Local Student Artwork to Decorate Signal Boxes Throughout Downtown Greensboro
47 student pieces selected from 140 submissions; Celebration reception for artists planned for June 2
Greensboro, N.C. — Downtown Greensboro Inc. (DGI) has partnered with local schools to transform 47 traffic signal boxes throughout downtown into vibrant street murals featuring student-designed artwork. Aligned with the "GSO35: Downtown in a Decade" initiative, DGI invited K-12 students to design pieces inspired by their vision of Downtown Greensboro's future in the year 2035.
"We are thrilled to showcase the creativity of Greensboro's young artists on signal boxes throughout downtown," said Rob Overman, Interim Executive Director of Downtown Greensboro Inc. "This partnership with local schools transforms ordinary infrastructure into vibrant, welcoming public art and gives our students a real stage to share their vision for downtown's future."
The Downtown Signal Box Art Program is a collaborative public art initiative that turns ordinary industrial traffic signal boxes into colorful canvases using vinyl wraps of student-designed artwork. The program brings color, creativity and community voices to Greensboro's streets while giving young artists a public stage for their work.
In total, DGI received 140 submissions representing 13 different schools across the area. From those entries, 47 pieces were selected collaboratively by DGI staff, board members, and members of the Forge Makerspace. The selected works represent students across all grade levels, from pre-K through 12th grade, and span a wide range of mediums — including watercolor, digital illustration, abstract concepts, and whimsical paintings.
Currently, 45 of the wrapped signal boxes have been installed at street corners and intersections throughout the downtown district, with two additional wraps still in progress. The artwork will remain on display for approximately three years before being refreshed with a new round of student-created pieces.
Celebration Reception on June 2
To honor the student artists and the art teachers who supported them, DGI will host a community celebration reception on Tuesday, June 2nd from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Center City Park in downtown Greensboro. Maps of all signal box locations will be available at the reception, allowing attendees to explore downtown through a self-guided art walk and experience the installations firsthand.
About Downtown Greensboro Inc.
Downtown Greensboro, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the vitality, growth, and stewardship of downtown Greensboro through economic development, events, public space activation, and partnerships with residents, businesses, and civic leaders.
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