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

juanita k. hammons hall for the performing arts

Join the SRAC for their "$100 and Under Holiday Art Market" hosted for the first time at Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts from 5-8 pm. Enjoy an evening featuring a diverse collection of art pieces from 40 remarkable local artists. All works at the market will be for sale for $100 or less, be sure to check it out!

transformation gallery & tattoo

Transformation Gallery & Tattoo will be open for December’s Art Walk! They will be open 6 – 9 pm and will be showcasing art from their talented staff - be sure to check it out!

The downtown church

Join The Downtown Church for their final FFAW Party of the year as they welcome the Springfield Little Theatre's Yes Troup for some holiday favorites. There will be plenty of hot chocolate, coffee, and popcorn to go around. Kids can even decorate their own Christmas cookies. Join The Downtown Church and kick-off the holiday season with some FREE fun in downtown Springfield!

bookmarx

Join BookMarx for FFAW for "Unseen Connections" by artist HJ Schumer open until 9pm. The use of color, composition, depth and texture play key roles in HJ’s singularly creative perspective. Be sure to swing by BookMarx for books and art for your holiday gift giving and special first Friday prices!

brick city gallery

Brick City Gallery is pleased to host the "BFA in art", an exhibition of work by graduating students from the Department of Art and Design. The exhibition showcases the talent and skill of students who have spent years developing an artistic practice. Be sure to swing by between 6-9 pm!

hotel vandivort

Artist Sabrina Perry will exhibit her work in Hotel Vandivort's Historic Lobby from 4-9 pm for December’s First Friday Art Walk! Be sure to check it out to see her wonderful art!

gailey's breakfast cafe

Join Gailey’s Breakfast Cafe for their "$150 and Under" exhibition! Featured Artists include Pam Wilder, Bonnie Schooler, Susan Neese, Meredith Dickerson, Linda Kitchener, Mariah Partain, Linda Layton, Eric Vaughn, Jenny Green, Leisa Rowley, Madison Haines, and Carol Snyder. They will also have live music by Chad Hughes from 6-9 pm along with Happy Hour specials from 2-6 pm.

hold fast brewing

Hold Fast Brewing is thrilled to welcome back Dallas Jones for FFAW! Brewery opens at 12 pm with your favorite local brews on tap, the food truck starts serving up their delicious eats at 5 pm, and music starts at 7 pm. Your favorite downtown brewery is waiting for you!

park central branch library

Join the Park Central Branch Library from 6:30-9 pm for December’s Art Walk. The library will be hosting work by mixed media artist Mindy Tillery with her exhibit "Life Is But A Dream."

fresh gallery

Join Fresh Gallery for December’s FFAW open until 9 pm to check out work by their gallery artists. Fresh Gallery deliberately creates an immersive multidimensional experience for artists and art lovers. Be sure to check out their "Juried Art Exhibit Showcase" available for viewing starting December 6!

obelisk home

Join Obelisk Home from 6-10 pm for December’s Art Walk for the opening receptions of two exhibitions. In the Main Gallery is "Flowers for Winter (to get us through)" by Meganne Rosen. In the Lower Level Gallery is "The 2nd Annual MSU Graduate Student Arts Exhibition" featuring 14 students. Be sure to swing by Obelisk Home to check out both shows!

formed: an artist collective

Formed is proud to present "A Downtown Christmas" during First Friday Art Walk! Celebrate the season with festive art, live music by Tony Menown, and light refreshments. Join them from 6-9 pm to meet their artists, learn about their creative processes, and discover holiday treasures perfect for gifting. Enjoy an evening of art, music, and holiday cheer!

the holland building

Join The Historic Holland Building for December’s FFAW to see artist Victoria Johnson presenting her artwork from 6 - 8 pm on the second floor of the Historic Holland Building on the square. You can enter the lobby at 205 Park Central E. and take the elevator or stairs to the second floor.

carolla arts exhibition center

The Carolla Arts Exhibition Center is pleased to host the "BFA in Design", featuring work by graduating students from the Department of Art and Design. This showcases the talent and skill of students who have spent years developing a design practice. Check out the show between 6-9 pm for FFAW!

j.l. long traders

J.L. Long Traders will be open 10 am - 9 pm for FFAW. They offer unique items ranging from paper products to vintage furniture in “micro-batches.” Small supplies of items they’ve either found and fixed up themselves, sourced from small businesses, or work by local craftsmen. Be sure to swing by the store and check out all the amazing goods!

coming soon!

Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

coming soon!

Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

coming soon

Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

coming soon!

Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

coming soon!

Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

coming soon!

Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

coming soon!

Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

Coming soon!

Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

coming soon!

Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

coming soon!

Stay tuned to see who will be open for First Friday Art Walk next month!

coming soon!

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

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