Downtown Art Walk

Every second Thursday of the month, thousands of people flock to Gallery Row in Downtown Los Angeles to experience the Art Walk. A night where over 40 of Downtown's galleries open their doors early and stay open late to showcase art for the community.

Art Walk Founder, Bert Green says the walk is really an unglamorous effort to gain more popularity for Downtown.

And the walk has done just that...

In 2004, Green created the Art Walk specifically to bring people Downtown who were often hesitant to frequent the urban environment. When Green opened his gallery, Bert Green Fine Arts, only about eight other galleries were opened in the Downtown area. Gallery owners agreed the only way to convince people to come Downtown was to have a special event. Now, over four years later, there are 48 galleries open in Downtown's Bank District with thousands of people coming to walk the streets on Art Walk evenings each month.

Many of the Downtown galleries have been opened by first-time gallery owners, Green said. There are very few high end galleries.

Gallerists and artists alike are particularly drawn to Downtown for the cheap rent and the desire to be in an urban environment. "The formation of a community in an urban area is much more rewarding and has much more depth than in a place where people are stranded by large distance," Green said. "The great thing about Downtown is that the majority of people who want to partake in a community can find it by stepping out their door" Green said.

And a sense of community is what Green wants Art Walk visitors to take away from the event.

People are frequenting the Art Walk for a number of reasons, Bert said. Some come Downtown to have a night of fun, while others are seeking an urban experience, which is rare for Angelenos. All the galleries are in walking distance so visitors need not drive around in their cars.

Green says walk is meant as an introduction for the people who are not familiar with the Downtown neighborhood. He suggests first time visitors pick up an Art Walk map and wander the galleries and streets without an agenda. "The goal is to get people downtown so they realize that there really is a lot to see," Green said. Galleries and businesses alike are hoping that people will decide to come back Downtown during normal hours.

Green is incredibly proud of what the Art Walk has become. He had no idea that the walk would turn into a large scale event. And along with the heightened interest of art in Downtown, the Art Walk has also contributed to the revitalization of Downtown business many of which have their busiest nights on Art Walk night.

For more Downtown Art Walk information, http://www.downtownartwalk.com/. And see the map below for a list of galleries and restaurants participating in the Gallery Row Art Walk.