Las Vegas has a complicated history with art. For awhile there several major galleries and museums but most of those have shut down. This means if you want to seek out great works of art in the city you have to depend on local artists. The good news is that the Emergency Arts Collective is one of the best examples of how local talent can often eclipse that of the masters.
Located in a converted medical center in Downtown Las Vegas, just a block away from the Fremont Street Experience and right across the street from El Cortez, the Emergency Arts Collective is a two story building packed to the rafters with all types of art and handmade merchandise. You'll find paintings, sculpture, jewelry, clothing, and much more all done by locals. As you might expect the quality varies from artist to artist but some of the stuff I saw was good enough to be hung in the Guggenheim as far as I was concerned. It's a great place to go for finding one-of-a-kind artwork and maybe even a really cool Las Vegas souvenir that doesn't involve a bobble head.
The building also features a funky cafe/coffee house with a few tables that seem like the perfect place to discuss world events, Sartre, or the meaning of life. Adjacent to that is a vintage record store stuffed with all sorts of classic vinyl. You remember records, don't you?
Last, but not least, is the temporary home to the Burlesque Hall of Fame. It's basically a couple of small rooms with lots of photos and memorabilia about the peekaboo art form that represents a small fraction of the full collection that is looking for a permanent home. Stop by and pick up a souvenir from here to help them along, why don't you? It would be a great attraction to add to the city in its full form.
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