Gallery Row, Los Angeles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gallery Row
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Sign at the intersection of Spring and Fifth Street
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 Gallery Row
Location in Downtown Los Angeles
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Los Angeles County |
| City | Los Angeles |
| Area code(s) | 213 |
Gallery Row is a special area in downtown Los Angeles. It was created in 2003 by the city council. The main goal was to bring many art galleries together. You can find these galleries mainly along Main and Spring Streets. It's a place where art comes alive!
Where is Gallery Row?
Gallery Row is located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. It stretches from north to south along Main and Spring Streets. The area starts at 2nd Street in the north and goes all the way to 9th Street in the south.
How Gallery Row Started
The idea for Gallery Row came from two artists, Nic Cha Kim and Kjell Hagen. They were part of a committee that focused on arts and culture in downtown Los Angeles. At first, there were only a few art galleries in this area. These included Inshallah Gallery, bank (run by Lorraine Molina), and 727 Gallery (by Adrian Rivas and James Rojas).
In 2003, this part of downtown Los Angeles was not very busy, especially in the evenings. Most shops closed, and people left the area. City leaders, Jan Perry and Antonio Villaraigosa, helped make Gallery Row an official district. This happened in July 2003. Soon after, new street signs for Gallery Row were put up.
An opening ceremony was planned for May 15, 2004. It took place at Biddy Mason Park on Spring Street. City officials hosted the event. For the ceremony, empty stores were turned into temporary art galleries. There were also theatre readings and information booths for the community. By September 2004, the number of galleries in the area had grown to eight.
The Downtown Art Walk
One of the most exciting things about Gallery Row is the Downtown Art Walk. This event happens on the second Thursday of every month. It's a self-guided tour where you can explore many art places downtown. These include art galleries, public museums, and non-profit art spaces.
The Art Walk was started by a gallery owner named Bert Green. The committee that helped create Gallery Row later became a non-profit group called the Gallery Row Organization. This group helps promote and develop the art scene in the district.
The Art Walk became very popular. In 2007, about 30 galleries were taking part. By 2010, this number grew to about 40 galleries. To make it easier for visitors, a special shuttle service for the Art Walk began in June 2007. The number of visitors also grew a lot, from about 75 people in 2004 to over 15,000 in 2010!
