Village of the Arts facts for kids
The Village of the Arts is a special neighborhood in Bradenton, Florida. It's a place where artists live and work right in their homes! This unique village covers about 36 acres (14.6 hectares) and has over 200 buildings. You'll find homes, art galleries, restaurants, and art studios all mixed together. It's a colorful and creative community where art is everywhere.
What is the Village of the Arts?
The Village of the Arts is a lively community in Bradenton, Florida. It's located between 14th Street West, Route 41/9th Street West, and 16th Avenue West. Bradenton is about 50 miles (80 km) south of Tampa and 14 miles (22.5 km) north of Sarasota. Many of the buildings here are very old, some even 100 years old! They were built in the 1920s style.
Artists Live and Work Here
This village is home to many different artists, art galleries, and tasty food spots. What makes it extra special is that artists can live and work in the same building. This is called a "live-work space." The city of Bradenton made special rules to allow artists to do this.
Years ago, some of the houses in this area were old and run-down. But now, they have been beautifully fixed up! They are painted in bright, happy colors and soft pastels. These old homes have been turned into art studios, workshops, galleries, and even cafes. It's a wonderful example of how a community can be brought back to life through art.
Types of Art You'll Find
Artists in the Village of the Arts create all kinds of amazing things. Here are just some of the art forms you might see:
- Jewelry: Making beautiful pieces with gold and silver.
- Glass Art: Creating colorful stained glass and special dichroic glass.
- Painting: Using oil-painting, acrylic painting, watercolors, and even encaustic painting (which uses melted wax).
- Fiber Art: This includes quilting and other art made with fabrics.
- Sculpture: Making 3D art from materials like clay, wood, or metal.
- Photography: Capturing images with cameras.
- Mixed Media: Combining different materials and techniques in one artwork.
- Unique Crafts: Like altered books, assemblage (putting objects together), collage, and basket-weaving.
- Recycled Art: Turning old items into new art, often called "up-cycled" art.
- Music and Teaching: Some artists also teach music or art classes.
Many artists here also take commissions. This means you can ask an artist to create a special piece just for you! You can even be involved in designing it to fit perfectly in your home or office.
See also
- Artist-run initiative
- Artist-run space
- National Cooperative Business Association
