Like many of my high school classmates, I never had plans to stay in my hometown of Roanoke, located in southwestern Virginia.

Among other reasons, it seemed to lack that something special in terms of arts and culture. The local theater had reduced its performance season; a much-anticipated visual art museum was struggling to stay open; and the independent bookstore closed to become just another bar.

And so, as is common, I left my hometown in pursuit of graduate school and a job in a metropolitan area. I was perfectly situated within walking distance to public transit, yoga studios, cafes, and world-class performance centers.

But now, I’m starting to look back.

Roanoke and its surrounding areas have begun to capitalize on its rich cultural history. Let me be specific, this culture is not new, yet it has just been unearthed with contemporary knowledge of cultural vitality, opportunities for partnerships and economic development, and community leadership and buy-in.

Roanoke has taken steps to put itself on the list of desirable places to live and has done so by elevating its distinct heritage. 

In August 2011, Roanoke City Council adopted an Arts and Cultural Plan that was the product of focus groups and community meetings. These conversations led to three building blocks that serve as the plan’s foundation:

• Vibrant Region – Healthy Economy

• Livable Communities – Engaged Neighborhoods

• People, Education, Lifelong Learning

In a 2013 interview featured on the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) ArtWorks blog, Maria Rosario Jackson suggested that a vibrant cultural life is dependent in part on a city’s identity and appreciation for how it is different from other places.

Like all cities, Roanoke is distinct in terms of its region, communities, and people. The city’s cultural plan builds off of its history and existing expressions of culture instead of adding new cultural venues. And because the plan is funded by a percent for art program with no additional public monies, building on existing resources and practices is the only way that the city will advance its cultural vitality.

Roanoke’s Arts and Cultural plan led to a 2012 Our Town grant from the NEA. CityWorks (x)po, a festival of ideas for small cities, has launched Roanoke into the spotlight with creative ideas to social issues.

A recent article in Virginia Living magazine referred to Roanoke as “The Little City That Could.” These community-led initiatives celebrate Roanoke’s unique culture and are important to the residents who have actively participated in such developments.

These types of grassroots movements are more authentic than attempts to capitalize on culture simply for the sake of economic development. Building strategically located venues to bring artists into a community is much different than supporting the ways in which artists already engage, work, and live.

By turning my back on Roanoke, I missed my opportunity to contribute to its development. I ask myself, and pose the question to other young professionals, “What is our role in cultivating our cultural homes? Can we create—alongside our community partners—that certain something that we’re seeking? How can we shape our Main Streets, theaters, and city histories?”

If we create our own vibrant communities, then young people might not flee their hometowns in pursuit of the cultural activities that metropolitan areas offer.

Maybe I should have taken more responsibility to move Roanoke in a new direction. But then again, perhaps I have had an impact in some indirect way.

As an arts researcher, my work might impact future communities just like previous arts scholarship has affected Roanoke. Our collective body if knowledge—built through shared stories, research, and experiences is making an impact on the presence and practice of the arts in communities.

I applaud Roanoke for embracing a movement supported by research and by its citizens. Although there is no one-size-fits-all approach to advancing culture, one that is built from history and authenticity engages citizens, activates voices, and makes for a great city.