ArtWalk Issaquah, presented by the DownTown Issaquah Association, started in 2001 with a simple idea, to add some culture to Issaquah by having an ArtWalk in downtown. Since Issaquah had never hosted such an event, the way to make it happen was unclear at first. At the time, Issaquah had only one art gallery. It's not much of a "walk" with only one stop. ArtWalk originator and Chair Michael Johnson decided to ask the local businesses to participate by hosting an artist in their place of business and displaying their work for the night of the event. The charter for the DownTown Issaquah Association is to promote the local downtown businesses and surrounding community through events and community awareness programs. Housing the artists in local businesses not only solved the problem of not having enough stops for an ArtWalk, but also provided exposure for those businesses to a large group of people who may have never stepped foot in those businesses before. It turned out to be a very nice symbiotic relationship. The hope was that as the ArtWalks gained in popularity, more galleries and art related businesses would start to locate in Issaquah. Currently, DownTown Issaquah has 5 art galleries, several businesses now acting as galleries, a glass blowing studio and 5 music instruction schools. ArtWalk Issaquah is now held 5 times a year starting in May and going through September on the first Friday of each month. Local and regional artists display their art in a myriad of DownTown Issaquah businesses including the library, hair salons, real estate offices, banks, retail shops, coffee houses and even in the lobby of the Village Theatre on a night when they don't have a performance. Patrons get a comprehensive map of the locations and go on a self-guided tour of the artists and businesses. Some artists are creating art live during the event. Performance art is also located at various venues throughout the footprint of the event. Musicians have appeared in front of the library, at the community center, on street corners and in various businesses participating in the event. Citizens enjoy the array of local talent Issaquah and the surrounding area has to offer and have made ArtWalk Issaquah a preferred night out on their social calendars. The success of ArtWalk spawned a whole new organization dedicated to the proliferation of visual arts in Issaquah. ArtEAST, formerly Art Collective Issaquah formed out of the artists who have been part of ArtWalk over the years. Michael Johnson took the reins of this creative new group for the first year and helped get them launched into the force they are today. Together, the DownTown Issaquah Association and artEAST provide an artistic spectacle that is sure to catch the eye. First Fridays, 5-9pm May - September May 1st June 5th July 3rd August 7th September 4th