Taking a Creative Approach
As director of the Anderson Gallery at Virginia Commonwealth University, Ashley Kistler is surrounded every day by creative, artistic people and their work.
It’s no surprise that she cites Richmond’s art scene as one of the best things about the city.
“The cultural energy of the city has really taken off,” Kistler said. “This is such a different place than it was even five years ago.”
When talking about her favorites, Kistler said there are many, particularly “the various art museums and arts events that are available year round now,” such as the First Fridays Artwalk, a monthly event of gallery exhibit openings and receptions.
“For anyone who’s new to the city, [First Fridays] is a great introduction [and] it pulls such a big and diverse crowd now,” she said. “There’s much more to do now art-wise than there ever has been.”
Among the top sites on Kistler’s list is the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, which is undergoing a $150 million expansion and will fully reopen in 2010.
“The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is a major museum by anyone’s standards,” she said. “I think anyone who visits [the museum] for the first time is really surprised that a city the size of Richmond has an art museum that is as outstanding as the Virginia Museum.”
Kistler also said the city’s music scene “is now richer and more diverse than it ever has been.”
One example: Plaza Bowl, a venue most people wouldn’t consider for music.
“They’ve taken out the center four or five lanes and put in a stage and a dance floor and it’s just great,” Kistler said. “People are bowling, you can listen to music and dance all at the same time and drink cheap beer.”
Kistler said Richmond’s independent radio station – WRIR 97.3 FM – “has fantastic programming and they do great benefit concerts.”
She also spends a lot of time walking through Byrd Park and Maymont, and along Monument Avenue.
It’s “one of the most beautiful avenues of any city anywhere,” she said.
This article originally published in Discover Richmond. Click here to view more Discover articles, or send us an e-mail to request a copy of the magazine.
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