Unveiling Columbia's Stories Through Art
One Columbia is proud to announce the launch of the Cultural Layers public art project, an initiative designed to preserve, honor, and celebrate the stories and histories of our community through visual art.
This unique project, funded by the Knight Foundation through Central Carolina Community Foundation, will incorporate layered narratives and artistic expressions to reflect the identity and cultural memory of historically significant neighborhoods in Columbia.
About Our Project
The Cultural Layers project is deeply connected to the neighborhoods it seeks to honor, including the historically significant Ward One area in Columbia, SC. Once a vibrant, predominantly Black community, Ward One was bound by Huger, Heyward, Main, and Gervais streets and thrived as a close-knit neighborhood where “everybody knew everybody.” By the 1930s, it was home to families who worked in mills, railroads, and warehouses, creating a unique and rich cultural legacy.
Although Ward One was displaced in 1968 to make way for the University of South Carolina’s development, its spirit continues to resonate in the memories of former residents and the historic markers that now commemorate its impact. Through the Cultural Layers project, One Columbia aims to honor and preserve these stories, ensuring the legacy of such neighborhoods lives on through art and shared history. This initiative celebrates the cultural contributions of Ward One and other communities, transforming their narratives into a lasting visual heritage for Columbia.
