A Culture of Creativity: 10 Ways to Enjoy the Lancaster Arts Community
As a local design company, we gain a great deal of inspiration from the history, heritage, and diverse lifestyles of Lancaster. But that’s not only true for us. This community inspires a wide variety of artists to create—whether it be in the form of screen print art, sculptures, music, murals, or even painted pianos!
The Lancaster arts scene is an integral part of our culture, too. From impressive fine art galleries to fun street art and live music events, you don’t have to look far to find art in this city. But if you need some help getting started, here are our top ten ways to experience the arts in Lancaster, PA.
1. Explore Art Galleries in Lancaster, PA
Lancaster City has an abundance of fine and indie art galleries showcasing a broad range of works from local, national, and international artists.
To get a great sense of local art and culture, we recommend exploring some of the indie galleries in downtown Lancaster, such as:
Gallery Row is another great destination to appreciate fine artwork. Located on Prince Street between Chestnut and Orange Streets, Gallery Row is the central hub of the Lancaster Arts scene. Galleries abound in the historic shops and buildings on this block, making it the perfect destination for fine art enthusiasts.
While walking along Gallery Row, consider popping into the following galleries:
- CityFolk Gallery
- Megan Ashman Gallery
- Freiman Stoltzfus Gallery
- Liz Hess Gallery
- Red Raven Art Company
- Christiane David Gallery
In addition to those on Gallery Row, there are plenty of other art galleries in Lancaster, PA. Some other local galleries we recommend visiting include LSJ Studios, Gallery on Market, Gallery of Modern Masters, and Friendship Heart Gallery, which displays artwork from over 70 adults with intellectual disabilities.
Pennsylvania College of Art & Design (PCAD), also houses an impressive gallery of world-class works. In addition to their rotation of artwork and exhibitions from all over the globe, they host an annual senior exhibition and biennial faculty showcase that are open to the public.
2. Attend the Lancaster ArtWalk
Every spring and fall season, Lancaster City Art Galleries hosts the Lancaster ArtWalk—a self-guided tour of the independent galleries in Downtown Lancaster. During this biannual event, participating galleries extend their hours and host special exhibitions. There are also live demonstrations, meet-the-artist opportunities, and fun activities for children!
Find more information about this favorite local event on the Lancaster ArtWalk website.
3. Participate in the Lancaster Print Crawl
Another event that’s near and dear to our hearts is the Lancaster Print Crawl! For this annual event, eight local print shops (including Foxduck) collaborate to design a poster using different techniques like screen printing, letterpress, and laser cutting.
Participants start with a blank poster and go around to each location until their poster is complete, even doing some of the printing themselves. When you stop at our shop, we teach you the art of screen printing and help you create your own screen print art on the poster.
The Lancaster Print Crawl takes place each year on the first Friday in September, and donations go towards a graphic design scholarship at PCAD.
4. Visit Art Museums in Lancaster, PA
Another way to appreciate the Lancaster arts scene is to explore museums. Downtown Lancaster is home to two art museums: Lancaster Museum of Art and the Demuth Museum.
Lancaster Museum of Art
Located in a historic mansion adjacent to Musser Park, Lancaster Museum of Art presents diverse exhibitions of regional, national, and international artists. The museum also offers educational workshops and activities for children and adults to foster a strong appreciation for the visual arts.
Demuth Museum
What better way to experience Lancaster, PA art than paying homage to the city’s most famous native artist, Charles Demuth? At the Demuth Museum, you’ll get an opportunity to view an exclusive collection of Demuth originals in his historic home. You can even explore his Victorian garden, where he drew inspiration for many of his masterful watercolor paintings.
5. Hunt for Public Art & City Murals
If visiting galleries and museums isn’t your thing, try looking for art around the community!
Lancaster has a myriad of captivating street art and sculptures that capture the history and culture of Lancaster City. Grab a coffee from our neighbor, Passenger Coffee, then take a walk around the town in search of some unique city murals.
6. Head Downtown on Lancaster Music Friday
Every third Friday of the month from May through September, the Red Rose City rocks out with live musical performances for Lancaster Music Friday! Restaurants and retailers extend their hours to host local musicians, and mobile music trucks drive throughout the city from 5-8 pm.
7. Enjoy Long’s Park Summer Music Series
In the summer months, Long’s Park offers their locally-beloved Summer Music Series. Every Sunday at 7:30 pm, you can enjoy live music in the park by musicians from all over the country. This event is free, but be sure to bring along a lawn chair, blanket, and your dancing shoes!
8. Play Street Pianos
Thanks to Music For Everyone (MFE) and their Keys for the City program, Lancaster has become the “Street Piano Capital of the World.” Every year, local businesses and artists create custom-designed pianos that are displayed throughout the city for public use.
So while you’re out and about downtown this summer, take some time to stop and play a piano or two! Then, swing by our shop to grab a MFE highlights T-shirt that benefits this amazing organization.
9. Attend a Performance at Lancaster Symphony Orchestra
Enjoy classical music? Then grab some tickets for a performance by the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra! The concerts feature exclusive, award-winning programs and often include world-renowned artists and conductors.
The Symphony even offers a pay-what-you-can neighborhood performance series in collaboration with Music for Everyone that includes food trucks and activities for kids.
10. Go Out for Lancaster First Friday
There’s no better way to experience Lancaster arts and culture than by heading downtown on a First Friday. Lancaster First Friday is a monthly celebration where galleries, shops, and restaurants stay open later in support of the arts. From pop-up musicians to special events and showcases, there’s something for everyone to enjoy on First Friday.
Next time you’re out appreciating art in Lancaster, PA, be sure to stop by our shop! We’d love to show you how we create our custom-designed screen print art and attire.
Featured photo courtesy of DJ Ramsay.