VALDOSTA, Ga. — Main Street banners received companions Saturday in the form of 150 City Center Arts District street banners. 

About a dozen volunteers walked along the streets hanging the banners which proclaim downtown as the City Center Arts District.

“It just identifies a place of community where we can celebrate (and) promote the arts in our community,” said Sementha Mathews, executive director of the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts.

The downtown arts district stretches across the Central Valdosta Development Authority’s western, southern and eastern boundaries.

The CCAD extends northern two blocks to Webster Street to be inclusive of the Turner Center and Turner’s Hudson Pottery Studio and youth art education annex.

Mathews said the CCAD is an opportunity for artists and art supporters to thrive within in the city and the county.

The CCAD was established by the Public Art Advisory Committee, and the Valdosta City Council approved the initiative in October 2016.

“With their approval, it is actually an official arts district here in our community, which really symbolizes their support of how the arts positively impacts our economic development here,” Mathews said.

Karen Lewis, newly appointed advisory committee member, said the street banners are the committee’s way of highlighting awareness for the arts district.

“Most people kind of know downtown as being the historic area, but a lot of people aren’t really familiar with the artistic aspect of it,” she said.

She said the banners will catch the eye of pedestrians and visitors and will work to attract attention to the local art businesses downtown.

Lewis believes the CCAD and the street banners may also cause entrepreneurs to gravitate to the area and open up businesses downtown.

Barry Alexander, a Brooklyn native who relocated to Valdosta in April, was among the volunteers Saturday hanging the banners.

Alexander said volunteering teaches him more about community events and helps him to decide if the area is a good place for his musical arts business. He said the arts district is welcoming.

Mathews said the banners and the arts district serve as a communicative tool to passersby.

“It’s a clear message from our leadership that they understand the positive impact that arts make on our community, and we’re just going to celebrate that.

“It draws attention to the Turner Center for the Arts, City of Valdosta, Main Street and all of us working together to make better arts opportunities,” she said. 

Amanda Usher is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1274.