Downtown Arts District ‘Art after Dark’ returns to Orlando March 14
Downtown Arts District executive director Barbara Hartley and Orlando Collage Club director Xine join WESH 2 to preview the event at CityArts Orlando
GET READY FOR AN EVENING FILLED WITH ART, COMMUNITY, GOOD EATS AND A WHOLE LOT MORE. ALL FOR A GREAT CAUSE. THE ART AFTER DARK SOIREE FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS RETURNS TO ORLANDO NEXT WEEKEND. THIS IS PART OF A POPULAR PROGRAM HOSTED BY THE DOWNTOWN ARTS DISTRICT, AND JOINING ME NOW WITH YOUR INVITATION. WE’VE GOT THE NONPROFIT’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BARBARA HARTLEY. GREAT TO SEE YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. YEAH, WE LOVE HAVING YOU HERE. AND DIRECTOR OF ORLANDO COLLAGE CLUB SCENE IN STUDIO. GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT’S A PLEASURE. YEAH. WE’RE GOING TO SEE YOUR ART THERE. WE’LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. BUT FOR, FOR PEOPLE HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA WHO GO I’VE HEARD OF THE DOWNTOWN ARTS DISTRICT. I DON’T KNOW A WHOLE LOT ABOUT THE MISSION AND THE WORK THAT’S BEING DONE. WHAT DO YOU WANT OUR COMMUNITY TO KNOW? WELL, I WANT THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW WE HAVE AN AMAZING, CREATIVE CULTURE HERE AND A GREAT ECOSYSTEM AND SO MANY SUPPORTERS AND PARTNERS. AND WE’RE IN THE HEART OF IT. WE’RE IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO, THE BEAUTIFUL GREEN BUILDING. IT’S THE ROGERS COUNTY HISTORIC BUILDING, AND WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO BE THE STEWARDS OF CITY ARTS, WHICH IS A GALLERY OPEN TO ALL ARTISTS AND OPEN FOR ALL AGES AND ENJOY ART EVERY DAY, SIX DAYS A WEEK, ACTUALLY, AND IT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT MISSION HERE TO SUPPORT THE ARTS. SO FOR YOU, WHY? WHY IS IT SO CRITICAL THAT CENTRAL FLORIDA HAS THIS THRIVING ART COMMUNITY? I MEAN, IT’S DEFINITELY IT’S IT KIND OF DRIVES PEOPLE TOGETHER AND BREAKS DOWN BARRIERS BETWEEN PEOPLE. AND I THINK THAT IT MAKES US ALL VULNERABLE TO ONE ANOTHER. AND WE GET TO SHARE OUR HONESTY AND OUR LIVES TOGETHER AND JUST GROW STRONGER AS A COMMUNITY. I LOVE THAT, AND WE’RE GOING TO SEE YOUR WORK AT THE SOIREE. BARBARA, WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT’S HAPPENING NEXT WEEKEND? WELL, WE’RE VERY EXCITED TO BRING IT BACK. SO ART AFTER DARK STARTED AS A WAY FOR INVITING PEOPLE INTO A GALLERY SPACE THAT MAYBE AREN’T ART ENTHUSIASTS, BUT TO GIVE THEM A DIFFERENT REASON TO GET TOGETHER TO MEET THE LOCAL ARTIST COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO TO MAKE IT INTERACTIVE. SO IT’S CREATED FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS BY OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND IT’S IT’S BECOME SOMETHING THAT’S OPEN TO YOUNG AT HEART. ALL AGES ARE INVITED. I WAS ABOUT TO SAY, I FEEL LIKE I’M OUT OF THE YOUNG CATEGORY ANYMORE. AND THEN WHAT ARE WE GOING TO SEE FROM YOU AS WE SEE YOUR WORK ON DISPLAY? WELL, WHAT I’LL BE DOING IS I’LL BE POPPED UP WITH MY CLUB AND WE WILL BE WE WILL HAVE LIKE A LIBRARY OF VINTAGE BOOKS AND KITSCHY MAGAZINES, LIKE VINTAGE WRESTLING MAGAZINES. THAT’S ALWAYS REALLY FUN. AND WE’RE JUST GOING TO SIT AND CREATE LIV WHAT WE CAN EVEN, LIKE, SHARE AND SWITCH OUR WORKS MIDWAY THROUGH. KIND OF LIKE BUILDING, LIKE A DIFFERENT KIND OF COMMUNITY. IT’S ALL VERY INTERACTIVE, AND IT KIND OF GROWS AS IT GOES. SO AND SO YOU’RE CREATING ART, AND EVEN WITH THE PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE AND LIKE, IT’S SO ACCESSIBLE, LIKE YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A TRAINED ARTIST OR HAVE GONE TO ART SCHOOL AT ALL. YOU CAN JUST SIT THERE AND KIND OF MIX AND MATCH AND YOU CAN DO A VISION BOARD. I MEAN, THERE’S JUST SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO WITH IT. SO IS THAT WHY A COLLAGE IS SOMETHING THAT YOU REALLY HAVE TAKEN TO AS A FORM OF? YES, BECAUSE IT’S FULLY ACCESSIBLE. IT’S PRETTY CHEAP. I MEAN, YOU CAN GET FREE MATERIALS, VERY CHEAP MATERIALS FROM A LIBRARY AND THEN JUST GET TO WORK IF YOU WANT TO GET YOUR FEELINGS OUT, GET YOUR HOPES OUT. THAT’S NICE. THAT’S AWESOME. AND FOR AN EVENT LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW WHAT ARE YOU EXCITED FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO SEE AS THEY TAKE PART IN THIS SOIREE? CAN DO IT. OKAY. THEY CAN GET INVOLVED. WE CAN DO THIS. AND WE’RE ALL GOING TO BE INCLUDED. THAT’S THE BEAUTY OF ART. BARBARA. HOW DO WE GET TICKETS TO THIS? SO YOU CAN GET TICKETS AT DOWNTOWN ARTS DISTRICT.COM. IT’S ALSO ON EVENTBRITE. IT’S A 2026 EVENTBRITE.COM. OKAY. AND THEY ARE DISCOUNTED RIGHT NOW AT $25 A TICKET. SO THE GENERAL ADMISSION IS 50, BUT IT’S DISCOUNTED UNTIL THE 11TH. SO GET YOUR TICKETS WHILE THEY’RE ON SALE. OKAY. THAT’S GREAT NEWS. WE’VE GOT THE QR CODE ON SCREEN. IT WILL LINK YOU TO ALL OF THIS INFORMATION. WE’RE ALSO GOING TO MAKE IT REAL EASY BY POSTING ON WESH.COM. IF YOU’VE BEEN INTIMIDATED TO BECOME AN ARTIST, THIS IS THIS IS THE WAY TO DO IT. ABSOLUTELY. I LOVE THAT THAT WE CAN ALL GET THERE BECAUSE I SEE PEOPLE DRAWING AND PAINTING. I DON’T HAVE THAT KIND OF TALENT, BUT MAYBE I CAN DO THIS. IT’S WAY SCARIER TO TRY TO DRAW SOMETHING. IF YOU CAN JUST CUT IT OUT AND PUT IT TOGETHER AND PUT YOUR OWN FLAVOR IN IT. YEAH, I LOVE THAT. WELL, THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS BECAUSE THIS IS OPEN TO US ALL UP TO THIS WORLD OF ART. AN
Downtown Arts District ‘Art after Dark’ returns to Orlando March 14
Downtown Arts District executive director Barbara Hartley and Orlando Collage Club director Xine join WESH 2 to preview the event at CityArts Orlando
Updated: 9:49 AM EST Mar 6, 2026
Downtown Arts District “Art after Dark” program returns to Orlando on Saturday, March 14, 2026 from 7-10 p.m. Downtown Arts District executive director Barbara Hartley and Orlando Collage Club director Xine join WESH 2 to preview the event. “Art after Dark” introduces professionals to the Arts District and its mission through social interaction, arts engagement and networking. Guests will enjoy the celebration within CityArts’ seven different galleries and CityArts Café. Festivities also include interactive art experiences, live music, meet-and-greet opportunities, photo opportunities, a silent auction, whiskey and beer tastings and light bites by local vendors. Guests can enjoy $25 early bird ticket access through March 10, 2026. CityArts | 39 S. Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801Click here to purchase tickets.Click here to learn more.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
Downtown Arts District “Art after Dark” program returns to Orlando on Saturday, March 14, 2026 from 7-10 p.m.
Downtown Arts District executive director Barbara Hartley and Orlando Collage Club director Xine join WESH 2 to preview the event.
“Art after Dark” introduces professionals to the Arts District and its mission through social interaction, arts engagement and networking.
Guests will enjoy the celebration within CityArts’ seven different galleries and CityArts Café.
Festivities also include interactive art experiences, live music, meet-and-greet opportunities, photo opportunities, a silent auction, whiskey and beer tastings and light bites by local vendors.
Guests can enjoy $25 early bird ticket access through March 10, 2026.
CityArts | 39 S. Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801