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 show art for the rest of the month as well, be sure to check out their information for more details!

Recent Newsletter

VENUE INFOMATION

Gailey's Breakfast cafe

Join FFAW from 4:30-6:30 pm in welcoming one of our newest FFAW Members: Gailey’s Breakfast Cafe! They are excited to be hosting a Solo Exhibition for Carol Snyder! Her solo show will be on display for September and October’s Art Walk - be sure to check it out!

the holland building

Please welcome the Art Walk’s other newest member, The Historic Holland Building! They are proud to present new work by artist and chef, HJ Schumer. This show features popular Springfield scenes and locations from 6-8 pm. To see the show, enter the Holland Building through the St. Louis St. lobby and take the elevator or stairs to the second floor.

transformation gallery & tattoo

Transformation Gallery & Tattoo will be open for September’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!

hold fast brewing

Hold Fast Brewing is thrilled to welcome back the one and only Molly Healey - a looping violinist, cellist, guitarist, pianist, singer-songwriter and so much more! Get here early so you can grab dinner from the food truck and top it all off with your favorite Hold Fast Brew. Brewery opens at 12 pm, food truck starts serving by 5 pm, and music starts at 7 pm. Cheers!

brick city gallery

i’m sorry for your loss…Meditations on Discomfort and Change, a co-curatorial project from Alexandra Chamberlain and Jodi McCoy, features work from Kim Brandt, Rick Briggenhorst, Michelle Burdine, Charles Clary, and Axelle Kieffe and explores ways we as humans visualize and internalize our experiences with change associated with loss. Catch the show from 6-9pm for FFAW!

formed: an artist collective

Join Formed and help them celebrate their Artist of the Month, Rick Atwell! Rick will be presenting a new exhibition….”BIGGER!”… A collection of large works inspired by seaside travels and Ozarks life. Enjoy refreshments and visit with Rick about his inspirations and processes. There will also be live music and you can meet their artists on Friday from 6-9 pm.

artistic photography

Artistic Photography at the Monarch Art Factory is proud to present Free To Be Me! This teen and tween show is a project for the younger generation to express who they are and share their stories about social media and today’s society. Catch the show during FFAW from 6-8 pm!

fresh gallery

Join Fresh Gallery for September’s FFAW from 6-9 pm for an opening reception for their Featured Artist, Nadine Ellman. Nadine will be showcasing her watercolor series, The Eyes Have It. View her uniquely beautiful works while enjoying wine and snacks and listening to Jazz guitarist Mark Ellman from 6-8 pm.

the creamery arts center

Join the SRAC during FFAW from 5-7 pm at The Creamery Arts Center for the opening reception of What’s Your Fantasy? There will also be complimentary snacks and refreshments along with live music by Michelle Gillam.

carolla arts exhibition center

Featuring work from Britt Ransom, Alejandro T Acierto, Jon Chambers, and Tiffany Funk, Enmeshed Worlds, the unavoidable entanglement of technology and our social order, is a critical examination of how technology affects our social structures and relationships. Catch the exhibition on FFAW from 6-9pm!

drury pool arts center

Join Drury University at the Pool Art Center Gallery from 5-8 pm for September’s First Friday Art Walk to see Celebrating 150 Years: Through the Lens: Exploring the Drury Campus! Work by Rebecca Miller and Allin Sorenson will be on display.

bookmarx

BookMarx is excited to present their September FFAW artist Kieran Peterson-LeMay. Be sure to swing by between 6-9 pm to catch the show!

j.l. long traders

J.L. Long Traders will be open 10am - 9pm for FFAW. They’ll be featuring new paintings and prints by Katie Hopkins along with new pottery with candles poured in them by Brooke Buehler. You won’t want to miss it!

the downtown church

Join The Downtown Church for September’s Art Walk to join them for a FFAW Block Party! The party will be rolling from 6-8 pm with live music by The Layton Hollow Gals.

hotel vandivort

Hotel Vandivort will be open for September’s Art Walk. They will be featuring artist Katy Rodick in the lobby from 5-7 pm – be sure to check it out!

obelisk home

Join Obelisk Home, open from 6-10 pm, for the opening reception of Spirit Animals: Tracking Time by Kat Allie, the kickoff of the 17th Annual Birdhouse Auction benefitting Habitat for Humanity, and the closing reception for You Are What You Eat: The Search for A Corporate Sponsor by Trevor McDonald. There will also a string quartet playing live music from 6-8 pm!

Park central branch library

The Park Central Branch Library will be open from 6:30-9 pm and be featuring Architecture Photography from the Southwest Missouri Camera Club. In addition, Art Talks have resumed! Join the library at 7 pm to listen to the president of the camera club teach tips and tricks on how to photograph architecture.

forming Art studios

Forming Art Studios is excited to announce their new opening hours! Now every Monday, Forming will have open studio time for any artist! 10-4 pm every Monday beginning on September 4, 2023. Stop by on First Friday and speak with some of their artists in residence and enjoy refreshments from 6-8:30 pm.

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

FFAW MEMBER BENEFITS

FFAW SPONSORSHIP BENEFITS

FFAW APPLICATION

ART WALK BYLAWS

frequently asked questions

General Information

When and where is First Friday Art Walk held?

First Friday Art Walk is held 5-10 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 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 of the 10th of 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, then $60 per month. 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.

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.