The ART Toledo (the Arts Revitalization of Toledo) committee is pleased to announce a summer Art, Oysters and Brews event series on the first Saturdays of June, July and August and partnership with the Yaquina River Museum of Art First Weekend art celebrations. Please join ART Toledo from noon – 5 p.m. on June 5th, July 3rd and August 7th at the corner of North Graham and South Main .
The event with feature brewery tastings, local oysters, local musicians and art for sale. It’s also a great opportunity to visit Main Street’s Phantom Galleries and meet the artists displaying their work. In addition, visitors can tour the other galleries that will be open at part of the First Weekend art celebration.
Toledo’s Main Street Phantom Galleries are small, temporary art galleries created in vacant storefronts to allow visitors to enjoy the works of local and regional artists in a COVID-safe environment. The galleries will not only enliven Toledo’s Main Street but will also showcase available street-level storefronts that are ripe for new business development.
“The Phantom Galleries have truly transformed a number of vacant buildings on Main Street,” said Paul Schuytema, Executive Director of the Economic Development Alliance of Lincoln County. “Now comes the fun part of celebrating this wonderful downtown and these great artists – and also inspiring new businesses to join the Toledo business community. Come check it out and make an afternoon of it!”
Each gallery has information about the artist, their displayed work and how it can be purchased as well as the commercial space and its amenities. QR codes will allow visitors to scan and then visit the artist’s page on ARTToledo.com or learn more about the potential of the commercial spaces.
“Phantom Galleries will excite you as you walk down Toledo Main Street block by block," said Catherine Rickbone, retired Executive Director of the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts and ART Toledo committee member. "Come and support the artists and expand your perspectives and join in the celebration.” "As I said earlier, this is just the start of our Arts Revitalization of Toledo,” said Rod Cross, Mayor of Toledo. “This has been 15 years in the making, and now we’re starting to see the genuine impact the arts can have on our beautiful downtown."
The Arts Revitalization of Toledo (ART) is a project launched by the City of Toledo and supported by local businesses, non-profits, the County and other stakeholders who are dedicated to revitalizing downtown to serve the needs of current residents and to reinvigorate Toledo’s historic Main Street.
“The Oregon Coast Visitors Association is dedicated to raising the bar for the visitor experience in Toledo and is grateful to be involved with the ART Toledo Committee,” said Jesse Dolin, a Destination Coordinator with the Oregon Coast Visitors Association. “It is a pleasure to work with such a wonderful group of local stakeholders, led by the City, who are dedicated to revitalizing downtown to serve the needs of current residents and to breathe new life into Toledo’s Main Street.”
Future Toledo ART Toledo projects include art events, Main Street beautification work, outdoor dining and a new mural program. Already, the ART Toledo project has brought in over $60,000 in grant funds to support downtown beautician and the arts in Toledo. If you would like to learn how to get involved in Toledo ART, please contact Rachael Maddock-Hughes at rachael@sequoiaconsulting.org.
ART Toledo Committee members include: the Timbers Restaurant and Lounge, Crow’s Nest Gallery, Port of Toledo, the Economic Development Alliance of Lincoln County, Yaquina Pacific Railroad Historical Society, Michael Gibbons Gallery, Yaquina River Museum of Art, Oregon Coast Visitors Association, local artists, Toledo High School, Toledo Chamber of Commerce, Bank of the West, members of the community, and more.