Join Us for the Benson Creative District Community Forum!

We’ve been a little quiet lately, but that’s because we’ve been working behind the scenes to get some big things in place. Now, we’re ready to reconnect and hear from YOU!

When: Wednesday, January 8th
5:00-6:00-Happy Hour + Updates
6:00-8:00- Strategic Planning
Where: The Benson Theatre

Here’s what to expect:

Strategic Planning for 2024 and Beyond: We’re bringing the BID, BNA, and Benson businesses together to align on shared goals like neighborhood beautification, safety, and community events. We’ll also get your input to make sure our plans reflect what the community really needs.

Sneak Peek of the New Website: You’ll be the first to explore the site before it goes live! We’ll show you how to submit events, add artist profiles, and get the most out of this resource.

Your Input Matters: Don’t worry about the logistics of how things will get done—just bring your ideas and thoughts! We’ll handle the details; we just need to hear from you.

Please help us spread the word! The biggest challenge has been not getting enough input to make sure we’re making decisions that work for everyone. Your voice is key, and the more people we have at this forum, the better we can move forward together.

Cowboys, Wizards, and Vampires…Oh My!! is a group exhibition themed around archetypes curated by the Arts Management Mentees at The Joslyn’s Kent Bellows Mentoring Program. The theme was chosen by the mentees because of the vast way the term archetype can be interpreted. “We also really wanted to have a show with fun vampire fan art in order to fully appreciate the rich history of vampire folklore” - Ava, KBMP Mentee.

✨ We Are All Just Stories In The End ✨
A gallery showcase by UNO Foundations 3D

📅 Opening Reception: Friday, December 6th, 2024
⏰ Time: 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
📍 Location: The BFF Gallery, 5901 Maple St, Omaha, NE 68104

Join the BFF Green Team every other Sunday at 11a.m. andWednesday at 6:30p.m. behind Petshop (2725N 62nd St.)to pick up litter in Benson. All are welcome - Join for one or all!

Feel your faux fur fantasy at BFF's fiercest fete yet! The BFF FUR Ball and Art Auction! Located at BFF Gallery and the Mercer Masonic Lodge (5901-5903 Maple Street) and you’re invited!

Join the BFF Green Team every other Sunday at 11a.m. andWednesday at 6:30p.m. behind Petshop (2725N 62nd St.)to pick up litter in Benson. All are welcome - Join for one or all!

Equal Before Life and Death, a Día de Muertos celebration that blends global traditions and reflections on life, death, and equality. Experience an evening of live music, visual art, and performances inspired by mythological figures like La Catrina, the Grim Reaper, and more.

The Mystery MaMO invites viewers into an immersive installation that blurs the lines between reality and the spectral, transforming the concept of a haunted house into a captivating exploration of memory and fear. Through a provocative interplay of life and death, the space evokes a sense of discombobulation and unease, inviting participants to navigate through rooms laden with spooky artifacts that echo the ghosts of the season. This evocative journey engages the senses and prompts a deeper reflection on the narratives that haunt our collective consciousness.

BFF Auction Preview Night!

First Friday November 1st

6:00 - 9:00PM

BFF Gallery (5901 Maple St)

Check out the artwork featured in the 2024 BFF Fur Ball and Art Auction before anyone else this November First Friday! Browse the work of over 75 artists, and if you love it, buy it now!

Need a little more time to think about it? Come back November 8th and place your bids during the 2024 Fur Ball and Art Auction!

Tickets for the Ball and Art Auction are available now at bffomaha.org/ball

psssst... tickets are FREE for Friends of BFF! Become a Friend today at bffomaha.org/friend

Join the BFF Green Team every other Sunday at 11a.m. andWednesday at 6:30p.m. behind Petshop (2725N 62nd St.)to pick up litter in Benson. All are welcome - Join for one or all!

Out in the Park:
Celebrating Queer History and Community! 
Join us on Sunday October 13th at Elmwood Park for a day dedicated to preserving and celebrating queer history! Help us contribute to the Queer History Mapping Project, share your stories, and explore our community’s heritage. Enjoy drag performances, live entertainment, and connect with local partners while you picnic in the park! This is an all-ages event, so bring your friends, family, and pride! 

Join the BFF Green Team every other Sunday at 11a.m. andWednesday at 6:30p.m. behind Petshop (2725N 62nd St.)to pick up litter in Benson. All are welcome - Join for one or all!

co-motion commotion
Madeleine LeMieux
First Friday October 4th
7:00 - 10:00PM
Petshop Gallery

co-motion commotion is a state of excited movement, of mental stimulation and confusion, and of resistance. Three bodies of work come together through materially rich and visually dense works which aim to explore alternative understandings of the home, the family, and sexuality.

LeMieux is a mixed media artist focusing on painting, drawing, fibers, photography, and assemblage. Her work explores themes of feminist identity using the body as primary subject matter. She is interested in the overlapping space between embodied experience and the public expression and consumption of the body through technology.

Join the BFF Green Team every other Sunday at 11a.m. andWednesday at 6:30p.m. behind Petshop (2725N 62nd St.)to pick up litter in Benson. All are welcome - Join for one or all!

Join the BFF Green Team every other Sunday at 11a.m. andWednesday at 6:30p.m. behind Petshop (2725N 62nd St.)to pick up litter in Benson. All are welcome - Join for one or all!

Artist Amelia Broussard has spent the past month at the Genealogy and Local History Room illustrating your family stories through art! In a series of collage workshops, Amelia invited the community to create art incorporating elements of their family history.

"Feral Friends," curated by Kim Darling and Alex Jochim at Omaha's fabulous Petshop Gallery, showcases works by over 40 national and international artists and explores the untamed bonds connecting us to the wild world, focusing on the feral nature of dogs.

Step into a world where art transcends the visual and evokes the senses in unexpected ways. Synthetic Synesthesia brings together the work of 11 local artists inspired by the nostalgic magic of scratch 'n' sniff stickers.

Join the BFF Green Team every other Sunday at 11a.m. andWednesday at 6:30p.m. behind Petshop (2725N 62nd St.)to pick up litter in Benson. All are welcome - Join for one or all!

Join the BFF Green Team every other Sunday at 11a.m. andWednesday at 6:30p.m. behind Petshop (2725N 62nd St.)to pick up litter in Benson. All are welcome - Join for one or all!

Have We Met Before? // Mimi Yu

Opening Reception

First Friday August 2nd

7:00 - 10:00PM

PETSHOP Gallery

2725 N. 62nd St.

Will we meet again? Mimi Yu invites viewers into an exploration of sentimentality and melancholy through her latest series of cross-disciplinary art. Inspired by the subtle interplay between the desperation of recollecting memories and acceptance, this body of work captures moments of intimacy, offering an introspection into how people try to remember friends and loved ones.

This year, the New American Arts Festival proudly presents the Madonnari Street Mural & Workshop in the heart of Benson. This workshop offers a unique opportunity to participate in a vibrant tradition that blends contemporary artistry with rich historical roots.

The 11th Annual New American Arts Festival returns to the Benson Creative District

August 2nd, 2024!