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!

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VENUE INFOMATION

Carl's bad designs

Join Carl’s Bad Designs for their shop’s grand opening from 5-10 pm located at 314 S. Campbell Ave! They are excited to be showcasing runway pieces from Carl’s Bad Designs and local artists Saphira Gale and Hal Lueking. Shop vintage clothes and handmade jewelry from One World Library. They will have refreshments and a bracelet-making station supplied with thrifted beads!

Be creative

BE Creative is excited to be open for May’s Art Walk! They will be featuring a study on butterflies, made of paint, not alive. Join Earlene Lee at BE Creative from 5-8 pm for wine and charcuterie.

gillioz theatre

Join the Gillioz Center for Arts & Entertainment from 6-9 pm for May’s FFAW! Ascend to TheTHIRDFloor, sip on crafted cocktails from the bar, peruse the local artwork on display, dive into the world of cinema with a selection of short films, and meet the Gillioz Resident Companies!

the downtown church

The Downtown Church will be alive with live music from Deja Crew, feature kids activities, and have popcorn and lemonade to enjoy – best of all, it's all FREE! Join The Downtown Church from 6-8 pm at the corner of Walnut & Jefferson for May’s Art Walk.

carolla arts exhibition center

The Carolla Arts Exhibition Center is pleased to host an exhibition of work by graduating students from the Department of Art and Design. The spring exhibition showcases the talent and skill of students who have spent years developing a design practice that will carry them into their professional careers. Catch the show from 6-9 pm for May’s FFAW!

bookmarx

BookMarx is excited to exhibit "Bookmarx 10 Year Anniversary Photographic Retrospective," which is a show dedicated to photos of the store and cats' first ten years contributed by their staff and customers. You won’t want to miss this show opening during May’s Art Walk till 9 pm!

j.l. long traders

J.L. Long Traders will be open 10 am – 9 pm for May’s Art Walk! They are excited to feature "POETIC PORTRAITS," showing students' work from the Academy of Fine and Performing Arts. Students explored their understanding of themselves and prominent historical figures through poetry and portraiture.

obelisk home

Obelisk Home will be open from 6-10 pm. In their Main Gallery is the opening reception of "Soft Spoken Sunlight" by J.D. Hull. In their store is the opening reception of a "Karen Schneider Retrospective" exhibition. Finally, it is the last day to view the Glendale Alumni Exhibition and bid in the :18th Annual Birdhouse Auction Benefitting Habitat for Humanity." Swing by to catch all the shows!

park central branch library

The Library will be open from 6:30-9 pm for May’s Art Walk. They will be hosting the very talented Katie Hopkins. Katie will be doing a live painting, an experience you will want to see as she makes her canvas come alive! You won’t want to miss her brand-new series, "A Journey West," making its debut during the Art Walk.

formed: an artist collective

Formed is proud to present artist Andrea Hellman for May’s FFAW from 6-9 pm! Her recent digital artwork captures the serene beauty of family life within Springfield’s vibrant arts community. Be sure to stop by and visit with the artists, enjoy light refreshments, and listen to live music by The Bold Deniers.

brick city gallery

Brick City Gallery is pleased to host an exhibition by graduating students from the Department of Art and Design. This exhibition shows the talent and skill of students who have spent years developing an artistic practice that will carry them into their professional careers. Catch the show from 6-9 pm for FFAW!

hotel vandivort

Join Hotel Vandivort for May’s Art Walk to see work by Kurt Caddy. Be sure to swing by between 5-7 pm in the lobby during FFAW to see Kurt’s work!

forming art studios

Forming Art Studios will have a special guest musical artist this Art Walk! Tony Menown will be jamming out at the studios from 6:30-8:30 pm. They will also have two guest artists, Caryn McAdoo and Briton David set up and ready to sell! Stop by on First Friday for mini astrology readings by Misty Lane from 6:30-8:30 pm.

gailey's breakfast cafe

Gailey’s Breakfast Cafe will be open until 9 pm for May’s Art Walk! Join them for their Happy Hour, running from 2-6 pm with lots of drink & food specials. Their featured artists this month are Carol L. Snyder, Linda Kirchner, Jennifer Nelson, Meredith Dickson, and Madison Haines.

transformation gallery & tattoo

Transformation Gallery & Tattoo will be open for May’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!

fresh gallery

Fresh Gallery is excited to be open for May’s Art Walk from 5:30 - 9 pm featuring work by artist Deana Markus! While you’re there, be sure to check out work from their other gallery artists.

drury pool arts center

Join Drury University at the Drury Pool Arts Gallery in their main gallery for May’s FFAW! Their "Senior APEX Exhibition" will be open from 5-8 pm. Be sure to check out the exhibition!

hold fast brewing

Hold Fast Brewing is thrilled to kick off the summer months with the music of Charlie Mellinger! The brewery opens at noon with your favorite local brews on tap, Fire Family BBQ starts serving up their delicious eats at 5 pm, and music starts at 7 pm. Your favorite downtown patio is waiting for you!

otc Arts, design, + humanities

Join OTC ARTS, DESIGN, + HUMANITIES for their "OTC Student Art Exhibition!" Located on the Springfield campus at the Jared Family Atrium, the reception will run from 3:30-5:00 pm during May’s Art Walk.

the historic holland building

Artist HJ Schumer will be showing new work this FFAW at the Holland Building. HJ’s new works can be described as digital and physical collages of original photos and paintings. Catch the show on the second floor of the Holland Building located on the square, please use the St Louis St entrance and come to the second floor.

sculpture walk springfield

Start planning your route now to see Sculpture Walk Springfield’s 9th Sculpture Collection! They are currently in the process of rotating the collection so keep your eyes peeled throughout May as they install the new sculptures in Downtown Springfield!

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

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 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.