Art Melt may be moving

The popular Art Melt event, which has grown to a block-sized party downtown, may be moving out of the Shaw Center. Officials with Forum 35, who sponsor the nearly six-year-old event, say they’re negotiating with a number of venues to host Art Melt, including the Shaw Center and the Louisiana State Museum. Russell Carter, president of Forum 35, says the organization is trying to find a site that provides the best exposure for artists and the greatest entertainment for guests. For the past few years, Art Melt has been held in the Brunner Gallery at the Shaw Center, but the gallery’s lease on the space is up. The gallery is currently moving its operations to the Hilton Capitol Center. Forum 35 should announce the site for the 2010 Art Melt in the next month, Carter says. Art Melt may not have a definite site for 2010 yet, but it does have a date: The event will be held July 16.—Timothy Boone