Executive Director's Message

Thirty years ago, a group of innovative thinkers had the vision to revitalize Reno’s downtown by using the arts as a catalyst. This idea was remarkably successful! Artown proved that the downtown area, with the beautiful Truckee River flowing through it, could become a vibrant gathering place for friends and families. 

Before Artown, July was a quiet month in Reno! Casinos were closing, retail businesses barely existed, and there was hardly any urban living and only a few restaurants downtown. However, after Artown was launched, businesses and developers recognized the potential. Artown essentially laid the groundwork for a boom in retail, urban living, dining options, the highest climbing wall in the world, an urban kayak course, and a AAA baseball field.

Artown has flourished into its own distinct entity. In 1996, there were 127 events over the three weeks from July 8 to 28, attracting an estimated attendance of 30,000 people in the downtown area. Fast forward to 2025, Artown will feature more than 600 events, with an anticipated attendance of over 300,000 across a larger geographic area that includes the Truckee Meadows, Carson City, and Lake Tahoe.

I am immensely proud of my team, every board member throughout the history of the festival, the founders, all our funders over the years, and everyone who has supported the arts every July. 

Here’s to many more exciting adventures for Artown as we move forward! 

See you in July!