Gallery Hop returns for the first time in-person since the onset of the pandemic on Saturday, June 5.
Local art galleries will be open for exhibitions, while performances will once again return to High Street. Participating businesses will also have creative programming.
“Our local business community is thrilled to welcome back the public with creative programs that show their appreciation for support from our community,” said Betsy Pandora, executive director of the Short North Alliance. “The local community has been what has kept our businesses going over the past year.”
Gallery Hop has been virtual since April 2020, hosted via the Short North Arts District’s Instagram and Facebook pages. Despite not interacting in-person, Pandora says the virtual events served a well-needed purpose.
“The virtual events have been an important part of keeping our spirits strong during the pandemic while still providing opportunities for people to support local artists and small businesses with artwork for sale, curbside ordering, and special opportunities for performances,” she said.
In-person exhibitions and performances may be back, but the district is not currently accepting visual art and artisan vendors for June. However, the opportunity is expected to return in the upcoming months.
In the meantime, the Short North Arts District is debuting new parking features via the ParkColumbus App, including the ability to reserve and pay for garage parking on the app, and a new parking garage to improve visits to the Short North. There are also codes available online for discounted on-street parking.
The Short North Arts District has also launched Local Love, a series of programs to help customers support the local restaurants, shops, art galleries and services that have been greatly affected by the pandemic.
“These programs not only help deepen the support of the local community, but show how much our local community has meant to the livelihoods of hundreds of small and local businesses,” said Pandora.
All in all, Pandora says the return to somewhat normalcy is important.
“The Short North Arts District is the art and soul of the city where over 300 businesses, the majority small, are recovering from the hardest year of their lives,” she said. “A return to in-person Gallery Hop not only lifts spirits, but supports their continued road to recovery. The local community has been what has kept our businesses going over the past year.”
All Gallery Hop visitors are expected to abide by each individual business’ safety precautions, and are urged to follow current CDC recommendations.
For more information, visit shortnorth.org.