Join us for Columbia's 31st Annual Artista Vista, April 14-16, 2023. This art-centric event is truly has something to offer for everyone while maintaining safety and following COVID-19 protocols. The Congaree Vista district of Columbia, SC, is an official South Carolina Arts & Cultural District.
Artista Vista begins Friday night with the annual Gallery Crawl throughout The Vista District. Join us from 6-9 p.m. for a fun evening in The Vista’s distinctive galleries. Enjoy live music from Ed Stephenson and the Paco Band outside Blue Marlin on Lincoln Street, courtesy of Grace Outdoor Advertising. Studios involved in the Gallery Crawl include:
Artista Vista continues on Saturday with events at Stormwater Studios, Lewis + Clark and One Eared Cow. Visitors will discover collections and view live demonstrations from artists. Enjoy live music from the NAMU Drum Company at Stormwater Studios and a lecture and demonstration from Phil Garrett of the Golden Acrylic Paints Program. More information about Stormwater Studios events here.
Join us for the Light and Lantern Parade at the entrance of the Lincoln Street Tunnel. Join the crowd as we stroll through The Vista and kick off this event. There will be cash prizes for the best lantern during the parade! Be sure to stop by the lantern parade workshops on Saturday, April 15 at Stormwater Studios from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. or Richland Library from 3-5 p.m. The parade will be lead through the streets of The Vista by Partly Cloudy.
Visit Crafty Feast, a juried craft fair, to purchase art and gifts! The event will take place outdoors at the corner of Lincoln and Lady Streets. Enjoy makers from the southeast. We will have a DJ at the event and Carolina Cookin food truck will be on site.
Artista Vista’s finale is Live on Lincoln. This outdoor, socially-distanced performance will take place on the cobblestones of Lincoln Street. Tickets are available for purchase here.
While enjoying Artista Vista, be sure to stop by the unique works of Brittany Watkins throughout The Vista. She will have pieces outside the Experience Columbia SC Visitor Center and the Lincoln Street Tunnel.
A comprehensive safety plan has been put in place for all Artista Vista events. Masks are encouraged for all patrons, and hand sanitizer is encouraged throughout events. Social distancing will be encouraged. NO CONCEALED WEAPONS ALLOWED.
The Vista, Columbia's premier art district, is committed to continuing to keep the art scene in the Midlands thriving, as the past three decades attest. The Vista was synonymous with art by the early 1980s when artists began to move their studios to the area's affordable abandoned warehouse space. Today's restaurants, shopping and nightlife in historic buildings along the Gervais Street corridor are still driven by the Vista's creative energy.
