ART IN THE CITY

Art in the City Juried Art Show

August 4-18

Starting on August 4, you can vote for your favorite piece of artwork submitted by local artists. These pieces will be displayed at businesses throughout downtown Dayton, as part of the AES Ohio Summer in the City – Art in the City event. Voting will be open until noon on Friday, Aug. 18 via Dayton.com.

Art in the City is a program of the Downtown Dayton Partnership, and the Juried Art Show is organized by the Dayton Society of Artists.

Discover the visual and performing arts experience in downtown Dayton at the AES Ohio Summer in the City Art in the City event on Saturday, August 5, from 1 to 7 p.m.!

Celebrating its seventh year, Art in the City’s full day of offerings will include a variety of Dayton’s best artistic talent – from painting and drawing to spoken word poetry and dance – all together filling the streets of downtown Dayton and multiple stages with:

– Live performances (dance, theater, music & more)

– Live demonstrations (painting, sculpting, and other art-making)

– Hands-on & interactive activities (see some highlights listed below!)

– Art Full Circle: A Fine Arts Showcase in the Dayton Arcade

– Patio performance parties

– A local Art Bazaar in the Oregon District

– A Family Zone with art activities for kids and families

– A Juried Art Show
   (sponsored by Dayton.com and the Dayton Society of Artists)

Find art everywhere!

Artists and performers of all kinds will be sharing their talent on stages and sidewalks throughout Art in the City. Stages operating throughout the event footprint will feature music, spoken word, dance, theatre, and more. Street performances and other activities are planned between each stage and active area so visitors can easily follow the entertainment from one of the following art hubs to another.

Download the complete Art in the City event guide, map, and schedule now to start making your plan to see as much as possible during the event!

Art Hubs & Hot Spots

The Dayton Arcade
Art Full Circle: A Fine Arts Showcase – Nine rotating artists perform demonstrations of their respective mediums

Dayton Metro Library
Dance performances – See dancers of all kinds take the stage

Schuster Center Wintergarden
Interactive Dance Stage – Pick up some steps and learn a variety of dance styles

PNC Arts Annex
Giant piano – Play your favorite tunes with your feet on PNC’s big floor piano!

Levitt Pavilion Dayton
Family Zone – Activities for all ages including a bubble zone, face painting, hula hooping, music, and more!

Courthouse Square
Live music and hands-on activities – Take the stage with karaoke and enjoy a kids’ carnival!

Oregon District
Art Bazaar on 5th – More than 40 local artists share their goods for sale and host live demonstrations

Fire Blocks and Water Street Districts
Street entertainment – Live musicians fill the street with sound as you travel Art in the City

Make your own creative mark!

Aspiring artists and art lovers of all ages are invited to get involved with hands-on community projects. Projects selected and funded through the 2023 Experiential Grant Program were chosen with YOUR participation in mind!

Block printing project with Leesa Haapapuro

Paint a stylized letter using pre-engraved printmaking blocks

Build a badge with the Dayton Art Institute

Use a button-making machine to create a unique piece of art!

Chalk the Walk with Boy Blue

Color ocean-themed designs in a community chalk mural by Boy Blue

Community skyline painting with the Westside Makerspace

Use acrylic pieces to create a larger-than-life skyline design

Decorate zippered pouches with Dayton Sewing Collaborative

Decorate pre-made nylon pouches with fabric pens or learn how to make your own with a sewing machine!

Introduction to Belly Dance Basics with Zattana Al-Naseem

All ages are welcome to learn basic belly dance movements and steps

Learn plein air sketching with Urban Sketchers

Cover the sketching basics with watercolors, pens, and a small sketchbook

Line Dancing with Jai

Learn step-by-step instructions for a dance to perform together

Living photo opp with Tiffany Clark

Walk into a painting with painted props and live models painted on-site

Paper Collage Workshop with the African American Visual Artists Guild

Create an abstract collage with different kinds of paper

Peace & Harmony brush painting with Yufeng Wang

Learn the ancient art of East Asian brush painting techniques with a live demonstration and workshop led by Yufeng Wang

Playwright Race pop-up performances

Actors from the Human Race Theatre incorporate your suggestions into their performances

Spin Art T-Shirts with Front Street

Design your own t-shirt to take home