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

heer's luxury living

Shelby Miller will be live painting the Heer’s Luxury Living view of downtown from their rooftop terrace. They will be there from 4:30 - 9 pm with small bites and refreshments in their rooftop lounge.

brick city gallery

Featuring work from Jerry and Hing Wah Hatch, Boomerangs, Butterflies and Then Some has images from their past and present interests made with various media including cast plaster, carved wood, various drawing media, watercolor, oil, collages, papercuts and mixed media. Catch the show on FFAW from 6-8 pm!

bookmarx

BookMarx will be open 6-9 pm for the Art Walk, be sure to check out artist Sabrina Perry’s work along with BookMarx’s selection of books!

j.l. long traders

J.L. Long Traders will host author Angi Black for a reading and signing of her new book, Anna Begins. Attendees will have the opportunity to buy signed copies of the book. Angi will also sign previously purchased books and book plates for previously purchased ebooks. The reading will occur at 7:45 pm. J.L. Long Traders will be open 10 am – 9 pm.

the holland building

The Historic Holland Building on the square in Downtown Springfield will feature local photographer Tom Davis from 6-8 pm. Please enter the building through the entrance on Park Central E. You can find Tom’s work on the second floor of the building, accessible by stairs or elevator.

sculpture walk springfield

Sculpture Walk Springfield is proud to present the next ALLEYSCAPES immersive arts experience! For August, Alleyscapes is excited to feature Alessia Lupo Cecchet’s piece, I dinosauri di Al Bano. 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).

the gillioz theatre

Join the Gillioz Theatre for an evening of art and film! Grab a drink at the Gillioz Gallery Bar and make your way up to TheTHIRDFloor and explore Dr. Kenneth D. Carlisle-Davis's artwork in A Drop of Color presented by Two Black Ravens Foundation. Plus, enjoy SATO48 short film screenings and free popcorn in room 301!

carolla arts exhibition center

Thirteen contemporary artists from Springfield, Kansas City, and St Louis offer works of art that respond to their current state - geographical, physical, virtual, and/or spiritual. Be sure to check out Current State at the Carolla Arts Exhibition Center from 6-8 pm!

hotel vandivort

Catch artist Ken Richardson’s work in the Hotel Vandivort Historic Lobby for August’s FFAW! Be sure to swing by between 4-9 pm to see Ken’s work.

transformation gallery & tattoo

Transformation Gallery & Tattoo will be open for August’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 creamery arts center

The Springfield Regional Arts Council is excited to bring back their Assemblage and Collage: Recycle Reuse exhibition for August’s Art Walk! This show emphasizes giving a new life to second-hand and previously used items. Catch the opening reception of the show at The Creamery Arts Center from 5-7 pm!

obelisk home

Join Obelisk Home for August’s Art Walk from 6-10 pm for the opening reception of Odyssey by Christie Snelson!

park central branch library

The library will be open for Art Walk 6:30-9 pm. Terra Abstraction, an exhibit by Ashely Laren, will be up through the month of August. Ashley will be creating a live painting during the night – be sure to drop in and see her work magic on a canvas!

fresh gallery

Fresh Gallery excited to announce that they will be hosting a Studio 55 exhibit titled Hot Days - Cool Art in the Farley Lewis room. In addition, be sure to check out Fresh’s featured artist this month, Mindy Tillery. Check out the shows during August’s Art Walk from 5:30 – 9 pm!

formed: an artist collective

Formed is proud to present artist Cheryl Coen. Her work focuses on translating emotion through design, color, and texture. Be sure to stop by from 6-9 pm and visit with their artists, enjoy light refreshments, and listen to live music by Tony Menown.

gailey's breakfast cafe

Join Gailey’s Breakfast Cafe for August’s Art Walk to check out art from 5 local artists: Jenny Green, Eric Vaughn, Linda Lee Layton, Sarah Butler, and Mariah Partain. Additionally, they will have Happy Hour from 2-6pm, with drink and food specials. Be sure to catch Live Music by Pianist Cale Goldsberry starting at 6pm.

hold fast brewing

Hold Fast Brewing is thrilled to welcome E.O. for FFAW! The brewery opens at 12 pm with your favorite local brews on tap, The Deck Pizza Co starts serving up their delicious pies at 5 pm, and music starts at 7 pm. Your favorite downtown patio is waiting for you!

forming art studios

Forming Art Studios welcomes potter Madeline Smith of Smith Stoneware Co, to their pop-up vendor event on FFAW. Forming is excited to show her talents, be sure to stop by and check out her pottery! Additionally, there will be mini astrology readings by Misty Lane from 6:30-8:30 pm.

jim d. morris center

Join International Programs at the Jim D. Morris Center for August’s Art Walk from 6-8 pm to learn more about Festa Junina and Carnaval, two of Brazil's most vibrant and colorful celebrations! This event is open to all ages and there will be complimentary snacks.

the downtown church

Join The Downtown Church for a fantastic evening of music, snacks, and kids activities. Melinda Mullins will be playing songs written by her dad, Ozarks legend Johnny Mullins! They will have fresh popcorn and lemonade and some fun kids activities. Bring your friends and family for this FREE night at the church in beautiful, Downtown Springfield from 6-8 pm!

COMING SOON!

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

coming soon!

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

Coming soon!

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

coming soon!

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

coming soon!

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

coming soon!

There is no official Art Walk in July. 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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