Phenomenon Artnight - what happens at an art party?

Many children's birthday parties have been demonstrating this concept for generations. You surely remember one or two celebrations where the festivities and food were combined with a creative program of activities.

A colorful adventure at an art party

Imagine this scene: A group of people, who at first glance don't seem to share a common hobby, sit around a large table, paintbrushes in hand, focused yet relaxed. The music in the background creates a laid-back atmosphere, while someone with a beaming smile gives the instruction: "And now just a little dab of red here!"

This is by no means a typical art lesson, but an ArtNight – or more precisely, an ArtParty .

The activities chosen were thoughtful and clever, requiring no special skills or prior knowledge. The success and spread of the Art Party and Artnight phenomena are based on this idea.

Anyone can paint , regardless of talent. At the very least, it's always enough to create your own picture. Almost everyone enjoys playing with colors and motifs, and certainly anyone who creative events . This shared interest connects the participants and provides an opportunity for casual conversation and getting to know each other.

Design and organizers

The common thread running through every Artnight and Art Party concept is a meeting place for a group of people interested in painting . Group sizes typically range from eight to 25 people. There is also the now nationwide Artnight , which is led by a local artist and currently (May 2025) takes place in over 60 German cities.

Venues include bars and restaurants . Supervision and materials for the two- to four-hour meetings are included in the price; food and drinks must be paid for separately. In addition to the mandatory included materials, regional and local artists also offer creative events and private art events in other formats.

The options range from complimentary snacks and drinks to self-catering, where you can bring your own food and drinks. This also includes venues that do not offer catering services.

Shared interest as a starting point and connecting link

When people go out and meet up in their free time, communication, food, and drink are often the main focus. Interest-based gatherings usually have a more educational character, like dance classes or adult education courses. Creative events such as art nights and parties combine socializing with a subtle form of learning .

In many cases, learning is not perceived as such, but merely as a guide for action in that moment. The absence of prior knowledge and the freedom from acquiring materials removes the barrier to entry for Art Nights and Art Parties that private art events often pose for potential participants. It's not about artistic expertise or experience. An Art Party and an Art Night follow the approach of a leisure and fun event without stress or competition .

Birds of a feather flock together, in a positive sense.

It's no coincidence that the founders of Artnight first encountered their idea in the USA under the name "Social Painting Party ." These creative events, which combine activity and engagement, are explicitly designed by the organizers to be relaxing and laid-back. You choose your event based on colors, artist, painting technique, subject, or subject group.

This central theme subtly acts as a social filter, connecting you with people who share similar aesthetic sensibilities. Generally, the audience attending creative events is more interested in culture and sophisticated conversation than average. You won't find slogans or toasts at an art party or art night.

ArtNights are therefore more than just painting lessons; they are social events that combine art and encounters. Founded in 2016 by Aimie-Sarah Carstensen and David Neisinger in Berlin, this concept has developed into a Europe-wide phenomenon.

The idea is simple yet ingenious: anyone can be an artist for an evening. People meet in bars or cozy cafes where everything is provided – canvases, paints, brushes, and instructions. What started as a hobby has now become a leisure trend for many people looking for new experiences

What happens at an ArtParty? What do the participants experience?

An ArtParty isn't about creating the next great masterpiece—quite the opposite, in fact. The focus is on having fun, expressing your creativity, and meeting new people. The evening often begins with an introduction to the theme. At this point, the experienced artist demonstrates what the end result might be—a beautiful landscape, a vibrant still life, or an abstract pattern. No prior experience is necessary, and there are no mistakes. Every brushstroke is part of the journey.

The true magic of ArtNight, however, lies in the sense of community. The glass of wine or cup of coffee next to the paints is not chosen at random. Participants are meant to feel comfortable and relaxed; conversations flow freely, and every now and then laughter can be heard from a corner of the room. It often turns out that the most interesting artworks of the evening result from these "creative accidents.".

The friendly Diana from #moinmoinkiel organizes ArtNights and painting courses in Kiel and gives us insights into the process of such a painting party in the video:

Karen on Tour received a joint ArtNight participation as a birthday present from her daughter and shares her experiences with us in her blog post .

Moderate price-performance ratio

Despite public pronouncements to the contrary, the art world remains, in many respects, an expensive pursuit. Galleries and museums charge exorbitant entrance fees, compounded by overpriced food and drinks. Private art events often operate only by personal invitation, which necessitates costly membership in an "elite" society.

Creative events like art parties or art nights open access to a group of people who are also interested but belong to the average income bracket. Making the art world more accessible is a significant factor in the growing popularity of this phenomenon and trend.

The event fees are within acceptable and moderate price ranges, apart from high ancillary costs in some rather unfortunately chosen top-class gastronomic establishments.

A promising approach to leisure activities

Combining social interaction with effortless, more artificial activity creates an attractive atmosphere . Attentive and thoughtful organization gives you leisure time that you'll find pleasant or even enjoyable. As an added bonus, you'll have a self-created image to remember it by.

This phenomenon will likely find a permanent place in leisure activities. Incidentally, it also offers new income opportunities in the field of "unprofitable" art.

Where and when will the next acrylic painting workshops take place?

At a regular ArtNight event, you will learn to paint your own artwork step by step in a small group under the guidance of an artist.

You can choose from many well-known motifs and finally recreate the work of your favorite artist yourself.

You can quickly find out when and where the next events will take place using the filters on the ArtNight homepage .

Booking ArtNight events and experiences is also particularly easy via the event platform Konfetti .

Simply select a location and available date, and either book directly as an individual or inquire about an exclusive, team, or corporate event. Optionally, you can add a wine pairing as an add-on. If a date is fully booked, you can conveniently add yourself to a waiting list.

Online art events

Can't make it to a regular event near you? No problem. At an online event, an artist will guide you step-by-step through your chosen motif via live stream. Click here for online ArtNights .

Become an artist at ArtNight and lead your own workshops

All people with a passion for painting and the corresponding skills and expertise are invited to apply to ArtNight as a freelance artist for acrylic painting workshops .

Artists can expect to earn up to €240 per workshop. They can decide for themselves how many workshops they want to hold per week in their hometown.

Workshop leaders can therefore plan in advance and receive a guaranteed minimum payment for each event. High-quality materials and equipment are provided free of charge. The operators also handle marketing, ticket sales, and customer service.

More information about the benefits, requirements and application process can be found on the ArtNight website.

Joachim Rodriguez y Romero

Owner and Managing Director of Kunstplaza. Journalist, editor, and passionate blogger in the field of art, design, and creativity since 2011. Successful completion of a degree in web design as part of a university study (2008). Further development of creativity techniques through courses in free drawing, expressive painting, and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market through years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with actors/institutions from art and culture.

www. kunstplaza .de/