Arts District in Las Vegas

The Las Vegas Arts District is over 18 blocks of art and culture in the heart of Las Vegas featuring independent businesses, art galleries, antiques stores, restaurants, and boutique shopping. It's located between the Fremont East Entertainment District and the Stratosphere and is bounded by Colorado Avenue, Las Vegas Boulevard, Hoover Avenue, 4th Street, and Commerce Street. It's also known as the 18b because of its geography.

The Arts District encompasses a mix of residential, commercial, retail, and cultural spaces that have grown alongside the arts community in Vegas. It hosts regular events throughout the year that highlight the best local artisans, craftspeople, and entertainers. The area is truly a community vision and representation of the cultural character of Las Vegas. Here you can visit chic bars and cafes, head for a boutique shopping experience, catch outdoor art displays, and visit trendy indie galleries. It's the bohemian Vegas experience at its fullest.

Arts District in Las Vegas - one of the highlights of 11 Most Popular Neighbourhoods in Las Vegas (Read all about Las Vegas here)

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Highlights of the Las Vegas Arts District

The 18b Arts District offers the full Las Vegas arts and culture experience packed into a single area of just over 18 blocks. Here you can find dozens of art galleries and studios showing off a broad variety of media and styles from fine art to photography, ceramics, surrealism, and beyond.

On Antique Alley, you can find more than 20 vendors selling retro and vintage items, furniture, clothing, and kitsch, much of which hearkens to the bygone eras of Las Vegas. Here you can explore the Antique Alley Mall or Retro Vegas to find old casino relics and mod decor. You can head for places like Rockin Bettie or Glam Factory Vintage for pin-up chic and stylish retro clothing. Head for Graffiti Art Gallery Alley for a free-for-all outdoor street art canvas, or to the Arts Factory to grab a drink, hear poetry, or buy local crafts.

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History of the Las Vegas Arts District

The 18b was envisioned in the late 1990s as an 18-block area of city centre Las Vegas that would be set aside to cater to and encourage art, artists, craftspeople, and the Vegas creative set. In 2005, the district won a Best of Las Vegas award. It has expanded beyond the original 18 blocks and is a city staple for locals and visitors alike.

The first property here was an old warehouse with loft spaces that were converted into galleries and studios. Today, it's not just a hub for shopping and arts, but also for events, performances, and education. On the first Friday of every month, the First Friday art walk shows off the best of the city with artists, craftspeople, fortune tellers, acrobats, street performers, and other types of performance artists. Some of the most important, up-and-coming local Las Vegas artists continue to come out of the 18b.

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Good to know about the Las Vegas Arts District

The 18b Arts District is much larger than its original 18 blocks, so wear comfortable walking shoes if you plan to visit this area, and be prepared to be here for a full day or even more. Many of the exhibits are very family-friendly, but the odd adult-themed art installation is not outside the realm of possibility, so parents should keep an eye on their kids.

The Arts District is pet-friendly in the public outdoor spaces, but many indoor areas, galleries, and stores may not allow animals except for service animals. Call individual locations ahead of time to find out if you can bring your dog with you as you walk around. The outdoor areas of the 18b are disability-friendly, and those in wheelchairs should be able to get around without much trouble. Most of the indoor galleries make accommodation for people with disabilities.

foto av Paul K (CC BY 2.0) redigerad

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