Did you know that in 2008 the City Council established a Public Art Commission and adopted a funding ordinance? This ordinance says that 1% of funds for city capital improvement projects will be dedicated to the creation and installation of public art. This ordinance lead to the birth of the Cultural Affairs Public Art Program. The Public Art program has been an NEL partner for the past five years, allowing many student artists to create masterpieces throughout the city. Manager of the Public Art Program, Karen Rudd, hopes the NEL partnership will be a program for local artists to gain them public art experience as well as exposure. Her hope for the NEL participants is for them to have a sense of self-fulfillment and pride in their work as well as a quality experience in an art apprenticeship. In 2013 the area between the Harrison Opera House and Scope was declared the Arts and Design District of Norfolk. It is only natural that art created by NEL students will be placed in that area. NEL artists are guided by local artists/mentors. Heading the 2013 team of artists are Elliott Addesso, Tim Bearse, and John Rudel. Each has their own vision and will use diverse materials to produce art. Elliott Addesso’s team will be painting a mural to be placed in the entryway to Brambleton. Tim Bearse, a VCU graduate and sculptor is… read more.