In 2019, the City of Kinston received funding from the NEA Our Town program to support the creation of a Downtown Kinston Mural Program and to commission seven original outdoor public murals. The mural locations are scattered throughout downtown, with the aim of enhancing connectivity between cultural and economic assets in Kinston’s city center!
To use creative placemaking efforts as a way to promote dialogue around social justice issues and community concerns, and to bring together our diverse citizenry through community-based, grassroots collaboration.
To reveal the vibrancy of Kinston through the cultural experiences that promote the history, arts, sports, and regional authenticity that make this city special.
To revitalize downtown as a cultural and shopping experience for both residents and tourists.
To provide economic opportunities for local and regional artists, establishing Kinston as a place for creative people to live, work, and sell their wares.
To inspire, motivate, and instill pride in Kinstonians by creating an accessible outdoor gallery of beautiful and thought-provoking public art that reflects the unique character of our community.
*adopted by the Selection Committee in October 2019
Artists
A full presentation of the artists, their mural, Virtual Artist Talks, and their prior work is available on our Artists page!
A Selection Committee provides oversight of the Mural Program, including: 1) refining the program’s goals, 2) curating mural locations, 3) selecting artists based on qualifications and alignment with program goals, and 4) the approval of concepts. The members of the 2019-2020 Downtown Mural Program Selection Committee are:
Geraldyne Barbour
Courtney Boyette
Prishonda Daniels
Celestine Davis
Tyndall Davis
Kyaira Harper
Stephen Hill
William Hudson
Rita Joyner
Robert Koonce
Lessette Kornegay
Sandy Landis
James Mumford
Felicia Solomon (Council Member)
Kristal Suggs (Council Member)
Bennett Wynne
Program History
In 2019, the City of Kinston received funding from the NEA Our Town program to support the creation of a Downtown Kinston Mural Program and to commission seven original outdoor public murals. The mural locations are scattered throughout downtown, with the aim of enhancing connectivity between cultural and economic assets in Kinston’s city center. The creation of the murals will coincide with a City-led $3.2 million downtown streetscape improvement project (to include new street trees, sidewalks, crosswalks, parking street lights, and traffic patterns).
