Arts Events

Park Central Hosts Major Arts Events as it Expands as an Arts Hub

PHOENIX (March 16, 2022) – A soon-to-be-transformed shell office space in Park Central’s Burgbacher Building came to life on Friday as an epicenter of arts and culture in the Valley with Art d’Core Gala Arts Events. 

On Friday, March 11, Artlink presented the 9th annual Art d’Core Gala, a signature celebration of Arizona’s arts and culture, at Park Central in midtown Phoenix. The fresh and exhilarating spin on a traditional fundraising gala was the opening night of the Art d’Core Exhibition produced by the Artlink Artist Council featuring a multimedia art showcase that has been named the “Best Arts Collaboration of the Year.”

Attendees were able to immerse themselves in visual, performing, fashion, culinary and musical works in a never-before-seen 80,000 square-foot venue — soon to be converted into a life sciences hub — reimagined to celebrate the thriving arts and culture community’s contribution of creativity, beauty, ingenuity and vitality.

Park Central has already hosted dozens of visual and performing arts events over the past few years, and is adding several more key arts components in the coming months. And, Park Central continues to host significant arts events in conjunction with Artlink, which curates art programming at Park Central and is headquartered on site. 

Art d’Core is the signature event in the lineup for the 34th annual Art Detour, Phoenix’s original art walk event. Art Detour, which spans an entire month, is an all-inclusive celebration of art, creativity and culture that features events and exhibitions throughout the state. 

And on March 19, Park Central will host On Central as part of Phoenix Fashion and Art Weekend, presented by The Garment League. On Central presents fashion collections from Arizona-Based Designer runway shows, glamorous on-site activities, performances, art displays, forums, pop up shops, chic VIP pre-parties and after-parties, and more. 

Artlink is also working with architecture firm Gould Evans, Inc. and the Park Central team on the transformation of a nearly 20,000 square foot basement space at Park Central into a multidisciplinary arts space for Arizona artists. Input is currently being collected from the public on how the space should be built out. 

Sharon Harper, Chairman and CEO of Plaza Companies, one of the co-developers of Park Central, said the increasing number of arts events and projects on site is part of the overall vision for the project. 

“We want Park Central to become the center of the connection between the public sector, private sector and the arts community,” Harper said. “The Art d’Core Gala was a way for us to reimagine how we can use the spaces here at Park Central in new ways that support the arts community and create unique environments for expression.” 

Plaza Companies and Tucson’s Holualoa Companies have teamed up to redevelop Park Central into a vibrant destination, which once was the city’s first official large-scale shopping mall. The companies have transitioned the expansive space from a retail center to an almost 500,000square-foot bustling community hub ideal for playing, working, congregating and celebrating the arts. They have also paved the way for the Creighton University Health Sciences Campus on site and a new 2,000-space parking garage, as well as the construction of new restaurants set to begin in the coming weeks. 

Park Central is home to three major mural installations, one at the project’s entrance and another on the south side of the Catalina parking structure. It also has a significant sculpture, The Sun Worshipper, on the western portion of the project. The covered Arts Pavilion on the inside of the project hosts numerous performances and events and interior spaces are frequently used for galleries and exhibitions. And the Creighton University Health Sciences Building at Park Central is home to a significant, curated art collection.

Stan Shafer, Chief Operating Officer for Holualoa Companies, said the arts are a critical part of the development because they connect the project to the community. 

“The arts help bring Park Central to life and make it more than just a development — it becomes part of the fabric of the community,” he said. “We are excited to see this vision for the arts at Park Central continue to expand and progress well into the future.”

For office leasing, tenants and brokers can reach out to Andrew Cheney with Lee & Associates (602.954.3769) or Bill Cook with Plaza Companies (623.344.4526).  For Retail leasing contacts are Brent Mallonee with Cushman and Wakefield (602.224.4437) or Margaret Lloyd with Plaza Companies (623.344.4558).

About Park Central

The new Park Central includes 450,000 square feet of Class A low-rise creative office space available for lease with the ability to accommodate tenants ranging from 3,500 square feet to more than 100,000 square feet in size. It features exclusive tenant patios, on-site restaurants and amenities, a stunning mid-century modern design, 15-25 foot ceilings, extensive bike paths and light rail access and ample parking. For more information on the project, visit www.parkcentralphoenix.com.