About Arts District in Scottsdale, Arizona

The Scottsdale Arts District, located along Main Street and Marshall Way in Downtown Scottsdale, houses some of the country’s greatest art galleries in an engaging and walkable environment. The exhibition of artists from all over the world who create in a variety of mediums, styles, and subjects is a stimulating experience for serious art lovers. Don’t forget about ArtWalk, too! Did you know that the Scottsdale Arts District ArtWalk is the country’s oldest continuous art walk? Every Thursday night from 7-9 p.m. Galleries Like The Marshall Gallery in Scottsdale open their doors to the public in what has become the city’s favorite fine art event!
 

It’s a terrific place to go for some culture, specializing in modern and contemporary art. The district is situated between Indian School Road and Fifth Avenue in downtown Scottsdale. It’s home to a slew of art galleries, as well as a variety of stores, pubs, and restaurants, making it the ideal area for people-watching and art appreciation.

Things to Do in the Arts District

The Arts District is home to a myriad of entertaining attractions for residents and visitors alike. Here’s a rundown of some of our favorites:

1.  Butterfly Wonderland  |  9500 East Vía de Ventura F100, Scottsdale, AZ 85256

Butterfly Wonderland is located at Arizona Boardwalk, a one-of-a-kind entertainment destination in Scottsdale that includes eight major attractions – OdySea Aquarium, Butterfly Wonderland, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, Laser + Mirror Maze, Pangaea Land of the Dinosaurs, Surprise Your Eyes, VR Extreme, and Polar Play Ice Bar – as well as a variety of dining, shopping, and amusement venues.
 

It is America’s largest butterfly conservatory. It has a wonderful indoor conservatory that transports visitors to a tropical rainforest environment in the Arizona desert, complete with thousands of butterflies.

2.  Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art  |  7374 E 2nd St, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

SMoCA was founded in 1988 and first opened its doors in February 1999. The now-evocative, minimalist structure is a total refit of a former movie theater by Phoenix-based architect Will Bruder.
 

Scottsdale Arts, a non-profit organization, manages the museum on behalf of the city. Lydia Okumura, James Marshall, Paolo Soleri, Squidsoup, Mel Roman, and Olafur Eliasson have all had major shows at SMoCA.

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) is a museum in downtown Scottsdale, Arizona. It is located in the Old Town region. The museum focuses on displaying contemporary art, design, and architecture. The Museum’s four galleries house a variety of exhibitions curated from their increasing permanent collection as well as changing displays. The Knight Rise skyspace, designed by Arizona artist James Turrell, is open to the public all year.

3.  McDowell Sonoran Preserve  |  18333 N Thompson Peak Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ 85260

The McDowell Sonoran Preserve is the entrance to the Sonoran Desert and is home to one of the world’s most diversified ecosystems. The McDowell Sonoran Preserve, which stretches over 30,000 acres and runs along the city’s eastern side, features more than 100 miles of trails and six trailheads to explore and enjoy.
 

Hiking, mountain biking, wildlife and bird watching, as well as guided rock climbing and off-roading experiences, are all available to visitors to the Preserve. The Bajada Nature Trail offers a variety of games and activities for children of all ages along the route, and each of the six trailheads gives wide views of Pinnacle Peak and the Valley.

4.  Scottsdale Xeriscape Garden  |  8111 E McDonald Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85250

Growing regionally appropriate plants in the Scottsdale Xeriscape Garden in Chaparral Park raises public awareness about outdoor water consumption, encourages the construction of sustainable landscaping, and enlists community engagement in the future conservation of water resources.
 

The National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat garden hides a 5.5 million gallon reservoir from the nearby Chaparral Water Treatment Plant and features over 7,000 plants and 200 species. Park visitors can learn about low-water-use plants and trees, water collection, and other ideas for caring for the desert landscape through signage and an interactive plant guide.

5.  McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park  |  7301 E Indian Bend Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85250

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park is a one-of-a-kind railroad park committed to preserving railroad history. The park is home to a one-of-a-kind Model Train Building that covers 10,000 square feet and features a 15 in (381 mm) gauge railroad, four model railroad clubs, and a Magma Arizona Railroad engine. It is located on the corner of Scottsdale and Indian Bend Roads.
 

The Roald Amundsen Pullman Car, the Merci Train, and the Model Railroad are among the many objects and relics relating to the railroad business on display at an interactive railroad museum. The park has many playground and picnic spaces where guests of all ages can relax with their families, as well as a wonderful vintage carousel.

Living in the Arts District

Scottsdale residents are fortunate to live in a region rich in art and near to both city life and nature. Within a five-minute drive of Scottsdale Arts District, there is never a shortage of coffee shops, parks, or retail complexes to visit. Residents can also find spiritual fulfillment at the following places of worship:

1.  Scottsdale Bible Church  |  7601 E Shea Blvd, Scottsdale,  AZ 85260

Scottsdale Bible is a place where you can encounter God, engage with people, and learn and grow. They are attempting to develop a community of Christ-followers marked by unshakeable faith and unconditional love through several worship services, strong children’s and student ministries, and a wide array of resources.
 

SBC has grown from a small group of 13 people in 1962 to a congregation of more than 7,500 people who gather weekly for seven worship services on their Shea campus in Scottsdale, four services (including a Spanish service) at their Cactus campus in Phoenix, and three services at their newest North Ridge campus. They continue to go forward, following God’s lead, to spread the gospel throughout the Valley.

2.  Desert Valley Church  |  7575 E Redfield Rd #101, Scottsdale, AZ 85260

They believe that humans, all humans, are God’s heartbeat. As a result, the Church should be made up of people from all walks of life, who love and reach out to people from all walks of life.
 

They believe in community, collaboration, and connection, all of which lead to cultural transformation. 
 

This means they will come together as a church and be united in a cause, resulting in a community that attracts others to join. This interconnected community will work together to develop their God-given talents. When they grow up together, the culture around them will shift; in their homes, neighborhoods, workplaces, towns, and cities.

3.  Rock Church Assembly of God Scottsdale  | 2012 N Scottsdale Rd #A, Scottsdale, AZ 85257

People will be welcomed and valued at Rock Church since it is a people-oriented congregation. Through Connecting Point, they invite individuals to come to know them, their staff pastors, and key leaders. They also want to use PLACE to help individuals find their God-given talents and abilities so that they can return them to the Lord in the unique way that He created them.
 

They provide discipleship from their state-of-the-art nursery all the way through their children’s church, student ministries, and adult venues as a family-focused church. People will also notice that they are a prayer-centered church, with prayer playing an important role in all they do.

4.  Highlands Church  |  9050 E Pinnacle Peak Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85255

They have three goals: to love God, love people, and make disciples.They assist families grow together in religion and actively serve their community to inspire everyone’s next step toward Jesus Christ. They have a variety of opportunities and resources to help them grow in their faith and disciple others.
 

People can acquire practical biblical truth and grow deeper in their faith while engaging with other Christ-followers by visiting church services on a regular basis. People will also learn how to pray and sing in worship of the Lord, as well as how to read God’s Word, the Bible.

5.  Cornerstone Old Town Scottsdale  |   7320 E Palm Ln, Scottsdale, AZ 85257

When it comes to connecting with a church for the first time, many people have reservations. If you’re like most people, the prospect of having to start from scratch can leave you feeling overwhelmed and unsure of where to begin. They believe that when it comes to connecting at church, no one should feel lost. They want you to learn more about God, faith, and life at Cornerstone.
 

Their convictions have molded their culture, and their beliefs, values, DNA, and structure characterize who they are as a church. They express who God has called us to be and point us in the right direction. They are dedicated to assisting the world community and showing others God’s love. They are committed to supporting and engaging in connections that give relief and healing to a hurting world, whether in person or online, individually or in groups, inside their church and around the world.

Parks, Schools & Other Points of Interest in the Arts District

The Arts District is also home to several fantastic parks, schools, and public libraries for the enjoyment of its residents. Residents from the neighboring villages frequent these facilities because they are all world-class, well-kept, and clean. Here’s a quick rundown of these places near the Arts District:

1.  The Scottsdale School  |  14684 N Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85260

The Scottsdale School is Scottsdale’s oldest private Christian preschool. It all started in 1948 in a house two blocks west of Scottsdale Road on Main Street. The school continues to give the greatest level of education thanks to God’s many blessings.
 

For their kids to learn and flourish, the Scottsdale School provides a compassionate and compassionate environment. Their objectives are to instill a love of study, establish a welcoming environment, foster social skills, provide a stimulating school atmosphere, and expose pupils to Christian traditions and values.

2.  Chaparral Park  |   85255 5401 N Hayden Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85250

Chaparral Park and Community Center, one of Scottsdale’s largest and most popular community parks, offers a variety of activities including walking, running, biking, and rollerblading. A variety of recreational possibilities and amenities are available in the 100-acre park. The park’s centerpiece is a 10-acre lake offering boating and fishing opportunities, as well as a wheelchair-accessible fishing pier. 
 

There’s an off-leash area where you can let your dog run free, as well as a playground and a swimming pool with a diving section. With six illuminated ballfields, three lighted soccer fields, a full basketball court, two grass volleyball courts, and a multipurpose field, this is a favorite destination for local organized sports teams.

3.  BASIS Scottsdale  |   10400 N 128th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85259

Since its founding in 2003, BASIS Scottsdale has emphasized student scholarship and leadership while adhering to the highest international academic standards.
 

They meet these academic requirements thanks to their whole faculty and staff’s unwavering commitment to working together to provide a favorable academic environment for their hard working pupils. A setting in which students get the abilities they need to succeed throughout their academic careers.

4.  Eldorado Park  |   2311 N Miller Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85257

El Dorado Park is one of Scottsdale’s largest municipal parks, with 60 acres of green space and two lakes. With four reservable ramadas, seven drop-in ramadas, three reservable picnic spaces, and two drop-in picnic sites, this is a popular weekend getaway. Two playgrounds, three illuminated softball fields, a soccer field, a full basketball court, and a lighted sand volleyball court are available for children. 
 

During the summer, the swimming pool is a popular location, and the 5K track is a great spot to practice or simply enjoy a run. El Dorado Park also has a community center with a reservable meeting space, as well as the popular Wedge Skate Park.

5.  Desert Mountain High School  |   12575 E Vía Linda, Scottsdale, AZ 85259

Desert Mountain High School (DMHS) is a public high school that started in the autumn of 1995 in northeast Scottsdale, Arizona. It is the newest of Scottsdale Unified School District’s five high schools. There are four computer laboratories, a media studio, a theater, a college/career center, yearbook/newspaper production labs, a child development department, a business-regulated curriculum, off-campus medical education facilities, and substantial sporting facilities at the school. Desert Mountain uses a two-semester schedule arrangement.

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Are You Looking For Exceptional Art Presented In An Open And Relaxed Gallery Space?

Boasting a collection of paintings, sculptures, and exquisite glass pieces, the gallery hosts several exhibitions each year plus a biennial glass invitational that attracts top-notch talent. Founded in 1998 by the erudite and cultivated attorney DeeAn Gillespie, the Marshall Gallery rapidly became a respected destination on Scottsdale’s Marshall Way, an area renowned for superior contemporary art. The Marshall Gallery achieved prominence for its leading contemporary oil painters and sculptors, mostly from Utah – a little known haven of fine artists. “Beautiful experiences leave lasting impressions and the intensity of art can haunt and wake one in the middle of the night. True beauty has power – human beings relate instantly to it whether graphic, formed, music or language arts – and requires no interpreter really.”  If you want to learn more or purchase directly on the web, check out our online store!