By Don Sibley, courtesy Tulsa CVB
Brady Arts District
Tulsa
Vibrant and innovative, the rebirth of the Brady Arts District puts Tulsa’s downtown on the radar of any visiting group.
“The area’s revival started in earnest five years ago, and finishing touches such as streetscaping in the district were completed this past spring,” said Bob Fleischman, president of the Brady Arts District Business Association.
First Fridays have become popular community events, with gallery showings, wine and appetizers, and performances. The Tulsa Glassblowing Studio also gives live demos during these events, and groups can schedule a studio workshop and create individual artwork whenever they visit.
The impressive steel-wrapped, ecofriendly Hardesty Arts Center (AHHA) opened in December. In addition to gallery space, AHHA hosts a film series by local filmmakers; it is currently filling artist studios and makes a perfect spot for group events.
“We started inviting our Arts and Humanities Council members to perform on First Fridays,” said Kathy Ruiz, AHHA director. “Our expansive space can accommodate aerial dancing, ballet or the symphony along with the visual arts.”
In April, the Woody Guthrie Center opened in the district’s heart. The center tells the story of Guthrie’s career and the influences on his music. Guthrie Green, a public space that was once a parking lot, hosts Shakespeare in the Park, a full calendar of entertainment, a restaurant and plenty of food trucks. On weekend evenings, a complimentary trolley connects Tulsa’s three downtown districts: Deco, Blue Dome and Brady Arts.
