Organized & Guided by Melissa Richardson Banks | 2010–Present
Since 2010, Melissa Richardson Banks—photographer, arts consultant, and founder of CauseConnect—has led custom art and culture walking tours of the Arts District in Downtown Los Angeles, the neighborhood she called home for 25 years. Her tours offer a rare insider’s look into the evolving landscape of one of L.A.’s most dynamic creative communities—once a hub for vineyards and working-class families, later home to pioneering artists, and now a destination for galleries, restaurants, and luxury living.
Melissa’s walking tours explore:
- Street art and murals
- Visits inside working artist studios
- Gallery exhibitions and pop-ups
- Local history and urban development insights
SIGHTS & BITES ART TOUR – LA Art Show Special Event (2017)
As a highlight of the 2017 L.A. Art Show, Melissa partnered with Dot Red (Jeremy Quant) to curate a ticketed Sights & Bites Art Tour on Friday, January 13, 2017. Guests experienced a unique blend of visual art and artisanal food and drink, including:
- Artist studio visits and talks with Nancy Uyemura, Lili Lakich, and David Hollen
- Exclusive access to Melissa’s 1,200-sq-ft loft inside a century-old Santa Fe Railway warehouse
- A complimentary copy of her book MUSE-ings: Snapshots of the Arts District
- Handpicked local fare from top Arts District vendors, including:
- The Pie Hole hand pies and coffee (“The Dark Arts,” “Pie Hole Blend,” “The District”)
- Bread Lounge cookies and artisan crackers
- Cocktails with Astral Pacific Gin and Vapid Vodka from The Spirit Guild
- Chef Neal Fraser’s Fritzi (Forbidden Rice & Quinoa Salad)
- The Chairman LA Asian fusion bites
- Urth Caffé nut bread with gourmet jams from Bread Lounge
- Custom tote bags from Apolis
The experience seamlessly combined art, food, history, and place—hallmarks of Melissa’s thoughtful approach to cultural engagement.