Experience a Night to Remember with Art Factory: After Dark

A cornerstone of Omaha’s art scene, Hot Shops Art Center is gearing up for their annual Fall Fundraiser, titled Art Factory: After Dark. This year’s fundraiser features live art, interactive rooms, music and more all scheduled for this Oct. 10 beginning at 6 p.m.

“I think the biggest thing is being able to come into a building where there’s 100 plus artists, and from an artist’s standpoint, it just offers a huge sense of community,” Rizzo said.

The world of an artist is that of color, expression, creativity and innovation. For artists Josephine Langbehn and Jill Rizzo, art is not simply a hobby, but a way of life. The pair are both members of the Art Factory: After Dark Committee. Langbehn, Hot Shops Art Center Education and Program Manager, joined the art center as both a painter and passionate art educator.

Rizzo joined the art center 25 years ago, taking part in the J. Doe Campaign, of the center’s first public arts projects.

Hot Shops Art Center, founded in 1999 by five artists, started off as a space for artists to gather and share resources and knowledge. Throughout the years, Hot Shops continued to grow and in 2019 the art center gained non-profit status. Today, the art center both houses several studios for local artists but also provides classes, events and exhibition opportunities for the Omaha community.

“I think the important thing is that most all of the teaching artists at High Shop’s also value the accessibility of the media so that it’s not only taught but it’s made available in a way that isn’t intimidating,” Langbehn said.

In 2022, Hot Shops debuted their first annual fall fundraiser, titled Art Fluid. Past fall fundraisers often opened the studios for guests to enjoy, but with the recent rise in open studio nights throughout the year, Art Factory: After Dark heavily features interactivity throughout the night.

“The energy kind of behind it, or the inspiration, is the Andy Warhol Factory in New York where it was a hub for people to come, artists and non artists, and just create and make things and collaborate and walk out a changed for the better human,” Rizzo said. “You know fired up, energized, excited.”

From the most seasoned artist to the most eager novice, Art Factory: After Dark will include a different creation station on each floor of the art center. Each station will have unique art supplies and materials that guests can use however they please. An art auction will be open for guests to bid on art, classes and other goodies. Guests are also welcome to explore the art center’s illusive never-before-seen fourth floor.

After 9 p.m. the night will change gears to music and dancing for the after-party. Guests can capture a commemorative photo at one of the many photo op areas set up throughout the art center. The night will come to a close at 11 p.m.

For more information about Art Factory: After Dark you can visit hotshopsartcenter.com.