First Wednesday Art Walk will move indoors tonight as organizers test a new approach to the 14-year-old Downtown Jacksonville event.
It returns outdoors next month for Oktoberfest, but after that host Downtown Vision Inc. will decide whether to move it back inside.
Reasons for the move to The Carling at 31 W. Adams St. tonight. include safety concerns and business opportunities for the about 150 artists and creators who display and sell their work in Hemming Park and around Downtown.
Artists who are registered with Downtown Vision pay a $35 monthly setup fee and were assigned a space in Hemming Park.
Other artists and vendors set up outside Downtown businesses.
The nonprofit DVI produces the monthly art showcase.
“Unfortunately, we’re kind of subject to whatever’s happening in Downtown,” said DVI CEO Jake Gordon.
Gordon said Tuesday the change is partly because of political demonstrations that began taking place alongside the event in Hemming Park last month.
Those demonstrators were protesting the possible relocation of a Confederate statue from the park, while others held counterprotests.
The park is in front of City Hall, where debate about the statues has been ongoing. City Council President Anna Brosche has said she wants to move Confederate statues from city property.
Gordon said while the activists are within their rights to assemble in a public park, “it’s not fair to our artists and the people who come to experience Art Walk to be forced into an environment that may not be welcoming or safe,” he said.
Gordon said demonstrators are choosing Art Walk because it draws a large crowd, about 8,000 people on average.
Also, in January, two teens were shot during an Art Walk night near North Laura Street. Police have said the shooting was not connected to Art Walk.
“That was unfortunate, but we were monitoring safety from a ‘big event’ perspective before that,” Gordon said. “It’s our No. 1 focus.”
DVI will consult with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office before deciding the next step for Art Walk.
“We’ll work with JSO and our board on a plan to see what’s best for the event in the future,” Gordon said.
Gordon said that in addition to the Hemming Park artists moving inside The Carling, other outdoor activities connected with Art Walk will be moved indoors to Downtown businesses as well.
There also are events that are not connected to Art Walk, but take place at the same time to take advantage of the visiting crowd.
“There are a lot of things that are going on right now that don’t have anything to do with Art Walk,” Gordon said.
Art Walk is the first Wednesday of each month from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., with bars and restaurants hosting Art Walk After Dark later.
Food trucks and other vendors also participate.
While registered artists center on Hemming Park, other vendors and artists can set up at nearly 60 Downtown businesses within the 15-block radius.
The event also gives Downtown retailers a monthly boost, since they’re able to remain open beyond normal business hours.
Gordon said crowd control is becoming more of an obstacle, as the event continues to gain popularity.
He said Art Walk has grown from a relatively small event to taking on more of a block-party atmosphere, “which can come at the expense of artists.”
He said vendors aren’t selling more art, despite larger crowds.
“If Hemming Park is so crowded on any given Art Walk that artists can’t sell their art, then that’s not a success in our mind,” Gordon said. “We’re just trying to do what’s best for them.”
Gordon said tonight’s indoor Art Walk is a test that DVI has been mulling for a few months.
He said Downtown Vision will take feedback from JSO, artists and business owners to see how the event might evolve.
October’s “Oktoberfest” Art Walk will remain outdoors since it usually is the largest Art Walk of the year, although last year’s Oktoberfest was canceled because of Hurricane Matthew.