Artown facts for kids
Artown is a super cool arts festival that happens every July in Reno, Nevada, USA. It's like a giant party celebrating all kinds of art, from music and dance to plays and visual arts. Imagine over 350 different events happening all over the city for a whole month! About 350,000 people enjoy the festival every year.
What is Artown?
Artown is a big festival that celebrates arts and culture in Reno, Nevada. It takes place every July. It brings together over 100 different groups and businesses. They offer about 350 events in 100 different places across the city. The National Endowment for the Arts even calls it one of the best festivals in the country!
How Artown Started
In 1996, some smart business and arts leaders in Reno had an idea. They wanted to use art to make their city feel better about itself. They also wanted to give local people a fun reason to visit downtown. Their goal was to show off the city's amazing culture and make everyone proud of where they lived. They hoped it would help the city grow both economically and culturally.
The First Festival
Later that same year, in July 1996, the very first Artown festival happened. It was called "Uptown Downtown Artown." It lasted for three weeks. More than 30,000 people came to enjoy the shows and exhibits. It was a huge success!
Amazing Artists and Fun Programs
Over the years, many famous artists have performed at Artown. These include amazing dancers like Mikhail Baryshnikov and the American Ballet Theatre. There have also been incredible musicians like the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis and the Harlem Gospel Choir. Even famous mime artist Marcel Marceau has performed!
Artown also has special programs for everyone:
- Discover the Arts: This is a hands-on art program where kids can get creative. More than 3,400 children join in every year.
- Movies in the Park: Imagine watching movies outdoors under the stars!
- Monday Night Family Series: This series features fun performances for families. You might see anything from marionette shows to live music.
- World Music Series: This brings music from all over the world to Reno. Past performers include David Krakauer’s Klezmer Madness, Mariachi Sol de Mexico, and San Jose Taiko.
The festival also includes art shows from local galleries, like the Nevada Museum of Art. Plus, there are special evening events called Artown After Dark.
