Swelling crowds and violent incidents during the city’s monthly art walk has spurred Phoenix to reconfigure First Fridays in the Roosevelt Row arts district and return the event’s focus to the arts.
PHOENIX—Phoenix is seeking a reset of First Fridays in Roosevelt Row amid concerns about public safety and the loss of the arts focus that once made the area one of the nation’s top art districts. Recently, the city adopted a new pilot program aimed at addressing those concerns, which has artists and others exploring some big questions—including what makes a vibrant arts scene and who gets to decide.
In recent years, First Fridays in Roosevelt Row have centered around an expansive vendor market. But the size of the crowds, which sometimes swelled to 15,000 people, brought some unintended consequences. Reports of violence—from “teen takeovers” to shootings—were on the rise. Some business owners experienced negative impacts from the art walk. And the market intended to highlight local artists got diluted by ready-made, generic goods.
“A few of our members felt so unsafe that they opted to close the gallery early on First Fridays this past spring,” recalls Dean Terasaki, co-president of the Eye Lounge artist collective that exhibits at Modified Arts. It’s one of the few galleries located right on Roosevelt Street, giving its members a front-row view of what’s happening in real time…