First Friday in Phoenix

HTML clipboard   Open studios tours are a good way to experience art and artists. Every first Friday evening of each month you can take a free self-guided tour of downtown Phoenix galleries, studios and art spaces. It's called First Friday. First Friday is organized by Artlink, a nonprofit organization "...dedicated to bringing together artists, the public, and businesses for a greater understanding, appreciation, and promotion of the arts and the development of a strong and vital downtown Phoenix arts community." How did the Phoenix First Friday events get started? Here's a bit of history. During the latter part of the 1980s there was tremendous interest in downtown arts and entertainment which propelled, among other initiatives, the 1988 Bond election. The election made possible the new central library, the Arizona Science Center, and the Phoenix Museum of History. This new infusion of energy led to the Jackson Street Studios, an arrangement to accommodate artists displaced by the America West Arena (now the US Airways Center). Artlink was founded with this energy, and some of the art spaces existing during that time, such as Alwun House, live on today.   The annual Art Detour, originally designed as simply an open studios tour, was founded in the spring of 1988, and has attracted hundreds of artists and thousands of art lovers downtown every year. The galleries and alternative art spaces open year-round were joined by music venues, cafes and individual artist studios and, during the 1990s, Artlink decided to organize this into the First Friday event.   How many art spaces are there at First Friday? First Friday has grown - during the 1998 Season there were 13 spaces open each Friday. There are now more than 90 participants in the First Friday art walk. Spaces are situated from Indian School Road to Buchanan Street, from 12th Street to 17th Avenue - impossible to walk in one night. A free Shuttle-Link service allows Phoenix First Friday visitors to reach most of the spaces.   I used to post a link to an old map of First Friday routes and galleries, but after a few years it became too outdated to include here. ArtLink's web site has always been woefully lacking information, mostly, I suspect, because ArtLink is a nonprofit and has no paid staffers to keep the website up to date. If you aren't already familiar with First Friday's routes, just stop at the library first and pick up a current map. There's usually an ArtLink volunteer on hand who can answer your questions. Before you head out on Friday evening, check my tips on the next page. Should I dress up for First Friday? The downtown Phoenix First Friday event is not about glitz or champagne or cocktail parties - it is about the inner-city urban experience. Artists living and working downtown exhibit downtown. Thousands of people enjoy what is offered during each First Friday event, and several exhibitions sell half of their offerings during these openings. When is First Friday? The First Friday art walk in downtown Phoenix is held on the first Friday of every month, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. For more information about First Friday, contact Artlink at 602-256-7539.

 

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