The Arts Commission is Pleased to Announce the Return of Artomatic 419: A 3-Day Local Arts Exhibition

Eye On Art  |  05/21/2025 2:00 pm

The Arts Commission is thrilled to announce that, based on popular demand and years of requests by local artists, Artomatic 419 will return to Toledo for the first time since 2015! 

Artomatic 419 is a free program which celebrates the diversity of arts in Toledo in an accessible, inclusive format, builds community among artists, and increases awareness of, and appreciation for, the quality and breadth of Toledo arts.

This multi-day event, scheduled for September 19-21 at the Erie Street Market, will provide indoor exhibition space to more than 100 visual artists, and also offers main stage and small stage performance areas for literary, film, and other artists.

The Artomatic 419 model brings together artists to co-create and execute this unique festival experience that numerous Toledo artists credit with getting their artistic careers off the ground. 

“When I first participated and attended Artomatic 419, I found an inviting environment to share my work and connect with other artists in the area. Many of whom I have continued to have friendships with. I know I’m not alone looking back on those times with fond memories and gratitude that we had a chance to be part of Artomatic 419. They’re exciting events that bring together multiple layers of artistry within our community. The event and the atmosphere it creates are inspirational and lively, filled with the passion that each artist shares with their community. I am thrilled to be part of this event again and believe it will be another Artomatic 419 that we’ll be talking about for years to come.” - Amy Beeler, Artomatic 419 Event Committee & 2024 Merit Award Recipient

Calls for artists will open in late Spring. Artists of any medium are encouraged to apply. This includes but is not limited to dance, music, theater, film, literature, design, and visual arts.

History of Artomatic 419
The first Artomatic 419 was held at 1717 Adams Street in Uptown Toledo in September of 2006.  Over 100 local visual artists and 40 local performing arts groups filled 12,000 sq. ft of underutilized space with their art and creativity. Within several months after this event, the building at 1717 Adams was rented out after seven years of vacancy. 

Artomatic 419 2009 saw more than 200 artists and performers occupy 25,000 sq. feet of newly vacant space in Toledo’s Arts Zone/Warehouse District located at 201 Morris Street next to the Oliver House restaurant complex.  More than 6,000 people attended the event over its three Saturdays.

The Arts Commission hosted Artomatic 419 five days in April 2015 on three vacant floors of One Lake Erie Center in downtown Toledo.  400 visual artists were represented in group endeavors and another 175 in individual endeavors. 265 individual literary and performing artists participated, presenting spoken word poetry and literary readings, all styles and genres of live music and DJ, theatre, dance, fashion, and performance art. 

After 6 exhibitions showcasing Toledo’s vibrant arts community, Artomatic 419 was postponed following the ever-changing needs of the local creative community and the shrinking availability of large scale space. The 2017 press release quotes, “The changing nature of Toledo and its creative community, as well as the unprecedented redevelopment of the city's downtown, are just a few factors whereby The Arts Commission invites creatives of the 419 to participate in dialogues that will shape Artomatic 419 and possible future programming.” This change led to the Momentum Festival, an annual celebration of Toledo’s arts and culture from 2017 - 2024. 

In 2024, Artomatic 419 returned as part of the Momentum Festival, bringing together over 60 local artists for a three-day exhibition at the Gardner Building. 

“The first Artomatic 419 was based on the merger of the “Gorilla Gallery” and Artomatic festival in Washington, D.C. It came about in response to a survey of the local creative community where they said they would like access to underutilized spaces in Toledo, more opportunities to exhibit their work, and more networking opportunities. The first festival, in September 2006, was held at 1717 Adams, which is now the home of Handmade Toledo. Successive events were held at Fort Industry Square, in 2007; on Morris Street, next to the Oliver House, in 2009; on N. St. Clair Street in 2011; on Summit Street (in what is now Ostrich Towne) in 2013; and at One Lake Erie Center in 2015. 

The strength of Artomatic 419 is its diversity and the countless connections it builds between people, organizations, and audiences. Disparate creative folks work together to create an event, a show, with a cohesion that allows one to see a rendering of the local creative community. It allows artists and performers to get some reps in their chosen field of creativity and offers a showcase for their talents that is accessible to anyone who wants to attend. It's a snapshot of the creative community at a moment in time. A convening of creative people who might not ordinarily meet, in a venue that would otherwise sit empty and unexplored. The sensibility of the community enlivens the space. Every person is invited, regardless of their level of expertise or years of experience, to contribute to making this event successful.” - Kelly McGilvery, Artomatic 419 Event Committee

About The Arts Commission

The Arts Commission is the longest standing arts commission in the state of Ohio, founded in 1959, administering the City of Toledo’s One Percent for Art Program since 1977. The Arts Commission is supported in part by the Ohio Arts Council and by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.