City Of Las Vegas Cultural Arts November 2019 Calendar Of Events

The holidays are almost here! Find all of the amazing events, crafts and holiday fun in SW Las Vegas here! 

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Cultural Arts & Community Events programs: www.ArtsLasVegas.org

Fall II Class / Winter Class Registration

Fall II class registration is available to Nov. 9 for six-week session of classes Oct. 29-Dec. 14. No classes the week of Nov. 25 to 30.

Winter Registration is available Nov. 19 to Jan. 18, 2020, for six-week session of classes Jan. 7-Feb. 15, 2020.

The city of Las Vegas offers fine arts classes at several locations that are designed to mold the next generation of artists in a guided, dynamic and studio-style program tailored to the needs of each student. These open-enrollment classes encourage exploration while creating the opportunity for each student to experience a diverse performing and visual arts education. Classes are available for all ages and levels of experience in dance, music, theatre, visual and cultural arts. To register, or for more information, visit online or call 702-229-ARTS (2787).

• Charleston Heights Arts Center Class Registration (ages 6-adult)
  Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St.
  Courses offered include Adult Drama and Improvisation, Visual Arts, Hip-Hop, Modern Dance, Group Guitar, and private lessons in visual art, piano, voice, guitar by appointment.
• Rainbow Company Youth Theatre Drama Class Registration (ages 4-17)
  Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St., and
  Historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth St.
  Classes taught by award-winning Rainbow Company staff. Courses offered include Story Drama, Performance Fundamentals, Acting Skills for Youth, and Acting for Teens. Classes are in demand and space is limited; early registration recommended.
• West Las Vegas Arts Center Class Registration (ages 2-adult)
  West Las Vegas Arts Center, 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd.
  Classes offered include African Dance, Ballet, Hip-Hop, African Drum, Audio Recording and Engineering, Video Production, Martial Arts and Chess.

Dia de los Muertos Festival (all ages)

With guest artists Viento Callejero.
Saturday, Nov. 2, 4 to 10 p.m.
Free and open to the public.
Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Plaza in Lorenzi Park, 720 Twin Lakes Drive.

Celebrate Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with the city of Las Vegas! This vibrant homage to life is a true community event and one of the most charming and colorful holidays celebrated by Mexican and Latin American cultures. Produced by the city of Las Vegas, this lighthearted and joyful tribute honors the memory of family and friends who have passed away in a fun and immersive atmosphere. Featuring special entertainment by local artists and guest artists Viento Callejero, interactive children’s activities, artisan vendors, refreshments, face painting, special décor and an exhibition of altars created by community organizations and groups. This event receives support from The Nevada Arts Council, the Western States Arts Federation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. For information call 702-229-ARTS (2787). 

Ethnic Express International Folk Dancing (ages 8+)
Wednesdays, Nov. 6, 13, 20; 6:30 to 8:45 p.m.
Cost: $6 per person per week at the door.
Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St., 702-229-ARTS (2787).

Have an evening of fun learning international dance styles, including Arabic, Armenian, Bulgarian, Chinese, Greek, Israeli, Macedonian, Russian, Serbian and Turkish folk dances. No need to bring a partner. Dances co-presented with the city of Las Vegas. For information, call 702-732-4871. 

Ensemble Mik Nawooj Concert
Saturday, Nov. 9, 7 p.m.
Tickets: $25, plus taxes/fees.
Historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth St.

Ensemble Mik Nawooj incorporates elements from hip-hop and classical, creating a unique hybrid that reimagines the role of music and culture in civic engagement. Founder and composer JooWan Kim, classically trained in composition at Berklee College of Music and San Francisco Conservatory of Music, fell in love with hip-hop’s spirit of disruption. Merging the two influences, the innovative 10-piece ensemble – two MCs, winds, strings, piano, drums and a lyric soprano – brings its cutting-edge stylings to renditions of Wu-Tang Clan and original songs alike. For tickets call 702-229-ARTS (2787).

The Poets’ Corner (ages 17+)

Hosted by LaBlaque.
Friday, Nov. 15, 7:30 p.m.
Free and open to the public.
West Las Vegas Arts Center, 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd.

Founded at the West Las Vegas Arts Center in 1997, The Poets’ Corner premiered as the first established poetry program in Las Vegas. This monthly forum event, hosted by LaBlaque Williams, is for established poets and open-mic participants and features the best local talent. Due to potential subject matter, we strongly advise participants be age 17 or older. For information call 702-229-ARTS (2787). 

“The Princess and the Magic Flute” Opera in the Park (all ages)
Saturday, Nov. 16, 2 p.m.
Free and open to the public.
Durango Hills Park, 3521 N. Durango Drive.

Vegas City Opera presents “The Princess and the Magic Flute,” a children’s opera inspired by Wolfgang Mozart. The iconic cast of the Queen of the Night, Priest Sarastro, Prince Tamino, Princess Pamina and that charming bird-like duo, Papageno and Papagena, all embark on a treacherous journey of initiation that ends in triumph for the young royal couple. The music includes the popular Singspiel (spoken dialogue) and is a timeless gem to be savored by all ages. This performance is funded in part by a grant from the Nevada Arts Council, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts. For information call 702-229-ARTS (2787).

USA Ballroom Dance (ages 13+)
Saturday, Nov. 16; 7 to 10:30 p.m. Dance lesson at 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $10 per person at the door.
Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St., 702-229-ARTS (2787).

Co-presented by the city of Las Vegas and USA Dance Las Vegas Chapter #4038, a local chapter of the national nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to the promotion of ballroom dancing. For more information, call 702-260-0772.

Lightwire Theater’s “A Very Electric Christmas” (all ages)
Saturday, Nov. 23, 2 p.m.
Tickets: $25 adults/$12.50 youth, plus taxes/fees.
Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St.

Brighten your holidays with Lightwire Theater’s “A Very Electric Christmas.” Audiences of all ages will treasure this magical and captivating tale of family, friendship and hope set to timeless holiday hits. In this wonderful story, Santa’s helpers are putting the final touches on presents as a young bird named Max and his family head south for the winter. Poor Max gets blown off course during a snowstorm, and he ends up alone and lost at the North Pole. As he tries to make his way home, his adventure begins when he encounters friendly caroling worms, dancing poinsettias, Nutcracker soldiers, mischievous mice and the evil Rat King. This delightful holiday production will make children wide-eyed with delight and warm even in the smallest of hearts. For tickets call 702-229-ARTS (2787).

Las Vegas Tamale & Mariachi Festival/Festival del Tamal y Mariachi (all ages)
Featuring Tequila and Beer Tasting
Saturday, Nov. 30, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Free and open to the public.
Centennial Plaza, 401 S. Fourth St.

The hottest tamale festival is coming to town! Kick off the holidays with great food, mariachi and folklorico performances. Come taste the best tamales in town! The Las Vegas Tamale Festival will include a day full of delicious tamales, Mexican antojitos, mariachi music, folklorico dance and arts and craft vendors. Tequila and beer tasting will be available for a fee. Join in this celebration of family, culture and holiday traditions. For more information call 702-229-ARTS (2787).

“A Charlie Brown Christmas”
Presented by Rainbow Company Youth Theatre.
Dec. 6, 7, 13, and 14 at 7 p.m., and Dec. 7*, 8, 14 and 15 at 2 p.m.
Tickets: $5.50 plus taxes/fees.
Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St.

A beloved holiday classic springs to life in this faithful adaptation of the TV special that debuted in December 1965. Join Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Sally, Snoopy and friends as they embrace the holiday season with classic favorites like "Christmas Time is Here" and search for meaning among the holiday traditions. After the performance, gather in the center's indoor Winter Wonderland with family and friends to sing along — warm apple cider in hand — to your favorite holiday tunes, accompanied by local choir groups. *This performance includes an American Sign Language interpreter for the hearing impaired. For tickets call 702-229-ARTS (2787).

The Poets’ Corner (ages 17+)
Hosted by LaBlaque.
Friday, Dec. 20, 7:30 p.m.
Free and open to the public.
West Las Vegas Arts Center, 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd.

Founded at the West Las Vegas Arts Center in 1997, The Poets’ Corner premiered as the first established poetry program in Las Vegas. This monthly forum event, hosted by LaBlaque Williams, is for established poets and open-mic participants and features the best local talent. Due to potential subject matter, we strongly advise participants be age 17 or older. For information call 702-229-ARTS (2787).

Kwanzaa Celebration: Nguzo Saba | Ujima
Co-presented with the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District.
Saturday, Dec. 28, 10 a.m.to 5 p.m.
Free and open to the public.
West Las Vegas Library Theatre, 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd.

In the spirit of "UJIMA" (Collective Work and Responsibility), the community will celebrate the third day of Kwanzaa. This event features a marketplace, children's workshops, guest speakers, community dialogue, poetry, song, dance, drumming, and the 2019 Girls & Boys Rites of Passage graduations. For information call 702-229-ARTS (2787).

Exhibitions

First Street Art Trail Aerial Gallery Banner Artwork Exhibition
Through March 2, 2020.
Vinyl banners will be available to view at all times on First Street from Bridger to Boulder avenues.

The Aerial Gallery along the First Street Art Trail is the newest rendition of this long-running banner artwork program. Artworks by Natalie Delgado, Shan Michael Evans, Chase McCurdy, Austine Wood Comarow, Diane Bush, Jeff Fulmer, Brian Martinez and Joseph Watson are featured on light poles spanning eight blocks from Bridger to Boulder avenues. Other artworks along the trail include the Windows on First temporary public art installations, Mary Hill’s Cycled Musings bike racks, and Jesse Smigel’s Snowball in Vegas cat sculpture. Visitors are invited to bike and walk the trail to explore and discover. For information call 702-229-ARTS (2787).

Native Nevada Basketry Traditions (all ages)
Aug. 8-Nov. 7; hours 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; closed Friday-Sunday and holidays.
Artist Reception: Thursday, Nov. 7, 4 to 6 p.m.
Free and open to the public.
City Hall Grand Gallery, 495 S. Main St., first floor.

Co-curated with basket weaver Rebecca Eagle from Northern Nevada, the focus in this exhibition is to display baskets that have differences and similarities in construction and design having to do with tribal traditions and affiliations. All basket weavers are Native American and either from Nevada, or currently living in Nevada. For information call 702-229-ARTS (2787).

Pencils to Ink (all ages)
Featuring drawings by cartoonist Amy Kurzweil.
Sept. 6-Nov. 30; hours Thursdays, noon to 5 p.m.
Free and open to the public.
Mayor’s Gallery, Historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth St.

This exhibit features illustrations and cartoons from Amy Kurzweil, “New Yorker” cartoonist and author of “Flying Couch,” a graphic memoir about three generations of women, Jewish history, and the inheritance of family memories. This exhibit illuminates Kurzweil’s process, as she refines her images and ideas from initial spark to final finish. Included in the exhibit are original framed illustrations from “Flying Couch,” alongside sketches and plans from the artist’s drafts over a decade of work. The exhibit also showcases original cartoon drawings that humorously comment on the artist’s process, plus images from Kurzweil’s new book in progress, “Artificial” -- another graphic memoir. This is a rare opportunity to see an artist’s mind and hand at work. For young artists interested in making and publishing their own drawings, studying rough sketches provides invaluable insight into the thought and intuition behind the artist’s skill. Presented with support from the Beverly Rogers, Carol C. Harter Black Mountain Institute. For more information, visit www.ArtsLasVegas.org or call 702-229-ARTS (2787).

“Les Folies Bergere” Exhibition (all ages)
Oct. 3, 2019-Jan. 11, 2020; hours Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Saturdays 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Free and open to the public.
Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St.

An exhibit featuring photographs, artwork, documents, and costumes from the archives at the Las Vegas News Bureau, UNLV Libraries Special Collections, and the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas. Debuting at the Tropicana Hotel in 1959, the “Folies Bergere” stage show offered song and dance numbers, novelty acts and showgirls. Imported directly from Paris, the French production was a mainstay on the Las Vegas Strip for nearly half a century. For information call 702-229-ARTS (2787).

Hispanic Heritage: Contemporary Interpretations of the Retablo Exhibition (all ages)
Oct. 10-Nov. 20; hours Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; closed weekends and holidays.
Free and open to the public.
City Hall Chamber Gallery, 495 S. Main St., second floor.

The exhibition features an array of art pieces by Las Vegas Hispanic artists to celebrate Hispanic heritage and culture. The city of Las Vegas is proud of its diverse and vibrant multicultural community that attracts people from across the globe who want to seek opportunity and call Las Vegas home. This art exhibition is a celebration of our diversity and acknowledgment of the contributions of our growing Hispanic/Latino community. For information call 702-229-ARTS (2787).

Southwest Teapots Exhibition (all ages)
Presented in partnership with the Nevada Clay Guild
Nov. 7, 2019-Feb. 6, 2020; hours Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; closed Friday-Sunday and holidays.
Artist Reception: Thursday, Nov. 14, 4 to 6 p.m.
Free and open to the public.
City Hall Grand Gallery, 495 S. Main St., first floor.

Nevada Clay Guild presents works of local ceramic, glass, and mixed media artists. This show represents the amazing range of artistic endeavors and creative expression within the clay arts – both expressive and functional. It truly demonstrates the breadth and depth of its members’ talents. For information call 702-229-ARTS (2787). 

Windows on First: “Under the Sky – Ceramic Landscape Wall Series”
Featuring artwork of Sierra Slentz.
Nov. 21, 2019, to May 1, 2020; available to view at all times.
Artist Reception: Thursday, Dec. 12; 4 to 6 p.m.
Open to the public on First Street; no admission fee.
Las Vegas City Hall, Windows on First, 495 S. Main St., along First Street.

A collection of individual abstract pieces or “landscapes” that depict the Basin and Range region in which we live. When these individual pieces come together, the contrasting colors, textures and forms are reminiscent of the experience of wandering through the desert, taking in geological forms, reflections, mirages, sunsets and ghost town remains. For more information call 702-229-ARTS (2787).

Public Employee Exhibition (all ages)
Nov. 27-Feb. 20, 2020; hours Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; closed Fridays, weekends and holidays.
Artist Reception: Thursday, Dec. 12, 4 to 6 p.m.
Free and open to the public.
City Hall Chamber Gallery, 495 S. Main St., second floor.

Discover the exhibition of artwork submitted by public employees who practice art in their spare time. For information call 702-229-ARTS (2787).

Please note: All programs are subject to change. Before heading out, we recommend you contact the City of Las Vegas Arts Program by call (702) 229-ARTS for additional information and to verify times and locations of events.  

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