Art d’Core Gala Celebrates 30 Years of Art Detour

SIXTH ANNUAL ART D’CORE GALA CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF
ART DETOUR WITH A SHOWCASE OF ACCLAIMED PHOENIX-AREA ARTISTS AND EMERGING ARTIST INVITATIONAL
Mayor Greg Stanton to give annual ‘Toast to Downtown,’ his last as Mayor of Phoenix
Tickets are now available on Eventbrite.
The sixth annual Art d’Core Gala will feature a one-night-only exhibition of works by 13 members of the Artlink Artist Council (AAC) paired with works by 13 emerging artists to kick off the 30th Annual Art Detour. The evening celebration of the Phoenix arts and culture community, will take place 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, March 15, at Warehouse 215 at Bentley Projects, 215 E. Grant St. This creative spin on a traditional gala is hosted by Artlink Inc. in partnership with the City of Phoenix and Downtown Phoenix Inc. and serves as opening night to an Art Detour event that has grown to an expanded six-day, multi-faceted exploration of Phoenix’s arts and culture.
A brief program celebrating the arts and culture community’s contribution to the development of a dynamic downtown Phoenix will be capped by Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton’s annual “Toast to Downtown,” his last as Phoenix Mayor. In 2017, Mayor Stanton spoke to this contribution by stating, “If you love our downtown…it’s because the artists were here first. They made it for us.” Art Detour 30 embraces this history by spotlighting each of Phoenix’s arts districts that have developed as a result of an engaged arts community.
Artlink Artist Council/Emerging Artist Invitational Exhibition at Art d’Core Gala
The AAC is comprised of Arizona-based, established professional artists who have worked 10 years or more in exhibiting and/or producing exhibitions that shine a spotlight on Phoenix. One of the goals of the AAC, created in 2017, is to provide a platform for these professional artists to share their experience with emerging artists, as peer mentors.
In the spirit of this collaboration, this year, each member of the AAC has chosen an up-and-coming artist to be included in the one-night Art d’Core Gala exhibition, doubling the amount of artwork on view in comparison to last year’s event. Works by the following artists will be on view and for sale during the Art d’Core Gala celebration:
- Marilyn Szabo and Hunter Zelner
- Joe Ray and Armondo Williams
- Randy Slack and Megan Koth
- Joan Baron and Heather Couch
- William Legoullon and Blake Quinn
- Christine Cassano and Cydnei Mallory
- Bill Dambrova and Eric B Jones
- Pete Deise and Sam Fresquez
- Patricia Sannit and Amy Manning
- Constance McBride and Dani Godreau
- Rembrandt Quiballo and Malena Barnhart
- Annie Lopez and Katie Owens
- Fortoul Brothers and Elizabeth Brice-Heames
The featured art for Art Detour 30, “Salud” by Phoenix artist Michael Viglietta, will also be on display. DJ Rani G will provide the entertainment for the festive evening that includes art, music, dancing and a no host bar. The “Detour” portion of the six-day event begins the following day on Friday, March 16 with tours of arts districts tours and other special events that showcase the culture of the nation’s fifth largest city. See more about the expansion of Art Detour here.
“The invitational exhibition embodies the spirit of Phoenix’s artist community as we kick off the 30th anniversary of Art Detour,” said Artlink President Catrina Kahler. “This special opening night will honor our city’s rich cultural history, point to a bright future, and extend an invitation to all to experience the six-day, 30-year milestone celebration.”
Tickets are $20 per person, $30 per couple and are available until 6 p.m. March 14 at artdetour.com. Tickets will be available at the door day-of for $25 per person, $40 per couple. Event is open to the public. Come as you are; creative cocktail attire encouraged.
The Art d’Core Gala event is a fundraiser for Artlink Inc., an active all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, with a portion of the proceeds dedicated to The Artist Forward Fund (TAFF) a new artist development fund designed to help provide direct financial support to local artists.
Purchase tickets on Eventbrite.
MORE INFORMATION:
- IMAGES: Download media images of Art d’Core graphics and featured Art d’Core Gala artwork by Artlink Artist Council and partner artists here. All images are courtesy of the artists and are for promotional use only.
- ATTEND: Purchase your Art d’Core Gala tickets here – get them before the sell out!
- LEARN MORE: Artists and business who would like to learn more about participating in Art Detour 30 are urged to attend the Artlink Mixed Media Happy Hour from 5:30-7:30 pm on Thursday, February 22, 2018 at Desoto Central Market. Register here.
- PLAN your Art Detour 30 – see a day-by-day schedule of events here!
- FOLLOW Artlink to stay up to date on Art Detour 30 events, calls for art work, exhibition information and art tours around downtown Phoenix: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Art Detour:
Art Detour is Produced by Artlink Inc. in partnership with City of Phoenix Mayor’s Office and Office of Arts & Culture, Downtown Phoenix Inc. (DPI), and support from Phoenix Convention Center, Arizona Commission on the Arts, Phoenix Art Museum, Valley Metro, AZCentral/The Arizona Republic, City of Phoenix Public Works Department, City of Phoenix Water Services Department, Muse Apartments, Legends Entertainment District, and Warehouse215. District and programming partners include Roosevelt Row CDC, Phoenix Warehouse District, Central Arts District, Historic Grand Avenue, and also Modern Phoenix Week, Phoenix Urban Design Week, and On Central Fashion + Art Weekend and the Artlink Artist Council (AAC). The new six-day event format of the event will kick off with the opening night Art d’Core Gala celebration; span the weekend with a scheduled exploration of key arts districts and artist studios; and end with a symposium that will spur interest in art collecting, foster artists’ career development, and identify actionable items to create a culturally rich and economically diverse city. For more details on how to sponsor, see this link.
About Artlink Inc.
Artlink keeps the arts integral to the development of our city by connecting artists, business and community. Artlink supports a variety of community-based art events and initiatives, including complimentary trolley tours during the monthly First Friday and Third Friday Art Walks, The Artist Forward Fund, Phoenix Urban Guide, and the annual Art Detour, Art d’Core Gala and Juried Exhibition. Formed as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1989, Artlink is supported by City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture, Downtown Phoenix Inc., Arizona Commission on the Arts, and works in partnership with Roosevelt Row CDC, Phoenix Warehouse District, Central Arts District and Historic Grand Avenue. Visit www.artlinkphx.org to sign up for the Artlink newsletter or connect socially on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
All Are Invited to Celebrate and Articipate in Art Detour 30

30th Anniversary of Art Detour is March 15-20, 2018
Signature Celebration of Phoenix Arts and Culture Expands to Six Days
All are invited to create and Articipate!
Art Detour, Phoenix’s original art walk and the longest running arts festival in downtown Phoenix, will celebrate its 30-year anniversary March 15-20, 2018. The annual event, produced by Artlink Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit, was launched by Phoenix artists in 1989 and helped birth the First Fridays phenomenon. Referred to as “one of the most important events on Phoenix’s calendar“ by Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, Art Detour 30 will expand to a six-day schedule, and feature a multi-faceted exploration of the arts and culture of America’s fifth-largest city.
The community is invited to detour through the city and celebrate our artistic surroundings over a delightful weekend of cultural discovery. Patrons can meet artists in their working environments, start or expand their art collection, immerse themselves in downtown’s diverse arts districts, and discuss the impact of the arts on the next 30 years of our city’s development. Detour-ists will be invited to step into more than 100 artist studios, galleries, pop-up spaces and other venues, as well as enjoy performances and family-friendly activities.
NEW Event Schedule: The new six-day event format will kick off with the opening night Art d’Core Gala celebration; span the weekend with a scheduled exploration of key arts districts and artist studios; and end with a symposium that will spur interest in art collecting, foster artists’ career development, and identify actionable items to create a culturally rich and economically diverse city.
NEW Artist Opportunities: In addition to a call for representative work for Art Detour 30. Artlink Inc., Downtown Phoenix, Inc. and Phoenix’s Street Transportation Department and Office of Arts and Culture invite artists and designers of all practices to apply for the Pedal to the Metal: Phoenix Bike Rack Project. The artists selected from this call will create new designs for bicycle racks to be placed throughout Phoenix. A selection of submissions will be featured in an exhibition during Art Detour weekend. View calls to artists here.
How Can You Get Involved?
Articipate! Artists (student, emerging, professional) are encouraged to register as an Artlink Articipant to be included in the Artlink Directory, which will be promoted throughout Art Detour 30. Downtown Phoenix-based galleries, arts businesses, and arts-supporting businesses that register as an Articipant will be identified on the official Art Detour 30 map. Read the registration details here.
Current Artist Opportunities:
Artists of all mediums and experience are invited to contribute to the festivities by submitting to calls to artists. Current opportunities include the following:
- Art Detour Poster Art: Artists are invited to submit an open call for Art Detour 30 poster art. The call is free to Artlink Articipants. Find submission details here.
Pedal to the Metal: PHX Bike Rack Project: Artlink Inc., Downtown Phoenix, Inc. and Phoenix’s Street Transportation Department and Office of Arts and Culture invite artists and designers of all practices to apply for the Pedal to the Metal: Phoenix Bike Rack Project. Read the details of the call here.
Sponsor: Support the year-round efforts of Artlink Inc. by becoming a sponsor of Art Detour. Review sponsorship details here.
Volunteer: Contribute your time to the arts! Sign up to be a tour docent, gallery host or help with guest relations. Sign up here.
EVENT FACTS
When: Thursday, March 15 through Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Where: More than 100 artist studios, galleries, arts and culture venues and arts-supporting businesses in the greater downtown Phoenix area.
Hosts: Art Detour 30 is produced by Artlink Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit, in partnership with the City of Phoenix Office of Arts & Culture and Downtown Phoenix Inc. and in collaboration with Roosevelt Row CDC, Historic Grand Avenue, Phoenix Warehouse District and Central Arts District.
Getting Around: Artlink provides maps and transportation options for easy navigation of the Detour. Printed maps and an online map powered by Phoenix Urban Guide (phoenixurbanguide.com) will guide patrons through the six-day event. Artlink will provide complimentary docent-guided trolleys from transportation partner Dunn Transportation on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The event is also easily accessible by Valley Metro’s Light Rail and GRiD Bikes.
Contact: General event questions: info@artlinkphx.org. Calls for artists questions: submissions@artlinkphx.org. Artlink Inc.: artlinkphx.org. Sign up for updates: artdetour.com.
EVENT SCHEDULE BY DAY
THURSDAY, MARCH 15: 6th ANNUAL ART D’CORE GALA
The opening night celebration is a fun spin on a traditional “gala” that each year spotlights the significant contribution of the arts in creating a dynamic city.
The event will showcase works by members of the Artlink Artist Council (AAC): Joan Baron, Christine Cassano, Bill Dambrova, Pete Deise, Fortoul Brothers, William LeGoullon, Annie Lopez, Constance McBride, Rembrandt Quiballo, Joe Ray, Patricia Sannit, Randy Slack, and Marilyn Szabo. Additional artists are to be announced.
A portion of proceeds from the sale of exhibited artwork will benefit Artlink and will be allocated to The Artist Forward Fund (TAFF), a program produced by Artlink in collaboration with the AAC for the purpose of providing direct financial benefit to local artists.
When: 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, March 15, 2018
Where: Warehouse215 at Bentley Projects 215 E. Grant St., Phoenix
Hosts: The Art d’Core Gala is hosted Artlink Inc. in partnership with the Office of the Mayor, City of Phoenix Office of Arts & Culture, and Downtown Phoenix Inc.
Tickets: $20/single, $30/pair. Proceeds benefit Artlink Inc., a 501c3 nonprofit. Find ticket information at artdetour.com and sign up for updates.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, MARCH 16-18: THE “DETOUR”
Patrons are invited to embark on a weekend schedule of arts experiences within key arts districts. More details to be announced!
- Friday, March 16 – Roosevelt Row Arts District
- Saturday, March 17 (day) – Historic Grand Avenue
- Saturday, March 17 (evening) – Downtown Phoenix core
- Sunday, March 18 – Phoenix Warehouse District + surrounding area studio tours
MONDAY-TUESDAY, MARCH 19-20: NEW! SYMPOSIUM
Save the date for the new symposium series. Details to be announced.
About Artlink Inc.
Artlink keeps the arts integral to the development of our city by connecting artists, business and community. Artlink supports a variety of community-based art events and initiatives, including complimentary trolley tours during the monthly First Friday and Third Friday Art Walks, The Artist Forward Fund, Phoenix Urban Guide, and the annual Art Detour, Art d’Core Gala and Juried Exhibition. Formed as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1989, Artlink is supported by City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture, Downtown Phoenix Inc., Arizona Commission on the Arts, Phoenix Art Museum, Dunn Transportation, and works in partnership with Roosevelt Row CDC, Phoenix Warehouse District, Central Arts District and Historic Grand Avenue. Visit www.artlinkphx.org to sign up for the Artlink newsletter or connect socially on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PUG Introduction + Mixed Media Happy Hour

Join us for a kick-off to the 2017-2018 arts season!
Invitation to Phoenix Nonprofit Arts & Culture Organizations:
The Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture has partnered with Artlink in the development of a a centralized arts and culture events calendar. We’re offering a hands-on orientation of this new marketing tool powered by Phoenix Urban Guide (PUG). If you are a nonprofit representative working with the City of Phoenix, please RSVP here.
Time for Mixed Media Happy Hour!
We’re heading to FOUND:RE Phoenix for an evening of mixing & mingling while enjoying featured bar & bites specials. Artists, art venues, business and community members who support the Phoenix arts scene are all invited! RSVP here.
From the 2016 Annual Meeting

Artlink’s 2016 Annual meeting was held on Wednesday, June 1, and hosted nearly 100 attendees, including artists and arts advocates, and many representatives of galleries, performing arts, and other arts organizations.
Board Update
The Artlink board bid farewell to board members Stephanie Lieb and Phil Jones. Jones, the former executive director of the City of Phoenix Arts & Culture office, had served on the board since 2011, playing a critical role in Artlink’s recent growth. The board thanks them both for their significant contributions.
The Artlink board elected three new directors:
- Mark Scarp: Heard Museum, communications manager
- Margaree Bigler: Phoenix Art Museum, communications manager
- Rick Naimark: ASU, associate vice president for program development planning
Four directors returned for a new term:
- Jill Bernstein, Treasurer: Keep Arizona Beautiful, executive director
- Dan Clevenger, Secretary: Westlake Reed Leskosky project designer/architect
- Sarah “Sally” Russell: Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, staff
- Hillary Foose: Valley Metro, communication and marketing director
This rounds out the current roster of the Artlink board:
- Catrina Kahler, President: Urban Affair president and founder
- Sarah Levi, Vice President: David & Gladys Wright House Foundation, board member/scholar in residence
- Jerry Harper: Phoenix Convention Center, deputy director
- Constance McBride: artist
- Brittany Butler: Artist/Oasis on Grand, marketing director
- Bentley Calverley: Bentley Gallery, owner
- Nicole Underwood: Javelina, senior associate
Featured Speaker
Gail Browne, the executive director of the City of Phoenix Office of Arts & Culture, addressed the group, highlighting three areas of focus:
- Grants Program – Funding from NEA for “Neighborhood Arts,” small ($5k) grants for artists to work in specific communities, addressing a specific problem or need. The focus is on outlying areas, beyond the downtown core, working with urban villages.
- Public Art Program – Fry’s Food Store Murals. Call for proposals with an August deadline. Visit the city’s website and Facebook for calls. Two more calls are pending for Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.
- Professional Development – SAVVY workshops for artists and small organizations
Browne hosts a regular meeting of arts districts and representatives of city departments to discuss a number of items to improve First Fridays coordination and elevating the profile of arts and culture, including the idea of a marketing campaign, and the development of a centralized events calendar. The city is distributing an events calendar survey in partnership with Artlink. The city will also aid in the expansion of Art Detour, expanding its leadership role in partnership with Artlink.
PROGRAM UPDATES
Art Detour
Planning for Art Detour 29 and Art Detour 30 begins immediately. The format for the next two years of the event will change, beginning in 2017 with a four-day schedule kicked off by the Art d’Core Gala:
- Thursday, March 16: Art d’Core Gala
- Friday, March 17: Third Friday
- Saturday, March 18: Art Detour 29 (Day 1)
- Sunday, March 19: Art Detour 29 (Day 2)
Art Detour will evolve from a self-guided, unstructured format to a more scheduled program that will encourage even more participation from artists, arts venues and patrons. There will be a particular focus on working with artists to bring more patrons to their studios.
There will be an emphasis on producing a more interactive arts experience for patrons, focusing demonstrations and workshops. Artlink will continue working with Articipants to promote their destinations and respective activities. A cohesive marketing strategy will include an upgraded web presence and a map that reflects a scheduled program. An early start to the planning process will also allow for a more effective public relations plan.
A robust Art Detour 29 will set the stage for a special WEEK-LONG celebration of the 30th Anniversary of Art Detour in 2018. We will collectively work to develop this event as a showcase for Phoenix’s arts and culture, promoting Phoenix to a broader – national – audience. Every step taken over the next two years will be done with this ambitious goal in mind. What can Art Detour become?
Notes and next steps from Art Detour discussion:
- Schedule a summer planning meeting for all Artlink Articipants.
- Present studio tours as a unique part of Art Detour, and create scheduled tours to bring more visitors to the studios.
- Examine the hours of Art Detour weekend and identify how to best program lunchtime and nighttime.
- Promote the artist category of Articipation more consistently, so artists from outside downtown know they can participate.
- Identify spaces where out-of-area artists can exhibit during Detour, including Parsons Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS and Gould Evans. Work with the business community to identify other spaces.
- Work with Eco Cab on transportation and promotion opportunities.
- Further promote PhoenixUrbanGuide.com
18th Juried Exhibition
The 18th Annual Juried Exhibition will take place on Thursday, September 15, 2016, at Heard Museum. The jury panel will be Nancy Hill, owner of Chartreuse Gallery, artist Fred Tieken, and Ann Marshall, Ph.D., the Heard Museum’s director of curation and education.
The Juried Exhibition will mark the first time Artlink will use Submittable, an online application platform. This will be used to build an on-going artist database, which will help Artlink help organizations and businesses looking for artists/artwork.
The schedule of the Juried Exhibition will likely change in the coming years, so that the 20th annual exhibition aligns with the 30th annual Art Detour.
First Friday Trolley Tours
Artlink currently runs three trolleys on a circulator route on First Fridays. The route was installed so that Artlink could better manage the hub stops and communicate a clear message to the public, so visitors know where to find stops consistently.
There have been recent requests to divide the route between a north and south route, and the attendees’ response to an informal survey was mixed. Artlink will hold further discussions about the route in the coming weeks. Thanks went out to David Krietor, Downtown Phoenix Inc. President/CEO, and his team for their support of First Fridays.
Phoenix Urban Guide (PUG)
Thanks to all Articipants who have been consistently updating their information on PUG. This has helped Artlink promote Articipant exhibitions and activities much more effectively on social media. Please contact Leslie Criger at info@artlinkphoenix.org with any PUG related questions.
Volunteers
A big thank you goes out to all who volunteer to support Artlink! The trolley guides, the hub stop information tables, set-up for events are all done by volunteers. These programs couldn’t happen without volunteer support. If you know someone who wants to volunteer for Artlink, visit artlinkphoenix.org/volunteer.
Wrap-up
That’s a wrap! Thank you and stay tuned for an exciting year ahead!
Photo by Lauren Potter
Call for Artists: RFQ for Light Rail Installations

Artlink Seeks 2-D Work For Neighborhood Way-Finding Program
Submission Deadline: July 21, 2014
Through a Reinvent Phoenix grant from the City of Phoenix, Artlink will provide fabricated signage connecting three Valley Metro light rail stations to critical historic institutions, cultural organizations, emerging businesses and entrepreneurs in the surrounding neighborhoods. The three stations include: McDowell and Central Ave.; Roosevelt St. and Central Ave.; and 12th Street and Jefferson.
The signage will:
- Incorporate the unique vision of each neighborhood as expressed through Reinvent Phoenix and Roosevelt Row community outreach workshops
- Incorporate culturally rich aspects of each neighborhood
- Create an engaging, accessible “welcome mat” for residents and visitors as they come off the light rail
- A different artist will be selected for each station by community panels that will include neighborhood stakeholders along with representatives from Valley Metro, the City of Phoenix and Artlink. After being chosen, the artist(s) will meet with the community stakeholders to create the concept for the original piece for that station.
Project Specifications:
- The finished product will include an original piece of art
- A digital image of the work will be reproduced as 94″H X 106″W mesh banners affixed to the station platforms.
- In addition to the platform banners, the final image will be reproduced as a poster and distributed to cultural organizations and businesses in the neighborhood surrounding the station.
- The City of Phoenix and Artlink will retain the right to use the final image to promote the way-finding program in other outlets.
Project Award:
- Winning artists will receive a $2000 stipend
Project Timeline/Important Dates
- Deadline for RFQ submissions: Monday, July 21, 2014 at midnight.
- Panel selection meetings: Week of July 21
- Winning artist(s) notified: Friday, July 28.
- Artist(s) must meet with neighborhood stakeholders to discuss their vision as soon as possible after notification and will be required to meet again with the stakeholders to get concept approvals by: Monday, August 11.
- Finished images delivered to Artlink: Monday, September 8.
- Banners installed at stations: week of September 22
- Posters distributed throughout neighborhoods: week of September 22
- Opening/artist reception: TBD
The Artlink board reserves the right to change the project timeline.
Eligibility
- Any artist currently living and working in Arizona.
- The artist must be prepared to complete the project within the project timeframe.
How to Apply
Artists interested in this project must prepare and submit:
- A resume or c.v. (Word doc)
- An artist bio (Word doc)
- Up to 10 images (pdf’s or jpgs), with titles, dates of completion, materials used in the original work, and any other information deemed necessary.
Submission Deadline: Please submit all materials to info@artlinkphoenix.org by midnight, July 21.
Thank You Mayor Stanton!

Mayor Stanton on Art Detour: ‘One of the most important events on Phoenix’s calendar’