Things to do and see during Art Detour 2022

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Get ready for ‘Art Detour,’ Arizona’s month-long celebration of art.

The event’s gala Art d’Core is tagged as “the art and culture party of the year” by Phoenix’s Artlink Inc. — and there are good reasons that just might be the case.

The 31 days of festivities — hosted by the founders of Phoenix’s First Friday — features more than 300 arts events and exhibitions across the Valley, including ArtLink’s 9th annual Art d’Core Gala and exhibitions at galleries across the state. Others events include the Oak Street Mural Festival off of 16th Street, the World Champion Hoop Dance Contest hosted by the Heard Museum and The Garment League’s On Central Fashion + Art Weekend.

“Art Detour is truly a celebration of the full breadth and depth of the arts and culture community,” ArtLink Inc. CEO and President Catrina Kahler said.

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What is Art Detour?

Back in 1989, Artlink Inc. formed when Phoenix artist Beatrice Moore hosted the first Art Detour open studios tour. The annual art event got bigger each year.

Since Art Detour’s founding 34 years ago, the one day event has become an extended, multi-day self-guided event. For the entire month of March, art goers can tour galleries across metro Phoenix, attend educational events about the arts ecosystem and experience arts experiences and events across the Valley.

We don’t limit the schedule or the promotions to the traditional limits of the art form,” Kahler said. “We want to further demonstrate the beauty and the vitality and the incredible contribution of the arts community. Art Detour at the heart of it all is an invitation to the public to explore and learn and experience all the arts and culture community has to offer.”

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How to go to the signature ‘Art d’Core’ Gala

This year’s 9th annual ‘Art d’Core’ Gala “Forces of Attraction” will blend culinary, visual, performing and fashion arts for an evening cocktail event at Park Central in Midtown Phoenix.

The social event — one for art lovers, city leaders, artists and business leaders alike — includes a cocktail hour, toast to the arts, special performance and a Pavilion Club After Party. Tickets are $125 and are on sale at Event Brite.

Artists from across the state will showcase their work in an 80,000 square foot space. Artists submitted works to an open call from ArtLink. The Artlink Artist Council chose works from across various media.

“Each installation is produced by a council member and an invited artist,” Kahler said. “It really is a beautiful collaboration between professional established artists but also less known artists who submitted their work to a call and they were selected by each member of the Council.”

Art Detour Events to put on your calendar

Art Detour events will span through the month of March. Arts advocacy groups like Phoenix Community Alliance and Arizona Citizens for the Arts will host educational symposiums and talks. There is also the Oak Street Mural festival and the Garment League’s event which will turn the Art d’Core exhibition space into a runway.

There will also be tours to highlight Phoenix architecture across the Valley, Kahler said.

A full events list can be found at the Art Detour website. Here are a few dates to add to your calendar:

March 3: Creative City Symposium, hosted by Phoenix Community Alliance
March 4: First Friday Art Walk
March 7: People Power the Arts: From Passion to Action, hosted by Arizona Citizens for the Arts
March 11: Artlink’s 9th annual Art d’Core Gala
March 12: Opening of “Graffaholeks 25 Years Strong” at the Mood Room
March 12 & 13: Downtown Chamber Series
March 18: Third Friday Art Walk, greater downtown Phoenix
March 19: Oak Street Mural Festival
March 19: On Central Fashion + Art Weekend, hosted by The Garment League
March 20: Encanto Palmcroft Historic Home Tour & Street Fair
March 26 & 27: World Championship Hoop Dance Contest, hosted by Heard Museum
March 27: Obliq’s Soiree #6, Art Studio Tour