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First friday art walk

First Friday Art Walk, or the Art Walk for short, is a program of the Springfield Regional Arts Council. Established over 20 years ago, the Art Walk is a free and self-guided program that allows the community to get an insider look at local art, businesses, and galleries! As our name suggests, the Art Walk happens on the First Friday of every month and showcases the art, food, and fun of Downtown Springfield. As an added bonus, most FFAW Members exhibit art for the whole month, so be sure to check out their information for more details!
Recent Newsletter 

VENUE INFOMATION

coming soon!

There is no First Friday Art Walk in January. Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

COMING SOON!

There is no First Friday Art Walk in January. Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

COMING SOON!

There is no First Friday Art Walk in January. Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

COMING SOON!

There is no First Friday Art Walk in January. Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

COMING SOON!

There is no First Friday Art Walk in January. Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

COMING SOON!

There is no First Friday Art Walk in January. Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

COMING SOON!

There is no First Friday Art Walk in January. Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

COMING SOON!

There is no First Friday Art Walk in January. Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

COMING SOON!

There is no First Friday Art Walk in January. Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

COMING SOON!

There is no First Friday Art Walk in January. Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

COMING SOON!

There is no First Friday Art Walk in January. Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

COMING SOON!

There is no First Friday Art Walk in January. Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

COMING SOON!

There is no First Friday Art Walk in January. Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

COMING SOON!

There is no First Friday Art Walk in January. Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

COMING SOON!

There is no First Friday Art Walk in January. Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

coming soon!

There is no First Friday Art Walk in January. Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

coming soon!

There is no First Friday Art Walk in January. Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

coming soon

There is no First Friday Art Walk in January. Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

coming soon!

There is no First Friday Art Walk in January. Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

coming soon!

There is no First Friday Art Walk in January. Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

coming soon!

There is no First Friday Art Walk in January. Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

coming soon!

There is no First Friday Art Walk in January. Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

Coming soon!

There is no First Friday Art Walk in January. Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

coming soon!

There is no First Friday Art Walk in January. Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

coming soon!

There is no First Friday Art Walk in January. Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

coming soon!

There is no First Friday Art Walk in January. Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

how to join

Participating businesses must be located within the Downtown Arts District, bounded by Chestnut Expressway to the north, Cherry Street to the south, National Avenue to the east and Grant Avenue to the west; and agree to abide by the terms of the First Friday Art Walk Bylaws.

To View and Print our Application and Bylaws, please click on the links below or contact Claire Utley, FFAW Communications Director at [email protected] or 417 862 2787

frequently asked questions

General Information

When and where is First Friday Art Walk held?

First Friday Art Walk is held 4:30-10 p.m. the first Friday of each month in locations throughout downtown Springfield, MO.
for artists

I am an artist and I would like to display my work at Art Walk. How do I do that?

All FFAW venues schedule and manage their own showings. You can reach out directly to these businesses/galleries, or to be included on the FFAW Artist Resource for venues to access when scheduling, email the following to [email protected] :

3-4 artwork sample images in JPEG format
brief statement about you and your work
preferred contact information
list previously shown local venues (when and where)
website and social links
FFAW venues will contact the artists directly for scheduling.

Is there a way to get information about my art out to the general public?

 Yes! By joining the Springfield Regional Arts Council as an Artist member, you get free access to the Artist Registry, where you can post a bio and examples of your work. Art Walk directs members to the Registry on a regular basis when they are seeking artists for upcoming shows. The Artist membership is only $25 a year and includes free admission to SRAC events, such as Artsfest!

Do I need to do anything to prepare my art for display?

All two-dimensional artwork for display should be securely wired for hanging; sawtooth hangers are generally not acceptable. Delicate works should be protected by a frames with glass; some works, such as oil canvases, should not be glassed in as they cannot “breathe,” and paint may adhere to the glass. Three-dimensional works need to be stable enough to stand alone without endangering the viewer. Three-dimensional pieces that hang from the ceiling, such as small sculptures or mobiles, must be securely wired for hanging.
for businesses

How do I participate in Art Walk?

You need to join Art Walk as a member or a sponsor. View the First Friday Art Walk Application or email [email protected] 

What’s the difference?

Art Walk members must be located in the Downtown Arts District and are required to display original artwork, pay monthly dues, and meet the Art Walk’s promotional deadline the month before any given Art Walk. Art Walk sponsors are not required to be located downtown and do not participate month-to-month.

What are the costs of membership vs. sponsorship?

Members pay a one-time initiation fee of $100 plus a monthly fee that differs depending upon which tier they participate in. For sponsorships, we offer three different levels at varying price points depending on what you want to get out of the program.

Are those the only sponsorship options?

No, we also offer category exclusives – meaning no other business in your category can sponsor as long as you are a sponsor in good standing – as well as presenting sponsorships on a quarterly or yearly basis; these options range from $1,200 to $10,000 annually. Email [email protected] for more information.

What is the Downtown Arts District?

The Downtown Arts District is Art Walk’s designated geographic area. It is bounded by Chestnut Expressway to the north, Cherry Street to the south, National Avenue to the East and Grant Avenue to the west. Any business located in those bounds can be an Art Walk member.

I want to join Art Walk as a member, but I don’t know any artists. How do I find people to display in my space?

First and foremost, you should check out the Artist Registry at the Springfield Regional Arts Council, available online at www.SpringfieldArts.org/ArtistRegistry. As a member, you can also access an artist resource listing local artists that would love to participate in FFAW. You can also issue your own call for artists through your website or social media outlets.

I’ve never done an art display before. What do I need to do to make this work?

First, you need to decide what kind of art you want to display. If you want to do two-dimensional art, i.e. paintings, drawings, and other “wall” art, you will need to be able to hang the art securely via wall mounts, display rails, shelves, a hanging system, or easels. If you want to do three-dimensional art, i.e. sculpture or pottery, you will need plenty of floor space and appropriate stands, shelves, or pedestals.

How much art should I display?

That depends primarily on the size of the artwork. If an artist works in large-scale pieces, 4 feet or larger to a side, you might get away with as few as 6 or 8 pieces; however, most artists do not work in large scale. A good display is usually 10 to 15 pieces or more. You need to display enough work that it is 1. worth the artist’s time and effort to transport and hang the art and 2. worth the visitors’ time to come to your location to see it.

art walk sponsors

2024 Newsletters

Feburary 2024 Art Walk News 
March 2024 Art Walk News 
April 2024 Art Walk News 
May 2024 Art Walk News 
June 2024 Art Walk News 
July 2024 Art Walk News 
August 2024 Art Walk News 
September 2024 Art Walk News 
October 2024 Art Walk News 
November 2024 Art Walk News 
December 2024 Art Walk News 
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