Baltimore's Higlandtown Arts District (AKA ha!) is Maryland's largest designated art center, offering artists the opportunity to live and work in one of the most culturally diverse neighborhoods in the city of Baltimore. Ha! includes a large collection of retail and industrial spaces, along with affordable housing and a convenient location.

Ha! is also home to the Creative Alliance at the Patterson (which promotes the arts in Baltimore and brings the community together through art-related programs), galleries, artist studios, and retail shops with a variety of activities going on year round.


In addition to its dynamic venues, ha! is currently involved in two creative public art projects. The "Art in the Park" project, now in its second year and sponsored by the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts (BOPA) and the City of Baltimore, initiates outdoor sculpture exhibitions that engage sites throughout the city (including McKeldin Square Sculpture Park in the Inner Harbor, the Artscape Festival site on Mt. Royal Avenue, Preston Gardens on St. Paul Place, and more). This year ha! sponsored an exhibit of eight pieces on display in Patterson Park. With support from the Abell Foundation, the Southeast Community development Corporation and the Highlandtown Community Association, BOPA placed the eight sculptures along Eastern Avenue in Patterson Park and held an artist appreciation party in order to introduce neighbors to the artists and enrich the cohesion of the community.


Additionally, Baltimore's largest mural opened this March in the district. The mural, which will be up through the fall, spans both sides of a 1/4 mile underpass along Eastern Avenue, connecting the Highlandtown and Greektown communities. The artist took his inspiration from the neighborhoods the mural runs through, and the colorful result is a bold and energetic figurative scene illustrating the ways ha! and Greektown celebrate community.


Another perk of the district - on the first Wednesday of each month there's a ha! Happy Hour where community members and local artists can meet, drink and socialize from 4-7 pm at the Laughing Pint (3531 Gough Street).

For years Budapest's Eight District (aka Jozsefvaros or Joseph Town) had been considered one of the worst districts of the Hungarian capital, but it seems things are looking up for Joseph Town - once synonymous with crime, theft and prostitution.


In 2000, after security cameras were installed, burglaries and other crimes significantly declined in Budapest's Eighth District. Soon after, galleries, cafes and night life venues flocked to the district, drawn to its grand 19th-century architecture and cheap rents.

Today, the area - on the "Pest" side of the Danube River - has become a haven for Budapest's trendy bohemians, and Hungarians and tourists are encouraged to explore the Eighth District. However, it's important to note that not all parts of the district have overcome their nefarious behavior (chiefly the eastern pocket) - but as any urbanite or city-frequenting tourist should know, you're always bound to encounter a shady area in a big city; it's simply important to notice your surroundings and recognize uncomfortable (and potentially dangerous) situations before they become a problem.


Back to the interesting stuff, though...

What to see:

The Hungarian National Museum's neo-Classical building houses artworks and artifacts that celebrate Hungary's intriguing history and culture (image below).

Ateliers Pro Arts, located in a converted ceramic-pipe factory, includes artist studios, an airy and utilitarian gallery and a cheery restaurant / bar called APA Cuka.

The Budapest Jazz Club is worth a visit. The music hall opened in 2008 and is arguably the only place in town devoted to showcasing domestic and international jazz.

Zappa Caffe, an 1990s underground alternative rock locale, is still a venue for eclectic music - from rock, to jazz and blues. The remodeled music venue / restaurant serves upscale pub fare and Hungarian draft beers.


Click here for more information on what to see and do in Budapest.

I've been to New Orleans a few times, and each time I go, I am always amazed by the city's unique culture, history, food and art. In the past, I've tended to stick to the famed French Quarter, wandering around the European-esque streets, eating beignets from Cafe Du Monde and window shopping outside antique shops and galleries like Rodrigue Studio (the NOLA artist, George Rodrigue, is most famous for his well-known blue dog paintings).


However, the last time I was in the Big Easy, a friend of mine (and NOLA native) introduced me to the Warehouse District. This rapidly developing area of the city, close by the Mississippi and Riverwalk Shopping Center, boasts some of New Orleans' best museums, art galleries, restaurants and designer lofts.


The once-abandoned historic neighborhood was originally established as an industrial area in the 19th century to store grain, coffee, and produce shipped through the Port of New Orleans. As commerce, trade, and industry evolved over time, the area's prosperity faded. But the so-called "SoHo of the South" underwent a revitalization back in the 1970s, with the opening of the Contemporary Arts Center, which exhibits cutting-edge artwork and an eclectic array of music, theater and dance performances.

Today, 25 + galleries call the district home and museums are popping up as well.

Check out the entire New Orleans Art Scene

After reading about the successful second annual Dallas Art Fair, which occurred this past weekend and saw a large increase in attendance from last year’s 5,500 + visitors (plus a correspondingly huge increase in sales), I was intrigued to learn more about the Dallas Art Scene. From what friends who’ve visited Dallas before have told me, the Dallas Arts District is the number one locale for art, culture and more in the large Texas city.  

 

According to their website, the Dallas Arts District is “a rare jewel that is the centerpiece of the region’s cultural life.” Home to some of the best architecture in the world, the 68-acre, 19-block neighborhood lies in the heart of the city.  

Public and private tours are offered and there are tons of restaurants, hotels, museums, galleries, and performance venues around the Dallas Arts District, making it a place you could spend hours (or days) exploring.  

Click here to check out public art on display around the district. 

Current exhibitions include: 

“Performance / Art” @ the Dallas Museum of Art (through March 21^st)

“Jordan’s Test” @ the Ariamedia (through March 26^th)

“Seizing the New World: Recent Paintings by Yan Jin Long” @ the Crow Collection of Asian Art (through April 18^th)

“James Plensa: Genus & Species” @ the Nasher Sculpture Center  

Current Performing Arts Events include:

“Cosi fan tutti” @ the Winspear Opera House on February 12^th and 14^th

“Romance and Rachmanioff” @ the Meyerson Symphony Center on February 11^th, 12^th, 13^th and 14^th

“Give it Up!” @ the Wyly Theater on February 11^th, 12^th, 13^th and 14^th

“Love Songs Sacred and Profane” @ the Meyerson Symphony Center on February 14^th

“Firebird and Pines” @ the Meyerson Symphony Center on February 16^th

“Cultural Awareness Series at the Wyly Theater on February 17^th 

With a significant  increase in the number of artists, independent galleries, art exhibitions and art publications, Portland, Oregon experienced what some call an artistic renaissance during the end of the 20th century. Because of this, it is no surprise that Portland is considered not only one of the major art cities of the Pacific Northwest, but also a city that has established itself internationally as an artistic and cultural haven.

Portland's Art Districts, Assocations, Galleries, Institutes, and Museums  include:

Art on Alberta: The city's newst funky and happening arts district.

Central Eastside Arts District: This area is a hot destination for Portland art galleries and institutions. It also includes an array of terrific restaurants, bars and clubs. CEAD (as its nicknamed) is considered "the future of contemporary art in Portland"

Portland Art Dealer's Assocation: PADA includes Portland's foremost art galleries - who are committed to representing the highest standards of fine art. The organization prides itself on its members' recognition of the importance of integrity and responsiblity in working with artists, collectors, museum professionals, and the entire cultural community.

Oregon College of Art and Craft: The Hoffman gallery, named after the college's founder, brings the work of regional, national and international artists to campus. Chosen exhibitions represent current art trends as well as exhibits that express historical and cultural aspects of art and craft.

23 Sandy Gallery: The gallery is located in Portland's central east side arts district. It presents local and national artists and also offers lectures, workshops, salons, readings and more.

Portland Art Museum: This museum, one of the largest in the country, hosts impressive touring exhibitions and permanent collections.

3D Center of Art and Photography: This unique gallery is the only one of its kind in the US where visitors can see the history and discover contemporary 3D artists.

Beijing 798 Art Zone (also known as the Dashanzi Art District or DAD), located in the northeast corner of the city, is a contemporary haven for Chinese culture, art and more. The district is home to not only China's cultural and creative industries, but also to worldwide cultural organizations (including those from France, Italy, Britain, the Netherlands, Japan, Australia, Taiwan, Mainland China, etc.) Galleries, design studios, art exhibition spaces, artist studios, upscale shops, restaurants and bars line the streets of this thriving neighborhood. International art exhibitions, events, and fashion shows are often held in DAD to expand the area's reputation and influence.

Noteworthy places in Beijing 798 Art Zone include: 798 Photo Gallery, 798 Space, Lord of Salt Restaurant, At Cafe, Long March Cultural Communication Center, and Vincent Cafe.

To read more about the district's history, interesting places, travel tips and more, click here.

To see what's currently going on in the Beijing Art World, click here.

The Los Angeles art scene is usually synonymous with the city's most famous art museums - the MOCA, LACMA, and the Getty to name a few - but Downtown's Gallery Row is worth a visit as well. The City Council of LA promoted the idea of "Gallery Row" in 2003, to not only revitalize Downtown Los Angeles and build up art and culture in the area, but also to initiate a pedestrian-friendly district in the heart of a city notoriously known as a driving-only locale.

While the area started out housing only three galleries, it has come a long way. The Gallery Row Organization (whose mission includes encouraging creative businesses and cultural institutions to establish locations within Gallery Row and promoting the Gallery Row district and its cultural attractions) has helped bring dozens of art galleries, museums, theaters, art-related organizations, restaurants, bars and shops to the area over the past several years.

Many consider Gallery Row a great success, as the strip has brought a much welcomed cultural and artistic vibe to the once run-down Downtown. The city's art scene has grown drastically, and the pedestrian-friendly area welcomes thousands of tourists (and no doubt LA residents) each year.

Click here to see the extensive list of galleries who call Gallery Row home.

Click here to view the area's restaurants and bars.

Click here for a list of Boutiques and Amenities.

Atlanta's deisgnated downtown art district, Castleberry Hill, has gained increasing recognition as one of the South's foremost art scenes. While years of urban revitalization have allowed Castleberry Hill to flourish - attracting artists and galleries from across the nation, the contemporary art world has managed to create its own new hot spot on Atlanta's West Side (once notorious for being one of the city's most dangerous areas).

Contemporary art galleries are springing up one-by-one and most share the common goal of wanting to promote a more intellectual and upscale alternative to the famed Castleberry Hill district.

The Westside's collection of art venues includes: Saltworks Gallery, the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, Get This! Gallery, and Kiang Gallery. Of course, hotels, restaurants, coffee shops and other neighborhood and tourist-friendly locales are flocking to the area, a big plus for Atlanta's local economy.

To read the full article about Atlanta's Newest Art Scene, click here.

While rumors have spread about cuts affecting British Columbia’s art community, it seems that things are actually looking up for B.C. Thanks to Absolut Vodka’s new “Absolut Vancouver” bottle label, and a recent shipment of 60,000 bottles of Absolut Vodka - dressed in the revamped label - to liquor stores across B.C., a revitalization of Vancouver's art scene is predicted and welcomed.

The Absolut sponsored contest offered $120,000 for the artist who created the the winning design. Although there were only 30 proposals, probably due to the daunting submission process, the liquor company is happy with the outcome. Absolut kept the winning artist a secret, but it has been revealed that Victoria-based illustrator Douglas Fraser crafted the winning look (a yellow and blue “V”).

To read the full article from The Vancouver Sun, click here.

To see what’s going on in the Vancouver Art Scene, click here.

Above image from BC LiquorStores