Valley Arts District Walking Tour

Come explore Orange’s Valley Arts District – a strikingly rich multicultural community nested in the Valley of West Orange and Orange. This is a terrific opportunity for planners to uncover the history and vibrant culture in the Valley Arts District. This area of Orange and West Orange has been experiencing a true renaissance where residents and visitors can now enjoy theatre, arts education, locally grown foods, affordable artist live-work space, public art, and live music all within easy walking distance of each other and public transportation. This revitalization has been spurred by the Housing and Neighborhood Development Services (HANDS), Inc in their efforts to provide long-term affordable commercial arts and residential spaces to attract artists to the developing neighborhood.

The narrated one hour walk will include a tour of former industrial and commercial buildings rehabilitated by HANDS and now occupied by local artists, innovators, entrepreneurs and arts-based non-profit organizations. In addition to learning about the work of HANDS, you’ll discover Orange’s origins as New Jersey’s “Hat City,” see some hidden gems and get a peek at the growing artist community. Highlights along the tour will include examples of a community earth oven, a hydroponic greenhouse, a youth arts studio, No Name Hat Factory formerly owned by the Stetson brothers, and much more. Participants will also hear about future efforts for the neighborhood as part of the Creative Orange initiative – part of Creative New Jersey’s statewide effort championing creativity as a tool for discovering innovative approaches for a sustainable community and a dynamic economy.

The tour will begin and end at Hat City Kitchen, 459 Valley Street in Orange and will be narrated by HANDS senior staff and Executive Director, Patrick Morrissy.

RSVP to Tiffany Robinson by email at ecdc.nj@gmail.com by June 13.