This weekend, Lawrenceville will host the twelfth annual
Art All Night, a non-juried art show that is both free to attend and free for artists to participate. Last year's show drew nearly 10,000 attendees and featured work by over 800 artists and performers. Art All Night was recently named a finalist for the
Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council's People's Choice Award, and this year's event is expected to draw another large crowd.
Since the first Art All Night in 1998, the event has been totally volunteer-driven, organized by residents of Lawrenceville. "It's amazing that that such a large event can remain grassroots," says Maya Haptas of
Lawrenceville Corporation, which acts as fiscal agent for the event. "There are volunteers that help every year and there are always new people joining to help out."
The event is funded in part by
Lawrenceville's Main Streets Program. Main Streets Pittsburgh is a project of the
Urban Redevelopment Authority, designed to bring new customers to local business districts. According to Hapas, Art All Night has been an extremely successful in bringing new visitors. "People come to the show that might not have visited before, and then come back later," she says. "It's a springboard for getting involved in the neighborhood."
In addition to art, Art All Night will feature live music, performances, and interactive art activities for both children and adults. This year's Art All Night begins Saturday night and will run until 2 p.m. Sunday, at the brand new red warehouse at 35th and Smallman St.
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Rob Cullen
Source: Maya Haptas, business district manager, Lawrenceville Corporation
Image courtesy Art All Night