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VI Council on the Arts (2020) Print
2020 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Public places
└ Public art installations
└ Public art installations
The Virgin Islands Council on the Arts commissioned local artists -- all of whom were older adults -- to create four murals at a local recreational complex. Intended to extend the Yacht Haven Public Arts Initiative into more neighborhoods, the new murals focus on Virgin Islanders' heritage and history. Subject matter includes an ocean vista with sail boats, a scene from everyday Island life and an homage to local athletes. Project organizers say they hope the new public art instills a sense of neighborhood identity and adds color to walls that would otherwise go unnoticed.
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See More Projects Like This One
Lakewood, CO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: Older adults who walk the Alameda Corridor to reach shops and health care often lacked safe places to pause, making trips exhausting and limiting independence. Alameda Connects installed a concrete pad with a bench and trash bin at a key resting point. It also added colorful ground murals at three sites, including a transit stop and Easterseals Colorado, to make the spaces feel safer and more welcoming. The project united older adults and students in painting days that sparked friendships and inspired neighborhood cleanups and business interest in murals. One teen said, "Thank you for letting me volunteer. This project gave me purpose."
Farmington, NM
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: Downtown Farmington's alleys lacked safe inviting spaces for cultural engagement, limiting walkability and social connection. The council converted an alley into a pocket park with walking pavers and murals, including a Navajo Code Talker portrait and cultural symbols. Older adults volunteered as guides and storytellers during art walks, sharing local history. The space now hosts jazz nights, art classes and receptions, creating a lasting venue for connection.
Frederiksted, VI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: To highlight the culture, history and traditions of the island of St. Croix, the VI Council on the Arts created a new mural. A local artist blocked out the artwork's design, then project organizers engaged volunteers -- including retired community members and people with disabilities -- to help paint. Installed in a busy area frequented by local fishermen, the mural depicts fish and coral native to the Virgin Islands. In the future, the Council plans to work with the community to create more murals.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
St. Thomas, VI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: Hurricanes left many parks in disrepair, and intense heat made outdoor spaces uncomfortable for older adults. The project built a durable shade structure with two ADA-compliant picnic tables near a playground, skate and bike park and open field, creating a cooler, welcoming spot for all ages. Volunteers also repaired a ballpark dugout and extended a concrete slab to improve accessibility. Families now use the shaded area for gatherings, and older adults enjoy a safe place to connect while watching activities. Built to withstand harsh island conditions, the structure will serve the community for decades.
Charlotte Amalie, VI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Lifelong housing and accessibility
Description: Older residents in public housing often missed visitors and deliveries because hearing loss made it hard to hear knocks, leaving them isolated and at risk. To address this, the housing authority installed 200 multi-sensory doorbells that provide visual, auditory and tactile alerts, and volunteers offered one-on-one orientations and shared other services. A territory-wide radio campaign promoted the program. The devices improved safety and independence, helping residents age in place and stay connected. One resident said that the doorbell has been very helpful and necessary addition for him, reflecting the confidence these upgrades bring.
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AARP Virgin Islands State Office
4094 Diamond Ruby
Suite 6
Christensted (St. Croix), VI 00820
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