Downtown Wichita > Discover > Placemaking > Gallery Alley > Overview
Gallery Alley is a playground for the senses - full of color, sound and touch. The alley is a destination for intersensory art experiences featuring artwork created in partnership with local artists and organizations. Each work was created with a conscious effort to serve all visitors, including specific consideration for individuals with low to no vision.
This award-winning placemaking project contributes to the identity, character and culture of downtown by serving as an activator and catalyst for continued growth.
We invite you to explore the sculptures, take in the scenery around you and discover the array of distinct offerings in downtown Wichita.
Learn more about the inspiration behind Gallery Alley’s unique artwork created by local artists and organizations.
From underutilized to unique. Gallery Alley, located at 616 E. Douglas Ave. in Wichita, is a once overlooked space transformed into a lively public hangout. Bursting with vibrant colors, the distinctive alley beckons visitors to immerse themselves in locally curated artwork and discover the array of unique offerings in downtown Wichita.
In 2017, Downtown Wichita received a grant from the Knight Foundation Fund at the Wichita Foundation to create Gallery Alley. In 2019, following the success of the temporary installment, the City of Wichita permanently closed the alley to vehicular traffic to improve pedestrian safety and encourage walkability.
With the alley now established as a permanent public space, Downtown Wichita partnered with Envision and received an additional grant from the Knight Foundation Fund at the Wichita Foundation to further enhance the space by creating a destination for inter-sensory art experiences. A Call for Entry was released and five local artists were selected to create work for the alley, debuting their installments on July 2, 2021.
Gallery Alley additionally served as the catalyst for renovations to the adjacent historic buildings including the creation of Shops at Gallery Alley and renovations to the Old Town Apartments building. Both renovation projects added new entryways, windows and exterior signage that welcomes visitors to explore Gallery Alley.
In 2022, the International Downtown Association recognized Downtown Wichita with the Downtown Achievement Award of Excellence for its resourceful approaches related to the enhanced Gallery Alley project.
Gallery Alley was made possible because of our partnership with Envision and grants from the Knight Foundation Fund at the Wichita Foundation.
