​Downtown Orangeburg Revitalization Association

It’s not just adults who find downtown Orangeburg a destination these days. The Downtown Orangeburg Revitalization Association sponsored a contest called “Paint a Good Word” for children to turn downtown Orangeburg into an art gallery for two months in the spring of 2015.

More than 300 children of all ages painted their interpretation of good words that included many of the city’s “community of character” traits plus “good words” such as peace, joy, family and laugh. Local artists, including the nationally renowned Leo Twiggs, selected 50 finalists whose artwork was displayed in downtown businesses. A Times and Democrat article encouraged the general public to vote for their favorite drawings. This generated more traffic to downtown Orangeburg and led to three winners.

In addition to wide media coverage of the promotion in the local newspaper and on television stations, the elementary school winner of the art contest used the iPad he won to produce a short video about the downtown farmers market and the Good Words contest further promoting the event.

The contest not only brought more than 1,000 visitors downtown, but it also generated a social media sensation. Using creativity and imagination, DORA gave Orangeburg residents a reason to be proud of their community and show off that pride.

Contact Jeanna Reynolds at  jreynolds@majorgraphicsllc.com or 803.664.4089.