An art lover’s guide to Norfolk’s NEON District
Art lovers can explore Norfolk’s NEON District with this guide to all things murals, galleries, and performances.
What was once a neon-lit auto row, and later a downtrodden area north of downtown and southeast of Ghent, has now been transformed into Norfolk’s NEON District, a vibrant arts enclave. The district offers a smorgasbord of public art, performance spaces, galleries, and an unending supply of creative energy.
Here’s an art-lover’s guide to explore all that the NEON District has to offer.
History
The name of the district has several meanings. Historically, the area was known as “Auto Row” due to the plentiful neon lights that belonged to the classic car dealerships that lined the streets. Today, the name stands for “New Energy of Norfolk.” It represents the new creative and passionate energy that has been infused into the city, making it a haven for art and culture. The shift came about thanks to a dedicated group of residents who recognized and cultivated the creative energies that were starting to emerge. As a result, Norfolk designated the area as the NEON District in 2015.
The district traces its origins to 2010, when the Canvas project, through the efforts of the now-defunct local publication AltDaily, galvanized a group of local artists, arts advocates, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions to work with property owners to revitalize properties in the Hampton Roads area. The first project to come out of the effort was the former Zedd’s Auction House in Norfolk. The boarded-up windows were turned into a public art display by a handful of local artists. The property now serves as the location of The Plot.
From there, the group submitted a proposal for an official district designation to the Norfolk City Council. Less than a year later, the city commissioned Better Block, an urban planning firm, to develop a concept plan aimed at turning the area from Granby Street to Brambleton Avenue into an arts haven. During the conception phase, hundreds of locals shared their ideas and vision for the area.
After the initial push, Alchemy NFK, a creative cooperative and place-making think tank, opened in April 2013, serving as the first new creative-based anchor for the area.
Early the following year, the Hurrah Players acquired a 12,000-square-foot facility that previously housed Sutton Manufacturing. The family theatre troupe turned the space into a black box rehearsal studio for its educational programs.
Later in the spring of 2014, a fundraising effort was undertaken to support the district’s initiatives. The online fundraiser, dubbed “Kickstart Norfolk,” ended up raising $20,000.
An enduring symbol of the district was affixed to Bob’s Gun Shop shortly thereafter when Nick Kuszyk covered it with a colorful “dazzle pattern” mural.
The momentum continued in May of that year as the Chrysler Museum of Art, a long-time district anchor that goes back to 1933, reopened following a $24 million renovation and expansion project. Most notably, the addition of its Glass Studio, which holds interactive events and daily workshops, was part of the project. Today, the museum’s 50 galleries contain more than 35,000 objects.
The following month, “The Plot,” a temporary urban recreation public park, was relocated to the district at the corner of Granby and Olney due to construction at its initial location, the Hilton Hotel and Conference Center. It now serves as a central meeting point for the district, where performances and gatherings occur.
That fall, the Push Comedy Theater, a 90-seat venue for improv, stand-up comedy, and acting classes, opened in the district.
The year 2015 also saw several notable advancements for the district, including the acquisition of the former Texaco building by local C. Arthur Rutter III and his wife, Meredith, so that it could be turned into an art and entertainment destination called Work | Release, which was later renamed Commune Norfolk.
Zeke’s Beans and Bowls brought tons of flavor to the district when it opened with its unique local blends and signature Hawaiian-style poke bowls.
Finally, October of 2015 saw the launch of the first NEON Festival, a two-day event that served as the unofficial opening of the district. During the festival, public art pieces were unveiled, and performances were held.
A few years later, in 2018, an influx of new residents brought new life to the district with the opening of the Museum Apartments, a building that serves as an ode to French architect and painter Le Corbusier, which was quickly followed by the opening of several other apartment buildings.
Three years later, the d’Art Center, a long-time Norfolk arts hub, officially opened its doors in the district. Although it had resided in a temporary location within the district for the preceding five years, 2021 saw the opening of its doors in the Atlantic Permanent Building. Today, the center serves as both an art studio and a gallery.
This year marks the 10-year anniversary of the official district designation and the festival. The occasion will be commemorated during this year’s NEON Festival, during which 10 new art projects will be unveiled.
Harrison Opera House
The Harrison Opera House, located at 160 West Virginia Beach Boulevard, is another treasured district institution. The historic venue has a long history, having once been a USO theatre during World War II. It was later occupied by Virginia Opera, the current resident company that was designated as The Official Opera Company of the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1994. The 1,607-seat venue was extensively renovated in 1993.
The company currently produces three to four productions a year. The Virginia Symphony Orchestra also takes up residence in the venue when it’s not performing at the Chrysler Hall.
NEON Festival
The NEON Festival is held each year to celebrate all that the neighborhood has to offer. Starting in 2015, the two-day festival includes art exhibitions, local and regional performances, a variety of programming, and mural tours.
The 2025 festival is slated for Oct. 16-17 with locations at the Chrysler Museum of Art campus and around The Plot and various Granby Street businesses. This year’s festival will include “#10for10,” a slate of 10 public art pieces in recognition of the festival’s 10-year anniversary.
NEON District Tour
One of the best ways to discover all that the district has to offer is by taking the NEON District Tour conducted by the Norfolk Tour Company. Many of the tours offered are free due to the company’s partnerships with government and private entities.
It was started in 2017 by Joshua Weinstein, a Hampton Roads native, who wanted to find a way to combine his passion for art and local history.
If you’d prefer to explore the district on your own, use this handy map to discover the various murals, like Heather Bryant’s “Reach” mural on Virginia Furniture’s storage container at 117 W Olney Rd. and William Payne’s “Say Their Names” mural at 745 Granby St., and public art pieces that make the district so unique.
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