The Mission Las Vegas

In downtown Las Vegas’ Arts District you will find an eclectic mix of galleries, one-of-a-kind stores, and restaurants just a short walk or bus ride from Fremont Street. Known as “18b,” the Las Vegas Arts District is located immediately south of downtown Las Vegas in an area bounded by Commerce Street, Hoover Avenue, Fourth Street and Las Vegas Boulevard (at Charleston) and Colorado Avenue.

The name, “18b,” represents the original Arts District area, which consisted of 18 blocks. Today, the Arts District area has grown beyond those original 18 blocks and is a classic urban mix of residential, commercial and cultural uses that will continue to grow as the hub of the arts scene in Las Vegas.

On the first Friday of each month, an arts and cultural event is held in the district. The “First Friday” festival draws up to 10,000 visitors into the neighborhood. This event encourages people to flock downtown to browse, buy, eat, drink and mingle. The event is a festive environment with food and beverage vendors, bands performing in the streets and artists displaying their works. There is a minimal $2 entry fee for First Friday patrons (children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult.) Entry fees are collected at the gated entrances located along Casino Center Boulevard and Charleston Boulevard, Casino Center Boulevard and California Street, Colorado Avenue and Main Street, and Colorado Avenue and Third Street. These entry fees help defray the cost of producing these events.

The city of Las Vegas partners with the Arts District during First Friday events. The city provides free rides on city of Las Vegas Arts Buses between all First Friday stops.

The city of Las Vegas has actively supported the growth of the neighborhood through the formation of an Arts District Neighborhood Association, the adoption of a plan for neighborhood design standards and the establishment of an Arts District Task Force to address growth issues. The city also formed and adopted a live/work ordinance, which encourages artists to work and live downtown, and supported the creation of a world-class Arts District Sculpture Park that will be located on Boulder Plaza. The city also secured a National Endowment for the Arts grant that led to the renaming of the district as “18b,” and developed a highway enhancement project to create two landmark gateways into the neighborhood.