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

Brick City Gallery

"Homeland: Photographs from the Anthropocene" explores contemporary approaches to ideas about place and landscape. Featuring work from Ian Campbell, Terra Fondriest, Dana Fritz, and Drew Nikonowicz. Catch the show open from 6-9 pm for FFAW.

hotel vandivort

Join Hotel Vandivort for FFAW from 5-7 pm in the lobby to see work by Sarah Jones on display! Sarah Jones has lived in Missouri all her life and finds inspiration in memory, collecting, movies, and watching sunsets. She completed an M.A. in Studio art and Theory at Drury University in 2016.

carolla arts exhibition center

Aaron McIntosh interrogates the intertwined relationships between humans and plants. In "Entanglements," the artist asks how might we imagine queerness through the sexual and gender-variant dynamisms present in the plant world. Catch the show open 6-9 pm for the Art Walk.

sculpture walk springfield

Sculpture Walk Springfield is excited to feature Liu Peng’s piece, "2020." The art piece will be projected from sunset to midnight in the ‘backstage alley’ behind the Hotel Vandivort and the Landers Theater (accessible via Robberson Alley).

j.l. long traders

J.L. Long Traders will be open 10am - 9pm for the March’s Art Walk. 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 go check out their eclectic selection of items for FFAW!

obelisk home

For March’s First Friday, join Obelisk Home from 6-10 pm for the opening reception of "Magical Moments" by Tom Beale in their Main Gallery. While you’re there, check out their additional three levels of art!

msu's international programs

Take a trip through Japan's traditional and modern wonders with the International Programs at the Jim D. Morris Center as students visiting from our partner universities bring to life the wonders from their home through dance performances, crafts, and activities for all ages! Swing by from 5-7:30 pm to join in the fun!

drury pool arts gallery

Drury's Pool Arts Gallery will be open for March’s Art Walk from 5-8 pm with "Diatopos" by Todd Lowery. Later in the month, be sure to join him for an artist talk on Saturday, March 30th at 2 pm!

hold fast brewing

Hold Fast Brewing is excited to welcome back Molly Healey! She will be filling up the brewery with her gorgeous music beginning at 7 pm. El Masteon will be serving up delicious eats starting at 12 pm. As always, your favorite local brews will be flowing and a good time will be had by all. Pop in to taste their latest releases and try the Girl Scout Cookie Flight!

gailey's breakfast cafe

Gailey’s Breakfast Cafe is a popular, nostalgic eatery whipping up traditional American breakfast grub in straightforward digs. They will be open until 9 pm that night and will be featuring local art!

fresh gallery

For March, Fresh Gallery will be featuring artist Andrea Hellman. Additionally, watercolor artist Nadine Ellman will be doing a portrait painting demo. Be sure to swing by Fresh between 6-9 pm for the Art Walk!

formed: an artist collective

Formed is opening "The Mystery Box Show: A Mixed Media Experience" for FFAW! Stop by and vote for your favorite art pieces created in the theme of their favorite sitcom. Over 20 artists received a mystery box full of random objects. Be sure to stop by from 6-9 pm and visit with their artists, enjoy light refreshments and live music by Tony Menown.

transformation gallery & tattoo

Transformation Gallery & Tattoo will be open for March’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!

forming art studios

Forming Art Studios will have a special guest artist this First Friday Art Walk! Charmed by Alex, Permanent Jewelry will have a pop-up event at the studios! As always, new art up by Artists, Laura Ingalsbe, Bobbie Wright, Misty Lane, and Sophie Bryan! Stop by on First Friday live portraits by Sophie Bryan and mini astrology readings by Misty Lane 6-8:30 pm.

park central branch library

The Park Central Branch Library will be open from 6:30-9 pm for the "3rd Annual Between the Lines" Juried Art show. This year's show is based on the book written by Shelby Van Pelt; "Remarkably Bright Creatures." The Award Reception is at 7:30 pm, and everyone can vote for the People's Choice award!

the creamery arts center

The Springfield Regional Arts Council is excited to be hosting "Secondhand Emotions," an exhibit featuring work that expresses any range of emotions. Join the SRAC for their opening reception at The Creamery Arts Center from 5-7 pm for art and fun!

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 artwalk@springfieldarts.org 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 artwalk@springfieldarts.org :

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 artwalk@springfieldarts.org 

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 artwalk@springfieldarts.org 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

linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram