The East Village’s signature event, Tour des Artistes, boasts a strong and diverse array of arts, activities, tours and high-end shopping to unite Belmont Shore, Downtown, the Long Beach Museum of Art with the East Village Arts District.
This year’s Tour includes an art block party in the East Village, unprecedented access to lofts and historical building tours and auctions, live music, interactive theatrical performances on the buses and at Tour sites, interactive art-making, a SPIN bike sculptures last look, and art displays from world-famous and classical artists.
“This Tour is a fun way to see art, but it’s really something to ‘do,’ not simply ‘see,'” said event organizer Ryan Smolar.
Traveling around the city on the Long Beach Transit’s Passport bus or on Mike O’Toole’s double-decker bus, participants can roam from shops to museums, lofts and galleries along the coast.
The East Village will play host to art-making stations, an “Artist Olympics” competition, more than 20 gallery openings and more than 40 performances from different bands and arts groups like the Siren Serpentina Fire Dancers and Fallopian Artopians female paint troupe. Participants can make their own paintings using street signs donated by the city of Long Beach.
Other activities include a blanket party at the Long Beach Museum of Art, featuring local artists doing live painting while visitors picnic with five Claire’s menu items specifically designed for them. Also, 20 elaborate bike sculptures unveiled during the Long Beach Amgen Bike Tour will be on display for the last time before they are auctioned off to private collectors.
Anyone wanting to drive to the East Village can park for free within a minute’s walk of most Tour activities in the East Village. Tickets are $10 for the full day, with free parking for ticket holders. Teachers, nurses, police, fire and armed services personnel, and city employees get in free.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call (213) 268-4924 or visit www.east villageartsdisctrict.com.
Tour des Artists is co-sponsored by the Downtown Long Beach Associates, Charter Communications, the District Weekly, the Long Beach Arts Council, Appleby Realty, the Creativity Network, the East Village Arts District, the University Art Museum, LBPost.com, Coldwell Banker Coastal Alliance, Cal State Long Beach Arts Community Development Association and the Boys and Girls Club.
