If you love art, consider gifting a conversation heart on Valentine’s Day.

The ViBe Creative District is hosting a Valentine’s inspired fundraiser called “For the LOVE of ART – Hearts on Parks” to support year-round free public programming in the district.

Treat a friend or loved one to a “conversation heart” for public display in the ViBe District from Feb. 13 to March 7. The pastel-colored hearts will be hung along the fence on Parks Avenue near 21st Street and the Virginia Beach Convention Center. The 130-foot private fence, owned by Ambassador Inn, is located in an area where people can safely walk up and snap photos.

Kate Pittman, ViBe’s executive director, said the idea came from Rosemary Wilson, vice mayor of Virginia Beach. Last year while traveling, Wilson stopped in St. Michaels, Maryland. She noticed red message hearts attached to wooden telephone poles. After she googled it online, she realized it was a fundraiser called “Hearts on Talbot” and sent photos to Pittman encouraging her to consider the concept for the ViBe.

“I’m excited Kate took the idea and ran with it,” Wilson said. “This is the time of year that’s dreary, so it will be an uplifting and happy thing for people.”

Pittman said she decided to make the idea her own.

“We don’t have old wooden telephone poles to nail hearts to, and our zoning laws wouldn’t allow hearts to be placed on public light poles,” Pittman said. “Also, I employed a local graphic designer, Amanda Hitchcock, and made the hearts nostalgically based on the old conversation hearts we used to share as kids in school.”

The graphic designed hearts will be printed locally on all-weather material. She added that people can customize their own heart with initials or fun, positive or affectionate statements.

Donations range from $40-$150 to customize the hearts, which come in three sizes. For an additional $20, people can pick up and keep their heart after March 7. Go to vibecreativedistrict.org for more details on the fundraiser. All orders need to be placed by Monday by midnight.

“We intend to make this an annual fundraiser for the ViBe Creative District nonprofit,” Pittman said. “If this becomes popular and grows, it could absolutely expand all over the ViBe. As with many of our projects, this public art display is meant to be a reflection of the community.”

https://www.dailypress.com/2026/02/07/conversation-hearts-virginia-beach/