Norfolk Arts District - Episode II

Zenos Frudakis' Freedom

My own philosophy about an arts district runs counter, apparently, to the hordes of screaming groupies demanding my head. No surprise.

Really, all the personal attacks on my name, my profession and character have made me blush.

Even though I am skeptical about such a place, let’s go ahead and try it. I’m willing to try anything at least once.

The real question is whether or not the public and the business community are willing to try it, support it and promote it?

Unfortunately, it may take two years for this arts district to actually exist and thrive. By that time, Mayor +Paul Fraim will no longer be mayor and will be relaxing in the Blue Ridge Mountains near his alma mater, Virginia Military Institute. And +Anthony Burfoot, in all likelihood, will be our new leader.
Two years, at most. We have to do something in the meantime. So I have some proposals. Let’s gauge the level of interest in an arts district, and let’s do it now.
Close down Granby Street from Brambleton Avenue to Virginia Beach Boulevard. 

Naked Bike Races

Hold a weekend fair. Invite independent booksellers, local bands, merchants and artists, among others, to display their wares on the street.

On Friday and Saturday nights, have a soiree with a theme. Say, +Sons of Anarchy or +Walking Dead. So everyone has to attend in costume.

Stage a one-day naked bike race – on kids’ bikes – from Brambleton Ave. to Virginia Beach Boulevard. They do it on Philly every year. Atlantic City and Portland, as well. 

The Big Kahuna

During Saturday and Sunday, local theater groups can stage mini-street performances. A local dance group could perform for 30-minutes. Have jugglers, clowns, fire-eaters, snake handlers wandering the streets.

Have children paint murals on publicly-owned walls and award prizes to the best. A min-art fest, since the future of the arts begins with exposing children to the arts.

These aren’t new ideas. They’ve been percolating in neighborhoods and offices and bars and coffee shops for decades.

Let’s think big. And let’s get started. NOW.

Include other organizers of local festivals, such as the Stockley Gardens Arts Festival.

Get +Zack Miller of We Are Titans involved. He can sell wind in a wind tunnel. 

 And, maybe, just maybe, we could get the Big Kahuna of a locally grown band to perform for an hour. And have the city pay for their expenses.