‘225 Weekender’: Art Melt and preview party

Forum 35’s festival-esque juried exhibit, Art Melt, is returning to downtown Baton Rouge for its ninth year this weekend, taking over the Shaw Center and surrounding blocks. Slated for Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m., the event is billed as the largest juried multimedia art exhibit in the state. Residents flock to see a wide range of local artwork, shop an arts-and-crafts marketplace on Third Street, and listen to live music on a hot summer night at North Boulevard’s Town Square. Also listed on the schedule is an artists’ panel discussion of the creative scene in Louisiana, as well as free art classes for children during the day of the event. Want to skip the crowds that often flood the Melt? Check out the preview party on Friday evening, where you can mix and mingle with sponsors and artists from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Shaw Center. Tickets are $75, or $50 for Forum 35 members, and are available here. If you can’t make it downtown Friday or Saturday, Art Melt works on display will remain accessible to public viewing at the Shaw Center for the next four weeks. Complete Art Melt details are available here. Check out the new 225 Weekender e-newsletter here for more local happenings this weekend and beyond.