First Fridays are Cultivating the Arts in Downtown Roc
Rochester, New York’s art scene is highly underrated. Especially considering that in 2024, the city was ranked 15th in the Top 40 Most Arts-Vibrant Communities in the United States. That’s impressive for a city of roughly 212,000 people, and a metro of about 1.2 million. There are some very good reasons Rochester is an arts-vibrant community; one being the affordable cost of living, which allows artists the time and space to maintain housing without sacrificing their creativity, there are strong art degree programs across local universities and institutions, and the fact that local businesses and festivals offer artists numerous opportunities to showcase their work.
A crowd talks with a local artist at the Clocktower Gallery inside the Mercantile on Man at Sibley Square in Downtown Rochester, New York.
When you first arrive in Rochester, you will notice that arts and crafts are displayed inside local small businesses, especially at coffee shops. Stay a while, and you will see photographers organizing group photo walks, capturing snapshots of the heart and soul of the city. On a nice day, you’ll find muralists painting walls across town; murals that empower neighborhoods, pay homage to historic figures, and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Rochester, NY. On weekends, you might see community members and urban planning advocates conducting artistic street makeovers to improve pedestrian safety, or you might join enthusiasts at a monthly gallery night event known as First Friday.
Silver & Salt Studios co-founder Nicholas Kundrat captures an image that will be used to create a tintype photo at Frank’s Chop Shop in Downtown Rochester, NY.
First Friday is a special time of the month for artists and art enthusiasts. On the first Friday of each month (as implied), all around the city of Rochester, especially downtown, you will find artists displaying works at numerous art galleries or studios in the region. Organized by RoCo, the Rochester Contemporary Arts Center, and local galleries, this free event has seen significant growth over the past couple of years, as more spaces are added to the monthly rotation . During last month’s event, 35 galleries opened their spaces to showcase works of local, national, and international artists. First Friday is becoming a driving force, getting people out into the city to appreciate the talent that pulses through Roc.
If you go to Downtown Rochester during First Friday, you can walk around and see several galleries and art spaces hosting opening nights. In a sense, it’s like capturing a glimpse of the city’s art scene. Destinations can be unique, for instance, Behind the Glass Gallery can only be found by going up to the third floor at Farmhouse Table Midtown, a three-story cafe and bar in Center City. Clocktower Gallery is located inside the historic Sibley building, so if you want to see some works of art, you will have to enter through the Mercantile on Main, a food hall. One of my favorite galleries is the RIT City Art Space, an art venue located in the iconic Neighborhood of Play. This unique venue showcases the work of students completing art degrees at RIT, as well as national and international artists.
Art enthusiasts gather at Behind the Glass gallery for a First Friday opening show. The gallery is located on the third floor of local cafe, Farmhouse Table Midtown in Downtown, Roc.
Rochester’s art scene is rich and abundant, and with every passing First Friday event, more and more artists are gravitating towards the city. As more art spaces open around town, it’s becoming clear that the arts are being cultivated in downtown Rochester, New York.
