The Downtown Arts District launches a year-long celebration marking 20 years of CityArts

Downtown Arts District kicks-off year‑long celebration featuring new exhibitions, live entertainment and a limited‑edition wine collaboration with Assemblage Wine and Artist Boy Kong.

The Downtown Arts District has announced the opening of CityArts Retrospective: Celebrating 20 Years, a landmark exhibition honoring two decades of artistic innovation, community impact and cultural leadership in Downtown Orlando. This exciting new exhibition debuts on Thursday, June 18, 2026 from 6 pm -9 pm at CityArts Orlando.

This milestone celebration marks the beginning of a year‑long series of special events, including the release of a limited‑edition CityArts Retrospective wine, curated in partnership with Assemblage Wine and world‑renowned artist Boy Kong. Guests attending the opening will have the opportunity to taste the wine and purchase commemorative bottles featuring Boy Kong’s art on the label, with an intricate design symbolizing CityArts’ layered history, its iconic green building and the map grid of its downtown location. 

In addition to the CityArts Retrospective exhibition, guests will enjoy five concurrent exhibitions; Artivism curated by Alexis Collum, Redefine Gallery, Young Artists Gallery, Café Gallery (June Bunch),Roberto Gonzalez and the Side Gallery (Parker Sketch). 

The celebration will also feature live entertainment, including a performance by June Bunch and music by DJ Nigel, along with new limited‑edition merchandise designed by local artists Dawrby, Johnathan Stemberger and Etch.

A Legacy of Creativity and Community

CityArts first opened in June 2006 in the historic Webster Building at 29 S. Orange Avenue. Over the past 20 years, the organization has played a pivotal role in shaping Orlando’s creative landscape, supporting artists, cultivating new collectors and fostering a vibrant arts community.

CityArts Impact by the Numbers

• 20,000+ artists exhibited (1,000 annually)

• 36,000 artworks displayed (3,000 per year)

• Over $1,000,000 in art sales and art services since 2006

• 1.2 million visitors welcomed

• 5,616 days open to the public

• 1,536 exhibitions presented

• 240 Third Thursday art activations produced

• $50,768,000 in total industry expenditures

• 1,486.6 jobs supported

• $35,036,977 in household income generated

• $2,375,000 in local government revenue

• $2,915,152 in state government revenue

On March 21, 2019, CityArts relocated to the historic Rogers‑Kiene Building at 39 S. Magnolia Avenue, donated by Ford Kiene to the City of Orlando for use as an arts space. With its Queen Anne architectural style and cultural significance, the building inspired the transition from “CityArts Factory” to CityArts Orlando.

“As a result of Orlando’s large creative class, there’s an abundance of talent in Central Florida, says Barbara Hartley, Executive Director of the Downtown Arts District. “We celebrate all the artists and musicians who have participated, the leaders who have volunteered on the board of directors and committees, the dedicated staff and all of the individual and corporate sponsors and art buyers who have generously given their support.”

Event Details:

CityArts Retrospective: Celebrating 20 Years

Thursday, June 18, 2026 6 pm - 9 pm

CityArts Orlando 39 S. Magnolia Avenue Orlando, FL 32801

For more information, visit https://downtownartsdistrict.com/.

Gotta Go Orlando is your local source for the latest entertainment news, events and things to do throughout Central Florida. Discover concerts, theater, arts & culture, nightlife, food & drink. theme parks & attractions, festivals, events, and more.

Before going to any events listed on Gotta Go Orlando, it's advisable to reach out to the organizer or venue to verify the event's status, as details, changes, and cancellations may happen.

Contact Us:

You can contact us here. To advertise with us, click here. To list your upcoming event, submit it here.

Newsletter:

Sign up for our newsletter and stay in the loop with all the latest news from Central Florida delivered daily to your mailbox.

Social Media:

Join the local conversation on X, Facebook, and Instagram, plus, for extended Orlando coverage, catch the latest on our YouTube channel.