Arts Council, Police Working Together on Project

Hank Bostwick of The Star City Harbinger (a newsy-blog) is reporting this a.m. that representatives of the Roanoke City Police Department and the Arts Council of the Blue Ridge are working on a mural project together, one that has been in the planning stages for some time.

Though this is not a direct response to the arrest of a young performance artist on Roanoke City Market nearly two weeks ago, Director Laura Rawlings sees the project as a potential healer for ill feelings among between the police department and the arts community. Deputy Chief Tim Jones is working with the Arts Council on the Roanoke Youth Arts Connections program, which will bring in young artists who will paint a mural to be placed on the inside wall of the city parking garage.