Arts In The Plaza is Long Beach's Weekly Arts Festival!
Featuring handcrafted art and live music, the spirit of Long Beach is celebrated every Saturday at this inspired outdoor community event.
Located in the center of town at Kennedy Plaza, Arts In The Plaza takes place every Saturday from 9 am – 2 pm. With a season that runs from
Memorial Day weekend through Halloween
there is ample time to enjoy Arts In The Plaza again and again.
No matter what the occasion, Arts In The Plaza is the place to shop. Find
one-of-a-kind gifts for yourself and your loved ones at this exclusively handcrafted market. The epitome of shopping local and supporting small businesses, every booth is an opportunity to connect with a local artist.
Find creations in myriad mediums including photography, jewelry, painting, drawing, wood, glass, mixed media, clothing, accessories and home decor.
Live music can be enjoyed throughout the day. An eclectic and exciting line up of musical performances are presented in both the morning and afternoon.
It’s always a beautiful day at Arts In The Plaza. Whether you stop by to stroll around, bring the whole family for the day, shop, listen to music, or have pleasant conversations with friends old and new Arts In The Plaza is sure to please.
Arts In The Plaza is built on love.
Love of art, love of music, love of community, love of Long Beach.
MISSION
The mission of Arts In The Plaza is to provide a weekly outdoor venue to showcase locally handcrafted art, and to present musical performances and cultural arts for the enrichment and enjoyment of the community.
We nourish the artist community by creating opportunities for artists to be paid for being artists. Such a simple, yet profound concept. Our vendor fees are incredibly affordable because our priority is for our market to be accessible to all artists. We are very frequently the bridge for artists working out of their homes, and we are also a welcome addition to the event schedule of professional artists. Our pledge is that the cost burden of our event will not fall on the backs of our artists.
The local small businesses who sponsor our treasured community event are integral in funding Arts In The Plaza.
Arts In The Plaza looks to creatively partner with companies that share our values and commitment to the arts and our community. Please contact us at 516-476-2473 to learn more about our sponsorship opportunities.
The mission of Arts In The Plaza is to provide a weekly outdoor venue to showcase locally handcrafted art, and to present musical performances and cultural arts for the enrichment and enjoyment of the community.
We nourish the artist community by creating opportunities for artists to be paid for being artists. Such a simple, yet profound concept. Our vendor fees are incredibly affordable because our priority is for our market to be accessible to all artists. We are very frequently the bridge for artists working out of their homes, and we are also a welcome addition to the event schedule of professional artists. Our pledge is that the cost burden of our event will not fall on the backs of our artists.
The local small businesses who sponsor our treasured community event are integral in funding Arts In The Plaza.
Arts In The Plaza looks to creatively partner with companies that share our values and commitment to the arts and our community. Please contact us at 516-476-2473 to learn more about our sponsorship opportunities.
about our directors
Sammi and Ben Metzger are devoted to the Long Beach community. They embrace the loving spirit of our City By The Sea and actively participate in cultivating opportunities for growth and happiness through music and the arts.
Sammi Metzger aka Sammi Hoop is the Director of Arts In The Plaza. Arts In The Plaza continues to inspire by showcasing locally handcrafted art, and presenting musical performances and cultural arts, for the enrichment and enjoyment of the community. A proud local resident, Sammi is zealous in her support of arts and culture in Long Beach. She believes that Arts In The Plaza nourishes and fortifies the spirit of our treasured community by providing a welcoming, comfortable, creative and culturally rich venue for families to enjoy their Saturdays.
Arts In The Plaza's Music Director, Benjamin Metzger aka Benôir is an award winning producer, educator, band leader, actor and multi-instrumentalist. He has toured the US and Europe with artists such as Rhys Chatham, Pharaoh's Daughter, Natalie Dangerfield, Anna Pipoyan, J Brittany, Kafele Bandele, Tribe of Djembe, Kema Jamal, Dub Affair, The Suffering Blues Band, Benôir and The Long Beach All-Stars and Guardavidas. In 2015 Benôir released Jazzy Funky Noir. All that its name implies, this album’s instrumental tracks reflect Benôir's vast musical influences and his artistry with the guitar. His newfound love for the piano and keyboard has ignited his career in unexpected ways as he continues to transform himself as a respected artist.
Benôir has developed his own method of instruction entitled the MusicNoir Method. He has received awards, grants, and accolades for his teaching. His Long Beach music school, Studio Noir, is a boutique music studio that has produced over 6 full length albums and is the location for live rehearsals, recordings, private and group classes. Studio Noir offers private lessons for guitar, bass, piano, drums, saxophone, vocals, ukulele, classical strings (violin, viola, cello, double bass), music composition, music theory, electronic programming, and music engineering. Group classes are encouraged at the beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Studio Noir is the home of the Long Beach Ukulele Orchestra. Live performance opportunities abound! studionoir.rocks