Artown preview

In 1996, a small group of business and arts executives in CITY 2000 (City of Reno Arts and Culture Commission) developed a plan to use the arts to improve the city’s self-image and give locals a reason to play downtown again. The idea was to highlight the community’s cultural depth, ignite civic pride, and channel the economic and cultural rebirth of our city. Later that year, over three weeks in July, the first Uptown Downtown Artown festival took place. And to the wonder of all, more than 30,000 people attended.

In the years since, Artown has grown into what the National Endowment for the Arts calls one of the most comprehensive festivals in the country, Artown brings the outer reaches of imagination to the center of attention in a calendar noted by the National Endowment for the Arts as one of the most comprehensive festival offerings in the country.

Each July, Artown asks all who will to leave the beaten path for arts unknown, to join with distinguished artists from down the street, across the country, and around the world for a month-long celebration of cultural diversity and artistic innovation. To experience the best and the latest in visual, performing and humanities arts-more than 300 events, all counted-from those who want nothing more than to entertain, to inspire, and yes, to impress the 140,000 that people that attend the Artown festival annually.

Artown has welcomed such international, national, and local artists as Mikhail Baryshnikov, Marcel Marceau, Great Basin Chautauqua, Project Bandaloop, the San Francisco Ballet, and the Reno Philharmonic. We have also created unique events, including Discover the Arts, a hands-on arts program especially for children and Movies in the Park, an outdoor screening of classic and cutting-edge films. In 2003, our newly opened Nevada Museum of Art featured the Frida Kahlo/Diego Rivera exhibition. During Artown workshops are available to the community to explore new perspectives of visiting artists.

None of this would be possible without the financial contributions of Artown’s primary supporter, the City of Reno. Artown 2005 receives major funding from the City of Reno and sponsorships from Altmann Ott Homes, Eldorado Hotel Casino, IGT, KOLO NewsChannel 8, Reno Gazette-Journal, Sierra Pacific Power Company and U.S. Bank. Artown operates under the guidance of their Board of Directors and is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Artown’s anchor events continue to be a mix of local and national excellence. Most events are free or of low cost. Support from corporate sponsors, foundations and individual donors enables Artown to bring some of the world’s greatest artists and performances into our community. And in doing so, Artown has given Reno a new reputation: that of a town with a vibrant artistic and cultural community.

Come and join us in these thirty-one days of July. In this tenth anniversary celebration of Artown.

Source: Artown 2005 Press Material

Highlights
Don’t Miss!

Events by genre

“Chair-i-ty” begins at Artown
Artists and Their Chairs:

Grammy Award winner Ladysmith Black Mambazo
headlines Food Bank’s “Food for the Soul” July concerts in Reno

Artown through the years:
Some highlights

30 years. 30 voices.
One big night!