WAYNESBORO, VA (Rocktown Now) — A new art exhibit at the Waynesboro Public Library reportedly seeks to raise awareness around domestic abuse.

New Directions Center’s art exhibit, created in partnership with students at James Madison University, will be on display at the library from September 21 through September 30.

New Directions is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to reduce the impact of intimate partner violence, sexual assault and human trafficking through survivor-centered advocacy, support services, community education and awareness.

According to Community Engagement and Volunteer Program Coordinator Kaitlyn Hammer, from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, New Directions received 1,459 hotline calls. The charity organization sheltered 43 adults and 23 children. They provided 2,355 counseling sessions and 320 court accompaniments locally.

In total, New Directions supported 935 domestic abuse survivors.

The artwork is the result of a close-knit relationship between New Direction and JMU’s Career and Community Engagement Services Center.

“Every semester we’ll have professors reach out saying, ‘Is there anything you are interested in us working on?’” said Kaitlyn Hammer. “It could range from a communications class, a literature class, public relations or recreational therapy.”

One of those projects revolved around art inspired by domestic abuse survivors and the work of New Directions.

“I think they all came to a conclusion to focus on an art series,” Hammer said, “that could symbolize the impact of domestic violence.”

Hammer feels like the art exhibit can draw attention to an important community issue.

“It feels like it’s been a long time coming,” she said. “We’re really excited to increase our visibility in the public, not only on who we are and what we do, but that this type of project is important, because it’s in our community.”

In October, a month dedicated to awareness around domestic abuse, New Directions will host a community conversation at the Waynesboro Public Library. The organization has a few other presentations lined up, and New Directions is also seeking other venues to host the art exhibit.

Rachel McDowell, the outreach and engagement coordinator at the Waynesboro Public Library, feels like hosting exhibits like this are a necessity for her library.

“At Waynesboro Public Library, our mission is to connect people with information, resources, entertainment, and each other,” McDowell said. “Hosting important displays such as this one with New Directions Center allows us to do just that by highlighting local resources and sharing stories with our community. “