First Friday Art Walk

First Friday Art Walk, or the Art Walk for short, is a Springfield Regional Arts Council program that showcases the art, music, food and fun of downtown Springfield. 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! The Art Walk happens on the first Friday of every month in Downtown Springfield. As a bonus, most FFAW Members exhibit art for the whole month, so check out their information for more details!

FFAW Destination Map

Participating Venues

Drury Pool Arts Center Gallery

BookMarx

Transformation Gallery & Tattoo

Forming Art Studios

Formed: An Artist Collective

Park Central Branch Library

Obelisk Home

Creamery Arts Center

Springfield Art Museum’s “The Art Study Club”

Heer’s Luxury Living

Carl’s Bad Designs

Gillioz Theatre

Burkhart Elliott Creative

Gailey’s Breakfast Cafe

Hold Fast Brewing

Jim D. Morris Center for International Programs

Robert & Margaret Carolla Arts Exhibition Center

MSU’s Brick City Gallery

The Downtown Church

Get the First Friday Art Walk Newsletter Straight to Your Inbox!

How to Join the FFAW

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. Participating businesses must also agree to abide by the terms of the First Friday Art Walk bylaws.

To view and print our application and bylaws, please click 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

FAQs

General Information

Q: When and where is First Friday Art Walk held?

A: First Friday Art Walk is held 4:30–10 p.m. the first Friday of each month in locations throughout downtown Springfield, MO. See Venue Information above for specific First Friday Art Walk information each month.

For Artists

Q: I am an artist, and I would like to display my work at Art Walk. How do I do that?

A: 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
A brief statement about you and your work
Preferred contact information
List previously shown local venues (when and where)
Website and social link
FFAW venues will contact the artists directly for scheduling

Q: Do I need to do anything to prepare my art for display?

A: All two-dimensional artwork for display should be securely wired for hanging; sawtooth hangers are generally not acceptable. Delicate works should be protected by 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 Business

Q: How do I participate in Art Walk?

A: You need to join Art Walk as a member or a sponsor. View the First Friday Art Walk Application above or email [email protected] to join.

Q: What's the difference?

A: Art Walk members must be located in the Downtown Arts District and are required to display original artwork or have an Art Walk activity, 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.

Q: What are the costs of membership vs. sponsorship?

A: 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.

Q: Are those the only sponsorship options?

A: 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—and present sponsorships on a quarterly or yearly basis; these options range from $1,200 to $10,000 annually. Email [email protected] for more information.

Q: What is the Downtown Arts District?

A: 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.

Q: 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?

A: Contact the SRAC to access the FFAW Artist Resource for venues, which includes contact information and samples of work by local artists. you can also issue your own call for artists through your website or social media outlets.

Q: I’ve never done an art display before. What do I need to do to make this work? How much art should I display?

A: First, you need to decide what kind of art you want to display. If you want to display two-dimensional art, such as 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 display three-dimensional art, such as sculpture or pottery, you will need plenty of floor space and appropriate stands, shelves or pedestals.