Washington, D.C.: Color the Curb School Safety Program

Grow Your Garden! by Ashley Jaye Williams, at Drew Elementary, is a curb extension mural for the Color the Curb: School Safety Program. Image courtesy DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities

State arts agencies continually seek to enliven communities through the creative integration of arts in public space. Increasingly, state arts agencies are partnering with state transportation agencies to extend the reach of public art and achieve shared agency goals, such as promoting community engagement and fostering a unique sense of place. Through an innovative arts and transportation program, Color the Curb: School Safety, the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities (CAH) has partnered with the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and DC Public Schools (DCPS) to increase safety at intersections near schools.

Since 2021, the Color the Curb grant program has provided awards to transform curb extensions through ground murals painted by local artists. Research suggests that asphalt art improves safety for pedestrians, which could further benefit curb extensions that already increase the safety and visibility of pedestrians. Additionally, the artwork creates a more vibrant space and highlights the work of local artists.

Now in its second year as a School Safety Program, the Color the Curb grant program will award $30,000 grants to support curb murals at schools identified by DDOT in coordination with CAH and DCPS. The program prioritizes collaboration with DCPS, and the awarded artists collaborate with the elementary school staff and students to design the artwork. Through its work, the grant program and resulting murals strive to create and elevate safer transportation spaces, engage youth in public art and foster a sense of civic stewardship in participating students.

CAH provides a ground mural technical expert to assist with implementation of the murals and has published a Ground Mural Best Practices Guide to assist those considering their own ground mural program. For more information, contact CAH Public Art Coordinator Deirdre Darden or DDOT Arts in the Right-of-Way Coordinator Emma Blondin. Read more about the intersection of arts and transportation in NASAA’s new Arts in Transportation Strategy Sampler.