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HEART OF ART

It can get lost in all the talk about new business and new housing, but the arts scene in Pittsburg is really quite something. 

From murals up and down Broadway to the creatives honing their crafts wherever and whenever they can, Pittsburg’s artistic community continues to thrive. And the non-profit, community-based Pittsburg ArtWalk committee is at the heart of it all.

“When you support the local artist community, you are supporting all of our respective creative freedom,” said 2022 ArtWalk President Crista Cunningham. “Once artists are able to express themselves creatively and freely, beautiful art is made that can be admired by the community and the world.”

“When you support the local artist community, you are supporting all of our respective creative freedom.”

On April 29, The Pittsburg ArtWalk event will return to Downtown Pittsburg after being disrupted by the Covid pandemic. The event traditionally happens twice a year and showcases fine art from local talents ranging from 2D, 3D art, performance art, and more. The ArtWalk takes place on Broadway between 4th Street and 7th Street. 

“One can enjoy a festival type atmosphere in our beautiful downtown with live music, art demonstrations, community activities and local food vendors,” Cunningham said. 

But the fun doesn’t stop there. The Pittsburg ArtWalk committee is also working on plans to develop the Pittsburg Arts District. 

“A large portion of our downtown and the immediate surrounding area already houses residents and businesses that believe in nurturing an already thriving culture, so the hard work has already been done,” Cunningham said. “We simply do not want to see that ever go away. The Pittsburg Arts District would maintain that culture, draw more people to the area, and hopefully generate additional economic growth.

“With the outpouring of support of artists in our community and the already upward trending love of art and culture, we felt it was time to designate a location that is the ‘Heart of Art’ in Pittsburg.”

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“This uphill trend in supporting arts in Pittsburg just continues to climb.”

Cunningham said she’s inspired by the increasing support of the artistic community in Pittsburg.

“At some point over the past 10 or so years, art in Pitt became cool,” she said. “The proof is in the thousands of people that spend a few hours with us twice a year, roaming our historic downtown, to visit with our talented artists, musicians, and performers. 

“This uphill trend in supporting arts in Pittsburg just continues to climb. We have seen loads of new artists, performers, and organizations who can’t wait to be a part of this fun festival. The more we share and support these people in our community, a kind of muscle memory forms to where the act of purchasing or plugging local becomes a natural instinct.”

Learn more about Pittsburg ArtWalk at www.pittsburgartwalk.com. Anyone interested in becoming a member of the committee can contact the group at [email protected].

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