FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Ryan Vaughan
Marketing Manager
Friends of Southwest Virginia
rvaughan@myswva.org 

Wytheville Selected as First Community for Regional Mural Initiative

The project will bring a public mural to downtown Wytheville, supporting ‘Round the Mountain’s mission to strengthen downtown development, community revitalization, and the creative economy.

(ABINGDON, Va. – Friday, October 17, 2025) – ‘Round the Mountain Artisan Network is proud to announce that Wytheville, Virginia, has been selected as the first community to receive a mural through the new Community Mural Project, an initiative celebrating Southwest Virginia’s culture, creativity, and sense of place.

The project will install a large-scale public mural in downtown Wytheville, reinforcing ‘Round the Mountain’s ongoing mission to promote downtown development, encourage community revitalization, and grow creative economy tourism throughout the region.

“We are honored to be chosen as the first community by the Friends of SWVA on this regional mural initiative,” said Todd Wolford, Executive Director Downtown Wytheville. “As we continue to build on our sense of place and experience right here in Wytheville, we are going to keep pushing for all that is possible here and Public art is an extremely important phase of our continued development. We look forward to engaging the community and creating a mural that will be representative of Wytheville in every way shape and form.”

A muralist will be selected in early 2026, with project completion and a public unveiling anticipated in summer 2026.

“Being the first community in Southwest Virginia selected for this mural project is a tremendous honor,” said Shane Terry, Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator for Visit Wytheville. “It’s a reflection of our town’s spirit, our commitment to the arts. Public art brings stories to life, and this project will offer visitors another reason to stop, explore, and experience the creativity that defines Wytheville and the partnerships that make our region so special.”

 Funded through the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), the Community Mural Project supports local revitalization, enhances public spaces, and showcases the artistic identity of Southwest Virginia communities through public art installations.

 “Wytheville’s selection marks an exciting milestone for this regional effort,” said Kim Davis, Executive Director of Friends of Southwest Virginia and ‘Round the Mountain. “Wytheville has done incredible work through Downtown Wytheville Inc. to strengthen its Main Street district and create a vibrant, welcoming destination for residents and visitors alike. This mural will build on that momentum—celebrating the town’s creative spirit while adding another layer of color, culture, and pride to downtown.”

 A Request for Proposals (RFP) has been released for artists interested in creating the mural. Regional muralists and qualified public artists are encouraged to apply by reviewing the full RFP at the following link:  https://friendsofswva.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/RFP_Wytheville-final.pdf

Additional selected communities will be announced in the coming months as the initiative continues to expand across the region.