Las Vegas Arts District: How it became the booming hub it is today

Named Sin City’s “most exciting neighborhood” by CNN, the Las Vegas Arts District has grown from a simple idea into a major attraction for locals.

Home to indie art galleries, eclectic antique stores, and trendy bistros and bars, the Las Vegas 18b Arts District was deemed the city’s “most exciting neighborhood” by CNN in 2024.

But the area, as we know it, wasn’t always so boisterous and booming. When the concept for a Las Vegas arts district first rose in 1998, it was slow to catch on, despite the community’s thirst for culture.

Now, almost 30 years later, the 18b Arts District of Las Vegas is a vibrant hub for arts, culture, and community. It is so full of life, in fact, that earlier this year, the City of Las Vegas temporarily considered a noise curfew for the district–a proposal that was quickly dropped.

History of the Las Vegas Arts District

Located north of the Las Vegas Strip in Downtown Las Vegas, with East Charleston Boulevard running through the center, the 18b Arts District comprises 21 city blocks (originally 18) between Hoover Avenue, Commerce Street, Colorado Avenue, and 4th Street.

The vision for the neighborhood can be traced back to the opening of the Arts Factory (107 East Charleston Boulevard) in 1997. Originally an air conditioning business, the historic warehouse was transformed into a space for art galleries and today contains studios and performing arts spaces for more than 30 artists, the 18Bin bar and restaurant, and retail shops.

The 30,000-square-foot Arts Factory was the major draw for the first First Friday art event in 2002, breathing new life into the area. By the end of the year, several new shops and restaurants opened, and in 2009, a sign was installed on Casino Center Boulevard to mark the newly named 18b Arts District (a reference to the number of city blocks at the time).

In 2010, the intersection of East Charleston and Casino Center boulevards welcomed a 45-foot sculpture known as the Paintbrush Gateway. The colorful, slanted paintbrush by artist Dennis Oppenheim is considered the entrance to the Arts District.

Since then, the Las Vegas arts district has grown exponentially, adding hotels, condos, antique stores, galleries, theaters, boutiques, bistros, bars, breweries, and a dispensary.

Though the area is walkable, there’s even a 21-station RTC Bike Share with 200 bikes. While in the neighborhood, you can take a yoga class, get a tattoo, grab food and drinks, peruse art, and buy vintage clothing, cool comics, or new roller skates—all without getting in your car.

Speaking of cars, parking had long been a problem in the area, but a parking garage is currently under construction at 201 E. Utah Ave., just off Casino Center Boulevard.

First Friday

The birth of First Friday was the key to unlocking the Las Vegas Arts District’s potential. Within a few years, the event attracted 10,000 people to the Arts District each month. These days, the monthly festival brings in up to 24,000 people to the area around Charleston and Main.

The idea for First Friday came from the late Cindy Funkhouser, owner of The Funk House antique store. She was inspired by visiting a First Thursday event in Portland, Oregon. Unfortunately, Funkhouser passed away in late 2022 at the age of 64. The January 2023 First Friday introduced the monthly Cindy Funkhouser Residency Spaces, providing free space to local artists in her honor.

During First Friday, the community gathers to enjoy local artists, live art experiences, rotating exhibits, and live music. They shop, eat, drink, and enjoy a wide selection of food trucks. It’s a fun way to explore the city’s art scene and to support local artists.

Preview Thursday

If you love art but you’re looking for something a little more chill than First Friday, check out Preview Thursday. Not only is it a more relaxed atmosphere, but it’s also more family-friendly and provides you with a better chance to interact with local artists.

Hot spots in the Las Vegas Arts District

In addition to the Arts Factory, the Las Vegas Arts District is home to many flourishing businesses. Here is just a small sampling of some of these iconic and popular spots.

Antique Alley

With 14 shops, including Red Kat, Retro Vegas, Glam Factory, Rockin Bettie, and Main Street Mercantile, the stroll-worthy Antique Alley is home to a wide array of unique treasures. It is also the location for ReBar, 1225 S Main St., a bar, restaurant, and antique shop all rolled into one. Antique Alley runs north of the Stratosphere up to Charleston Blvd.

Art Square

The Art Square building, 1025 S. 1st St., houses several vital arts district organizations, galleries, shops, and an outdoor art garden. The Vegas Theater Company puts on shows here in its Black Box Theater.

Majestic Repertory Theatre

Majestic Repertory Theatre, 1217 S. Main St., is named after one of the first theaters in Las Vegas, which was located on Fremont Street during the early 1900s. The current theater company, founded in 2016, combines traditional storytelling with immersive and interactive technology.

Makers and Finders 

Makers & Finders (1120 S. Main St., Suite 110) is an urban cafe with an unmistakably Latin menu, including popular Hispanic dishes and specialty coffee.

Nocturno

The Latin-owned Nocturno cocktail bar (1017 S. 1st St., Suite 180) is a brand new addition to the Las Vegas arts district. The venue offers carefully curated small bites and handcrafted cocktails.

Brewery Row 

Perfect for a bar crawl, Brewery Row is a 1.6-mile stretch of Main Street between Wyoming Avenue and Stewart Avenue. It’s packed with craft brewers and tap rooms, including Able Baker Brewing, CraftHaus Brewery, and Servezah Bottle Shop and Tap Room.

Las Vegas Healing Garden

Built as a tribute to those lost during the Route 91 Music Festival on October 1, 2017, the Las Vegas Healing Garden (1015 S. Casino Center Blvd.) is decorated with a wall of remembrance, trees, shrubs, flowers, walkways, and benches. It was built by the city and volunteers in just four days after a lone gunman killed 58 people and injured 500 more.