Inspire Arts Week Brings a Ten-Day Cultural Celebration to Lakewood Today

The City of Lakewood is pulling out all the stops for the fifth annual Inspire Arts Week, which actually runs eleven days — from Thursday, June 4 through Sunday, June 14 — and features nineteen participating artists and arts groups presenting thirty different cultural events that range from symphonies to dance ensembles to chalk festivals to block parties and everything in between. 

"Once again, I am in awe of the abundance of the arts and cultural offerings available during such a short time frame in Lakewood, " says Lorene Joos, curator for Lakewood's Heritage, Culture and the Arts division. "These organizations all do amazing work year-round, and I am thrilled that they have come together to promote a special mix of programming for the community."

Here are some of our favorite events in that mix, in chronological order:

Tales of the Painted Cats 
Thursday, June 4
Lamar Station Plaza, 6731 West Colfax Avenue
INSPIRE kicks off with a free opening reception for Tales of the Painted Cats from from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The exhibit, which benefits the Cat Care Society, features 24 hand-painted glass cat sculptures that will be auctioned off in October. 

First Friday Art Walk
Friday, June 5
Belmar's Block 7 Art District
Since INSPIRE always starts the first week of June, you can expect a special First Friday at Belmar's Block 7.

Wonders of Nature
Opening Friday, June 5 
40 West Gallery, 1560 Teller Street
40 West will present Wonders of Nature, an exhibition "celebrating the colors and textures of the natural world — from landscapes and wildlife to galactic grandeur and microscopic mysteries." The show opens will a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. June 5, and runs through July 11.


Chalk Art Festival
Saturday, June 6
Lamar Station Crossing, 6150 West 13th Avenue
The Chalk Art Festival is a new addition to INSPIRE. The all-ages participatory event will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lamar Station Crossing, and it's free to join in.

Twigs and Twine
Wednesday, June 10
Belmar's Block 7 Art District
At Twigs and Twine, a furniture-finishing workshop, you'll learn three innovative ways to refurbish old wood pieces. The class begins at 6:30 p.m., and participants will get a special INSPIRE discount.

Guys and Dolls
Opening night Friday, June 12
Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 South Allison Parkway
The Lakewood Cultural Center’s production of Guys and Dolls opens on June 12, and run weekends through June 28. Tickets start at $18. 

Rockin' Block Party
Saturday, June 13
Belmar's Block 7 Art District
One of the last events in the Inspire Arts Week is also one of the biggest: The Rockin' Block Party, which runs from 5 to 11 p.m. on June 13, will feature live music by The Nacho Men as well as a screening of Raiders of the Lost Ark. 

Find a complete list of all INSPIRE events here.