of
the YOTA, embodies the soul and essence of not only
the creatives, but every community that the art touches.
One of the highlighted events of YOTA was the Daisy
Art Parade held in April, an event showcasing art, artists,
performing artists and tons of supporters. The Daisy Art
Parade took place on UNESCO World Art Day, a symbolic
date in that the day was created to encourage artistic
expression and society to interact with one another.
Interaction is the hard part of outreach. The art community
is extremely diverse but many of those who are
People of Color and from the " underserved " communities
that the outreach is often meant for, do not always
feel the inclusivity. This was part of the motivation of
Roanoke native Toya Jones, YOTA grant recipient, to
hold the City's first Back to Black Arts Show.
According to Jones, many of the art shows in locations
do not spotlight the minority community, and she
believes that the " Back to Black Arts Show " was able to
do that. She is currently involved in several projects that
are music and art-related, things that she has a passion
for, and most of these programs have a strong focus on
People of Color. Jones loves to travel and sees the arts
spotlighted in cities such as Philadelphia, and wants to
LEFT TO RIGHT:
Ginkgo Festival in Century Plaza
organized by Roanoke Valley Sister
Cities with help from Katherine
Devine.
Daisy Art Parade
" END RACISM NOW " mural
Bryan " Harvest Blaque " Hancock
and Betsy Quillen performing in
The Lark Ascending Project.
Children attend the 2022 Back
to Black Art Show organized by
Verses.
TheRoanoker.com
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023 33
LAURA WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY / COURTESY OF VERSES
http://www.TheRoanoker.com
The Roanoker Sept/October 2023
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Roanoker Sept/October 2023
The Roanoker Sept/October 2023 - Cover1
The Roanoker Sept/October 2023 - Cover2
The Roanoker Sept/October 2023 - 3
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The Roanoker Sept/October 2023 - Cover3
The Roanoker Sept/October 2023 - Cover4
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