First Fridays achieves critical mass every month

Exchange District

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This article was published 04/12/2024 (368 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg’s Exchange District has long been known as the city’s downtown cultural hub, a tourist hotspot, a place to see and experience new and wondrous things. For local artists Sue Gordon and Karen Schulz, it offered the perfect setting for First Fridays in the Exchange.

Inspired by Gordon’s experience with a similar event in Kansas City’s Crossroads district, First Fridays premiered in Winnipeg in the summer of 2010 and, in its celebration of area galleries, shops and other businesses, quickly became a creative success. Visitors, customers, and foot-traffic in general increased as lights stayed on and doors stayed open late on the first Friday of each month. Now an independent, non-profit, membership-based organization, First Fridays in the Exchange has been going strong and growing ever since.

The First Fridays concept became popular in the U.S. in the 1990s and early 2000s, mainly in the arts and cultural districts of cities like Boston, Chicago, Denver, Miami, and Philadelphia. First Fridays events have since grown across Canada.

“Art needs to be in people’s lives… the music, the films, the galleries, it’s so important to have in your life,” said Karen Schulz – as the organization’s director – who also maintains a studio in the area.

Schulz is the ideal ambassador for all things art-related. Her husband’s work, also in the Exchange, is computer-incubated art while her experimental art combines painting, her love of photography, printmaking and drawing.

“The idea of First Fridays is to create this critical mass of people… one night where people can come down, go into galleries, private studios, talk to artists, attend mini-workshops to do art… There’s an Icelandic dance group where you can join the dancing.

“Something for everyone, that’s not a lie. It’s special, it’s unique. We’ve got local, handmade, family-owned businesses, sustainability, people trying to do something unique and important. It’s jaw-dropping the amount of activity, pop-up markets, artist studios, 3D printing… We put on an art talk for people to come down. There’s an art walk— we pick up people along the way.”

Schulz admits that going into a gallery can be intimidating sometimes, whereas the event creates a comfortable environment for everyone.

“First Fridays is a relaxing time, no pressure, tons of people. You can go into the unique shops, studios, have supper, do some shopping, totally make an evening of it.

“The services – there’s tons of ideas, photography, beauty, tattoos, all sorts of art and craft, yoga classes, healing sessions. The theatres, museums, vintage, thrift, costumes, it’s a one-stop… a unique and special experience to come down to an area of the city that you may have never been in. The people are all in a great mood, it’s fabulous,” she said, noting many younger people attend.

She’s also noticed visitors, staying in nearby hotels, asking, “Why doesn’t our city have something like this?” And plenty of locals saying, “I didn’t know this existed.”

First Fridays in the Exchange has been loved by those living downtown and regulars who’ve been participating since it began. With over 40 events every month – most of them free of charge – it’s easy to have a fine evening experiencing art in a variety of forms.

“I am so proud of this event and that it’s been around for so long. It’s such a great and totally positive event, promoting art and creative people. I just feel really proud of it. Just come and have a wonderful evening, see art, stroll and talk to people.”

The December incarnation of First Fridays in the Exchange is this Friday, Dec. 6.

Learn more: at firstfridayswinnipeg.org and follow on Instagram: @firstfridayswinnipeg