Main Street Columbus and the Columbus Arts Council, who first partnered in 2013 to create the Downtown Art Walk, are delighted to again bring this popular event back.
This free, downtown experience gives locals and tourists the opportunity to purchase fine art, meet the artists, take advantage of after-hours shopping and discounts and enjoy music in the streets provided by local entertainers. 19 businesses and more than 20 artists are participating in this year’s Art Walk.
This celebration pairs local artists with downtown businesses so that art can be displayed inside a merchant’s store as well as on adjacent sidewalks, attracting visitors and shoppers to our beautiful downtown. You will see every medium of paintings, as well as sculptured art, glasswork, cards, journals, wood and resin art, fine jewelry, books and much more. Kids can even get their faces painted and East Columbus Lions’ Club will add more sweetness to the evening by offering cotton candy.
“I’m excited that we’re able to highlight artists in our area and allow them to be the focal point of an event,” said Salem Gibson, executive director for the Columbus Arts Council. “… Having a community get behind people shows that we support them. It shows that we have a culture and we would like to cultivate it. I think that it’s really important if we want to continue to see that grow that we attend and connect with these participants.”
For those interested in supplying their own on-the-spot art, Sidewalk Chalk Art will be welcomed in front of The Varsity Theater, at the corner of Main and 4th Street North, overseen by the Crown Club of Junior Auxiliary. Use the hashtag #ArtWalkColumbus to have your chalk art featured on our social media. Also, new this year, you can enjoy a friendly game of Corn Hole in Leadership Plaza, thanks to Cumulus Broadcasting.
Earn “Art Walk Tickets” by purchasing from artists and downtown businesses. Turn in your tickets to the Columbus Arts Council and you will be eligible to win the fabulous Door Prize, a Blackstone On The Go Tailgater 17-inch Grill & Griddle Combo, valued at more than $450, graciously donated by Marvin’s in Columbus. Great for tailgating, traveling, and outdoor parties!
Barbara Bigelow, executive director of Main Street Columbus, said, “We enjoy partnering with the Columbus Arts Council each year so that this fabulous community event can take place in our historic downtown area. The Art Walk brings people from all walks of life together. There is something for everyone to enjoy. Stroll at your leisure from one location to another as you fall in love with the artwork of local artists, listen to live music, and explore shopping and dining in downtown Columbus, where you can always find something irresistible.”
This year’s Art Walk is sponsored by Marvin’s, Prestige Event Rentals, Brislin, Inc., Nash FM 94.9 and Q103.1.
The Art Walk Downtown will be held on Saturday, October 14, from 5-8 p.m. For more information, contact Columbus Main Street at (662) 328-6305 or Columbus Arts Council at (662) 328-2787.
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