Art enthusiasts are invited to hit the streets on Friday as the Nelson and District Arts Council launches it’s 23rd ArtWalk.
“We had a lot of great submissions this year,” said Joy Barrett, the City of Nelson’s cultural development officer.
Barrett said there are more artists than ever before participating, which means there will be over 100 pieces throughout the 14 venues.
“Artwalk is great for emerging artists because the art that people see in the venues is for sale,” she said.
Opening night will include music from the infamous Oxygen Orkestra. The Balkan brass band will make their way up and down Baker Street stopping at the various venues.
Chalk artists will also create temporary work on the sidewalks and world-famous sand sculptors Peter Vogelaar and David Nichol-Ducharme will be creating one of their pieces.
“With cuts to arts funding, ArtWalk is really important to help showcase and support local art,” said Barrett.
Kootenay School of the Arts students will have an opportunity to showcase their jewelry work for the first time in this year’s event.
The jewelry will be displayed at the Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce, the Royal Bank, and the Bank of Montreal.
“I really hope to see the whole city out on the Friday celebrating all the great artists we have here in Nelson,” said Barrett.
This year’s venues include Baker Street Menswear, Bijou, The Craft Connection, Ellison’s Market, Grounded Coffee, the John Ward Coffee Company, Kölmel Jewelers, the Kootenay Bakery Café, Kootenay School of the Arts, Kutenai Clothing Co., Mountain Interiors, The Royal Bar and Grill, SelfDesign High, and Touchstones.
Brochures with maps will be available at all the venues, as well as at the Chamber of Commerce and City Hall.
For more information about the event visit the Nelson and District Arts Council website at ndac.ca.