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

BE Creative

Please welcome BE Creative to First Friday Art Walk! They will be featuring "Talking In Circles" by Earlene Art. The paintings encompass a never-ending labyrinth in an unpredictable arrangement of calmness. The entrance is one block south of Walnut at 430 S. Jefferson Ave., Suite 125, join BE Creative from 6-8 pm!

j.l. long traders

J.L. Long Traders will be open 10 am – 9 pm for December’s FFAW! Get into the holiday spirit with original Christmas paintings from Katie Hopkins and exclusive cocktail kits from 417Cocktails.

the downtown church

The Downtown Church is excited to be open for December’s FFAW! They will feature have kids activities, popcorn and hot chocolate!

sculpture walk springfield

Sculpture Walk Springfield is proud to present the next ALLEYSCAPES immersive arts experience, "Vivid Light" by Katina Bitsicas! This new video 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). Be sure to check this immersive arts experience out during FFAW!

formed: an artist collective

Join Formed for FFAW and help them celebrate their artists at their Downtown Christmas event. They have everything you need for an art filled Christmas this year. Visit with Formed's artists to speak with them about their processes, enjoy light refreshments, and listen to live music by Tony Menown from 6-9 pm.

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 fall 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 open from 6-9 pm for FFAW!

transformation gallery & tattoo

Transformation Gallery & Tattoo will be open for December’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!

obelisk home

Obelisk Home is excited to open two exhibitions for December’s FFAW from 6-10 pm! To celebrate Obelisk Home’s 15-year anniversary, the "Celebration" group show will be in their Main Gallery and feature 30 local artists. Their Lower Level Gallery will feature Missouri State University’s Visual Studies Graduate Students. These are two shows you won’t want to miss!

forming Artist studios

Forming Artist Studios are excited to present "Girls Hanging Out," an exhibition of paintings and prints by Violet Austerlitz, opening for FFAW from 6-9 pm. Stop by for robots, river monsters, and desires made manifest that are the culmination of an Independent Study course in Painting at OTC.

otc arts, design & humanities

From 4-6 pm, OTC Arts, Design & Humanities will host a public reception to celebrate their 2023 Fall student artworks. The exhibition will be proudly displayed on the halls of the Springfield campus IC building and NKM building. They will have holiday treats and a hot chocolate bar in the Springfield campus Jared Family Atrium.

hold fast brewing

Hold Fast Brewing is thrilled to be welcoming back Isaac Kenneth. Isaac and his sultry voice are right at home on their Hold Fast stage. Get there 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, food truck starts serving by 5 pm, and music starts at 7 pm. Cheers!

Fresh gallery

Join Fresh Gallery for December’s Art Walk to see work by their featured artist, Farley Lewis! Farley has been a full time artist since 2018. Fresh will be open from 6-9 pm - be sure to go check out Farley’s work!

Gailey's breakfast cafe

Gailey’s will be hosting one last month of their $150 and below seasonal show consisting of photography and original artwork. They are open until 9 pm with some karaoke on the side! Bring your singing voice and have some fun!

park central branch library

The Park Central Branch Library will be open 6:30-9 pm for First Friday Art Walk. They are delighted to have the works of Linda Spencer on display for December and January. Her exhibit, "Sublime Spectacle," has taken 5 years of painting to complete. The Library will also feature work from York and Bisset elementary!

springfield art museum

Shop 30 local vendors just in time for the holiday season at the Springfield Art Museum during December’s FFAW from 5-8 pm with the SRAC! Our community is full of incredibly talented artists and during the holiday season the makers, creators and artists are here to make it merry and bright with handmade holiday items.

msu's brick city gallery

Every semester, Brick City Gallery is pleased to host an exhibition of work by graduating students from the Department of Art and Design. The fall exhibition showcases 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 open from 6-9 pm for FFAW!

hotel vandivort

Join Hotel Vandivort for December’s FFAW to see work by artist Gregory Booker! He will be in the lobby from 5-7 pm – be sure to check it out!

historic holland building

Join the Historic Holland Building for FFAW to see Ryan Glass presenting his artwork from 6 - 8 pm on the second floor of the Historic Holland Building on the square. You can enter the lobby at 205 Park Central E. and take the elevator or stairs to the second floor.

bookmarx

Bookmarx is proud to present Chef HJ Schumer for December FFAW with his show, "Old friends become new friends." This show is Springfield artist and chef HJ Schumer’s collection of new multimedia work along with images of local landmarks from his earlier works. Join BookMarx to find books and art for your holiday gift giving, and thanks for shopping local!

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

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.