Photo courtesy of LA Times
The Venice Art Crawl is a quarterly event hosted by the Venice Chamber of Commerce. It takes place at the heart of Venice Beach, throughout Venice Boulevard and Windward Avenue.
The free event aims to support and encourage talented local artists by showcasing their work to the public. During the event, numerous restaurants, bars, shops, and galleries reflect Venice Beach’s creative spirit and passion for the arts by hosting exhibitions, talks and workshops, and live installations. In addition to the numerous exhibits, guests also get to enjoy food and wine specials, film showings, and live music performances during the Art Crawl.
Mission
The Venice Art Crawl was created in order to stoke the fires of creativity and support the local art scene, which makes up a huge part of Venice’s identity and vibrant atmosphere.
The event aims to inspire, strengthen communication, and foster collaboration within Venice’s art scene through a series of hosted mixers and art events.
At the Venice Art Crawl, all genres of art are welcomed, displayed, and appreciated – from music to performance art, watercolor paintings to sculptures – no single genre is left behind.
Schedule and parking info
Now on its 6th year, the Venice Art Crawl is usually scheduled on the third Thursday of the month. The event officially starts at 6pm and ends on 10pm, but many venues remain open afterwards.
Ample parking is available throughout the neighborhood. Visitors can find parking lots located right next to the beach and close to the Venice Boardwalk. These lots have daily rates that change depending on the time of the year, charging around $4 to $15. Private parking lots can also be found along Venice Boulevard, Rose Avenue, and Windward Avenue.
Participation
Artists interested in showcasing their work at the Venice Art Crawl are encouraged to attend a VAC monthly mixer, which is a great opportunity to get to know other artists within the community. Mixers occur every month – schedules are announced on the official VAC facebook page and on the VAC website.
All artists are encouraged to create their own show by searching for an ideal location to showcase their art. After getting approval from the owner of the establishment, artists are required to submit details and an event flyer on the VAC website for their event to be included.
Volunteering
Interested volunteers are more than welcome to join the Venice Art Crawl Team! Joining the team behind the event is a perfect opportunity to be inspired by meeting different artists and people in the community and supporting the art scene.
As a volunteer-run organization, the team is always looking for volunteers who can help out at the quarterly crawl, as well as various projects, operations, and special events.
Volunteers of all ages are welcome to join, but those under the age of 18 require parental permission and supervision. Training and orientation will be provided, and previous art experience is not required for those interested in joining.
You can find the volunteer application form here.
