Part of an outdoor art installation called Levitated Mass, this unlikely local celebrity has unified Southern California, from its humble beginnings in a rock quarry to its final placement at the museum, with a much-buzzed-about unveiling in June.

BBC: LA��s granite giant

New this year is ArtWalk Extra , where local creatives can take their art to the surrounding streets with one-off installations, video screenings, musical performances and photography displays.

BBC: Hong Kong��s vibrant art walk

The ritual performance of Dainichido Bugaku takes its name from this story, but the art evolved considerably since, reflecting local features as elders transmitted it to the young within each of the four local communities of Osato, Azukisawa, Nagamine and Taniuchi.

UNESCO: Intangible Cultural Heritage

Then there are the aforementioned local studios, a result of this town attracting educated types who either appreciate good art or need outlets for their creativity.

BBC: The art of Washington

As part of this determination to find out more, I recently spent two afternoons at a local shelter in New York doing art projects with a group of boys from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

CNN: Don't turn your back on these children

Rooms are filled with local art collected by the current matriarch, Dagmar Meneghello, whose daughter Romina manages the property, and this pair of friendly eccentrics lend the place lots of character and soul.

FORBES: Beaumonde Beach: What's Hot & Cool?

In collaboration with governments and educators, this Science Competition means to help transform education, by expanding local research initiatives and applying state-of-the-art technologies to support local talent and enable countries to compete in the global economy.

UNESCO: Social and Human Sciences