The Artwalk is a monthly event hosted to showcase art at different locations across the city. Taking participants through coffee shops and stores, the Artwalk features music and food as well.
Dre Arman, the director of tourism at the Moscow Chamber of Commerce, believes the main purpose of Artwalk is to unite the community.
“The purpose of Artwalk for businesses in Moscow it’s really just such a great community event. It’s multipurpose, so you’re getting people in the door. It’s a great chance to celebrate community, celebrate the great art that we have in our community and just showcase what Moscow has to offer,” Arman said.
The Artwalk used to be an annual event but has now shifted to occurring monthly. With this change, Arman feels the community has been positive about it.
“Our member businesses love it because the new structure allows them to plug in when they can and when it makes sense, and you don’t have to participate every time,” Arman said.
The spread timeline of the event has been an opportunity for further reach in the community.
“The feedback we’re hearing from our members is that they see it as a great opportunity as an accessible way to bring people to your business, and it’s an accessible way,” Arman said. “Maybe not everyone is an artist. Not everyone is someone who runs an art gallery, but you can participate just by showcasing something special about what you do.”
Storm Cellar owner Austin Storm credits much of the Artwalk’s success to the city.
“A lot of it is because of city investment. Instead of it being like a third-party thing, the city said ‘We want this to be great and so we’re going to invest in this,’” Storm said. “It works like the Farmers Market. It is just this juggernaut (that) compares favorably to farmers markets in much bigger cities. I think the Artwalk is a similar thing.”
The ramp up to having the event on a more regular basis has been an adjustment for the store.
“It’s a really neat institution. And it’s great that people want it, for there to be more of it. It’s been hard for us to like, keep up,” Storm said. “(But) we’re super grateful that the city has chosen to invest in it”
As the Artwalk dubs itself as a part of the arts, Storm sees it as an opportunity for artists to get their foot in the door.
“We’re always glad when people are artists, even if it’s an aspirational claim,” Storm said.
Storm points out that City of Moscow claims that it is the “Heart of the Arts.”
“We’re glad that people are trying to live up to that self-moniker,” he said.
One World Café has been participating in the Artwalk since the event started back in 2004.
“I think especially now that it’s kind of starting to catch on and there’s some predictability and people know about it, it’s an event that people are going around to the different businesses that have it. It’s bringing in new people that maybe haven’t been here before, and we always like to showcase art anyway,” One World Café owner Brandy Sullivan said.
Recently the cafe had been showcasing art by two local artists, Lindsay Larson and Bridgette Kelling.
“It’s a good way to get some local artists some exposure with something that’s a little more formal.” Sullivan said.
Cory Summers can be reached at [email protected]