Art in the City festival is back with free visual and performing arts activities
The AES Ohio Summer in the City signature free event, Art in the City, returns to downtown Dayton on Saturday, August 6. More than 300 artists will be stationed around downtown’s core to celebrate the visual and performing arts through demonstrations, hands-on projects, live performances, a Juried Art Show, artisan market and more.
“The arts are a vibrant and integral part of our downtown community,” said Sandra K. Gudorf, president of the Downtown Dayton Partnership. “Art in the City brings our art organizations, small businesses, residents, and artists themselves together to celebrate art of all kinds while inspiring Dayton’s next wave of creators.”
Download the map to see the complete list of participating locations. Highlights of the free festival are included in the details of the following paragraphs.
The public is invited to “Make Your Mark” downtown alongside hundreds of artists, educators and performers taking part in Art in the City. These hands-on community projects were designed and specially selected with visitor participation in mind!
– Chalk the Block: Be part of something BIG on Main Street! Help artist Boy Blue finish a chalk mural that spans more than half of a city block. Grab some chalk and help bring his colorful design to life.
– A Kaleidoscope of Butterflies: Help finish the butterfly-shaped window decal to fill the Dayton Metro Library with color.
– Community Cube Art: Become a “building block” for the community en route to Levitt Pavilion Dayton designing paper cubes that will build a public display.
– Sweet Harmony Mural: Pitch in to assist Front Street artists complete the community collaboration mural at Levitt Pavilion Dayton.
– Make-and-Take Painting: Grab a canvas, a brush and embrace that inner painter at Levitt Pavilion Dayton. Create a masterpiece to take home with the help of K12 Gallery & TEJAS.
– A Stitch in Time – Dayton 2022 Community Quilt: Show the warmth of this community by designing fabric squares to create a community quilt at the Dayton Metro Library with the Dayton Sewing Collaborative.
– AAVAG Scenic Collages: Guests are invited to bring their own views of landscapes, cityscapes and the sea to create a paper collage with the African American Visual Arts Guild at Arts Central on Main.
– Peace & Harmony Brush Painting: Learn the ancient art of East Asian brush painting techniques with a live demonstration and workshop at the Dayton Metro Library, led by Dr. Yufeng Wang.
– Wright Race Pop-Up Performances: Visitors direct the show as actors from the Human Race Theatre Company incorporate suggestions into their live performances. Writers can bring ideas to life overnight with a 5-minute play festival at locations around downtown.
There will be several stages throughout Art in the City to feature musical acts, spoken word artists and dancers. Activities and performers will line several downtown streets so visitors can travel easily from one event to the next. Follow the roving artists and pop-up performances to some of the Art in the City art hot spots including:
– Arts Central on Main: **NEW THIS YEAR!** Join in the party on the street while enjoying food trucks, vendors, live music, pop-up performances and art demos right in the middle of Main Street.
– The Artisan Market: Take home a piece of the big day as more than 45 artists display their works for sale on Courthouse Square.
– The Family Zone: Artists of all ages are invited to Levitt Pavilion for a bubble zone, live animals, face painting, hula hoop classes, music, a visit from Cosmo from the Dayton Metro Library and more.
– Juried Art Show: The Dayton Society of Artists has selected more than 30 artworks to be displayed at downtown businesses and voted on by the public. Vote for favorite installations online starting Friday, August 5, through Saturday, August 20.
– Party on the Patio: Turn a downtown dinner into a live party as musicians and performers take the stage on 10 of Dayton’s favorite downtown patios, sponsored by Miller Valentine Construction.
Download the map to plan a visit to Art in the City.
“For the sixth year, we are excited to sponsor the AES Ohio Summer in the City series of events where families across the Miami Valley can actively discover, participate and enjoy all downtown Dayton has to offer. Art in the City is a celebration of Dayton’s outstanding visual and performing arts organizations,” said AES Ohio Director of Community and Social Responsibility Holly Wiggins. “We are committed to our partners who are welcoming to all of our residents in the Dayton region and making a difference where we live, work and play.”
The Art in the City Pre-pARTy will happen during First Friday, August 5. Regular First Friday specials and deals will be in effect alongside additional arts activities happening around downtown. Guests can see the entries for the Juried Art Show sponsored by the Dayton Society of Artists, or take in a Party on the Patio with live entertainment on street corners and patios, sponsored by Miller Valentine Construction.
Maps and more details about the Art in the City projects, performances, and events will be made available on the Art in the City website as the event date gets closer.
Art in the City is a program of the Downtown Dayton Partnership and is sponsored by AES Ohio, Dayton.com, the Eichelberger Foundation, Montgomery County, and the Ohio Arts Council, with support from CareSource, the City of Dayton Neighborhood Mini Grant, Miller Valentine Construction, and PNC. More information about AES Ohio Summer in the City is available online at downtowndayton.org. Pick up AES Ohio Summer in the City calendars at downtown businesses or at DDP info tables during signature events.
