History

It began with a figurehead.

It began with a figurehead.

Norwegian Lady with Flag at Half Mast
Stone Plaque About Norwegian Lady
Close Up of Norwegian Lady
Distant Image of Norwegian Lady Statue

The wooden carving of a woman washed up on the shore of Virginia Beach after a ferocious March 1891 storm dragged the Dictator, a Norwegian bark carrying lumber from Florida to England, to the bottom of the sea. Five of the crew members were lost, along with the captain’s wife and 4-year-old son.

The figurehead was erected at the beach with the woman, now called “The Norwegian Lady, looking out to sea. For 62 years, it endured winds and waves as a memorial to the lost lives, until a hurricane in 1953 finished off the battered relic. It was replaced by a bronze statue of a woman, still looking across the waves, in 1962.

That statue was probably the first piece of public art in Virginia Beach, a youngster of a city which only incorporated in 1963.

Public Art in the 1980s

In the 1980s, the city initiated a percent-for-art program, with a percentage of a development project donated to public art. Several popular installations came from the program, including the kinetic stainless steel sculpture “Pennant’’ at the Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library. By 1990, that program was dormant.

Public Art into the New Millennium

For most of the city’s history, public art was funded in Virginia Beach by donations, organizations, and/or businesses. The Naval Aviation Monument, a collection of bronze figures at 25th Street depicting eras in US Navy flight, was commissioned by the Hampton Roads Squadron of the Association of Naval Aviators. The towering sculpture of King Neptune at 31st Street was funded by donations, spearheaded by the Neptune Festival organizers and dedicated in 2005.

Virginia Beach Public Art Committee

The Virginia Beach Public Art Committee (PAC) is comprised of nine members who are appointed by the Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission (AHC) . This committee plays an important role in the development and implementation of the Virginia Beach Public Art Program.

Meetings are typically held at 9:30 a.m. on the last Friday of every month. A complete schedule is available online . Please note that the meeting schedule is subject to change.

Email artsinfo@vbgov.com to confirm dates, times, and locations.

The Public Art Committee

  • Reviews and recommends an annual public art plan to the Cultural Affairs Department
  • Identifies and prioritizes projects to be implemented
  • Reviews and makes recommendations on artist selection
  • Conducts aesthetic reviews of proposed donations and commemorative artworks and makes recommendations to the AHC
  • Advocates for public art

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Public Art Committee or serving on a future public art review panel, an application is available in the sidebar under "Get Involved." Your interest form will be kept on file and reviewed when a space becomes available. Applicants should​​ have extensive knowledge of the visual arts.

Virginia Beach Public Art Committee Equity Statement: The Public Art Committee is dedicated to supporting artists, including people of color and historically marginalized groups, as leaders in the creative process who transform their communities and benefit from the positive change experienced.

The Public Art Virginia Beach Foundation

Since the city does not have a public art fund, a group of residents from the arts, business and government began the Public Art Virginia Beach Foundation in December 2012, and commissioned “The Wave” by artist Jeff Laramore.

In July, 2018, The Public Art Virginia Beach Foundation dedicated “The Canoes” by Donald Lipski to the citizens of Virginia Beach. The gift of “The Canoes” to the community will continue the Public Art Virginia Beach Foundation’s legacy to enhance our public spaces with extraordinary art and to bring works to the community that are free and accessible to view and enjoy

The Foundation is working with the City’s Public Art Committee on further artistic endeavors, and the continuing projects are part of the Virginia Beach Arts Plan 2030 and Envision 2040 report for the future of Virginia Beach.