Taos in Top 25 Art Destinations

Posted by Peter St. Cyr • April 21, 2009 • Printer-friendly

: Image by jimkimmons via Flickr

The Nation's Top 25 Arts Destinations Revealed in AmericanStyle Magazine

Baltimore, Md. (April 17, 2009) - Exciting, reliable, budget-friendly locales captured readers' hearts and votes as cities nationwide vied for top ranking in AmericanStyle magazine's 12th annual arts destinations poll.

Chattanooga, Tenn., made a remarkable debut on the winners' list this year, muscling its way to a respectable second-place finish among mid-size cities. Its arrival as an arts destination is a reminder that in tough economic times, art lovers take a closer look at the accessibility, diversity and richness of cultural experiences close to home.

"Remember the vital roles played by artists during the last recession," said Wendy Rosen, publisher of AmericanStyle. "They moved in to dying Main Streets, shuttered factories and warehouse districts, and converted them into galleries and art scenes. Their murals, outdoor sculpture and other public art enchanted tourists and helped spark new investment. Artists led the way then, and they are leading the way now."

"Tough economic times also make consumers conscious of where their products come from," Ms. Rosen added. "Art lovers know they can make a positive impact by buying from local galleries and local artists, so their dollars recycle in the community and support homegrown talent. We all know that art and handcraft galleries are among the few remaining places where you can find authentic, made-in-America gifts and art products."

With its abundant art galleries and warm personality, Santa Fe, N.M., received the poll's No. 1 spot in the small cities category for the fourth consecutive year. Popular festivals and arts events earned Buffalo, N.Y., the highest rank among mid-size cities for the second year running. New York, N.Y., with its world-class museums and lively street festivals, topped the list of big cities for the sixth time in a row.

With so large a selection of arts cities to choose from, readers will be itching to hit the road. Luxury travelers will not be able to resist destinations boasting premier museums, galleries and festivals, while "staycationers" will be pleased to find great art cities within driving distance.

AmericanStyle Top Arts Destinations in 2009

Big Cities (Populations of 500,000 or greater)	Mid-Size Cities (Populations of 100,000 to 499,999)	Small Cities (Populations of less than 100,000)
New York, N.Y.	Buffalo, N.Y.	Santa Fe, N.M.
Chicago, Ill.	Chattanooga, Tenn.	Asheville, N.C.
Washington, D.C.	Pittsburgh, Pa.	Sedona, Ariz.
San Francisco, Calif.	Scottsdale, Ariz.	Taos, N.M.
Albuquerque, N.M.	New Orleans, La.	Saugatuck, Mich.
Boston, Mass.	Charleston, S.C.	Key West, Fla.
Seattle, Wash.	Savannah, Ga.	Berkeley Springs, W.V.
Atlanta, Ga.	Cleveland, Ohio	Boulder, Colo.
Philadelphia, Pa.	Ann Arbor, Mich.	Carmel, Calif.
Los Angeles, Calif.	Minneapolis, Minn.	Corning, N.Y.
Portland, Ore.	Alexandria, Va.	Sarasota, Fla.
Baltimore, Md.	Miami, Fla.	Beaufort, S.C.
Denver, Colo.	Tacoma, Wash.	Chapel Hill, N.C.
Phoenix, Ariz.	St. Louis, Mo.	Burlington, Vt.
Austin, Texas	Athens, Ga.	Annapolis, Md.
Charlotte, N.C.	Kansas City, Mo.	Aspen, Colo.
Columbus, Ohio	Colorado Springs, Colo.	Laguna Beach, Calif.
Nashville, Tenn.	Providence, R.I.	Northampton, Mass.
San Diego, Calif.	Salt Lake City, Utah	Eureka Springs, Ark.
Tucson, Ariz.	Honolulu, Hawaii	Brattleboro, Vt.
San Antonio, Texas	Rochester, N.Y.	New Hope, Pa.
Las Vegas, Nev.	St. Petersburg, Fla.	Naples, Fla.
Milwaukee, Wis.	Cincinnati, Ohio	Cumberland, Md.
Dallas, Texas	Raleigh, N.C.	Berea, Ky.
Houston, Texas	Tampa, Fla.	Portsmouth, N.H.

Tips for affordable travel and details about exciting arts destinations in the United States are featured on www.AmericanStyle.com and in the June issue of AmericanStyle, now on newsstands and at major booksellers across the country.

To receive a preview of each new edition of AmericanStyle magazine and special bonus content, sign up for the free e-newsletter at www.AmericanStyle.com.

AmericanStyle magazine is a national lifestyle magazine for art enthusiasts, collectors and travelers. Launched in 1994 by The Rosen Group, the bi-monthly publication features articles on contemporary artists, galleries, arts travel and art events. The annual Top 25 Arts Destinations readers’ poll has earned the magazine national recognition as a premier arts travel resource.