Stroll, See, Scan, and Storytelling: Introducing the new Downtown Arlington Public Art Audio Tour

When you spend time in Downtown Arlington, you’re sure to see at least one colorful mural, intriguing sculpture, or sparkling piece of outdoor art. And if you’ve been thinking that there is more public art in Downtown than ever before, you’re right.

Over twenty new murals and sculptures have been added to the Downtown landscape in the last decade.

To help locals and visitors discover its growing number of public art installations, Downtown Arlington is launching a free, self-guided audio tour. Through a series of interactive plaques and website-based audio guides, the Downtown Arlington Public Art Audio Tour connects 34 murals and sculptures dating back to the mid-2010s. The creation of the tour was generously funded by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts.

To access the Downtown Arlington Public Art Audio Tour, visitors can visit Downtown Arlington's Public Arts page or simply begin at any audio tour location. Every mural and sculpture along the tour is designated by a plaque, which includes the name of the piece, year of creation, artist’s name, brief description, and a QR code. The QR code links to a webpage that features deeper-dive text and audio guide about the artwork, artist and sponsors. Scroll to the bottom of each webpage for maps to the next closest public art locations as well as other downtown destinations.

Why Public Art Matters

Public art in Downtown gives visitors a colorful way to learn about Arlington’s history, personality and culture. Along the Public Art Audio Tour, visitors can see and discover local stories about military heroism, excellence in the arts, cultural diversity, culinary heritage, and Bankhead Highway’s legacy, just to name a few.

The dedication to vibrant placemaking through public art has been driven by a shared vision between property owners, artists, supporters, and Downtown Arlington Management Corporation (DAMC). Garret Martin, DAMC Vice President, said public art transforms public spaces into authentic and inclusive places that provide a platform for local culture.

“All kinds of people live, work, and connect with each other in Downtown Arlington every single day,” said Martin. “Public art represents the energy and talent they bring to Downtown. It's a visual expression of Arlington's sense of community, hometown pride and innate creativity.”

Tell Me More

If you’re interested in learning more about arts and culture in Downtown, visit Our Stories and click on keywords “Cultural Arts” or “History”.