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How to Participate in First Friday ArtWalk as an Artist
Are you an artist, artisan, crafter, or musician interested in participating in First Friday ArtWalk in Downtown Elizabeth City, NC? ArtWalk is a great way to share your work, meet the community, and collaborate with a Downtown business. But there is one important thing to know before you get started:
First Friday ArtWalk is an art event, not a vendor event. Artists and musicians must be hosted by a participating Downtown business.
What Is First Friday ArtWalk?
First Friday ArtWalk takes place from 4–7 p.m. on the first Friday of every month, year-round, in Downtown Elizabeth City. During ArtWalk, local artists, musicians, and Downtown businesses come together to create an immersive art experience throughout the Downtown district. Individual Downtown businesses host artists, musicians, and art-related activities at their locations. Visitors can walk around Downtown to discover artwork, meet artists, enjoy music, and experience the creativity of our local community.
How Can Artists and Musicians Participate?
To participate in ArtWalk, you must be hosted by a Downtown Elizabeth City business. Artists and musicians may not set up independently without a business host.
Start by reaching out to a Downtown business and asking whether they would like to host you for an upcoming First Friday ArtWalk. When choosing a business to approach, look for a location whose atmosphere and audience are a good fit for your work. Your participation might include displaying artwork, demonstrating your creative process, selling your artwork or handmade creations, providing live music, or offering another art-related experience.
Once you and the business have made arrangements, the business submits your information to Elizabeth City Downtown, Inc. We use those submissions to curate the monthly ArtWalk map, prepare press releases, and promote ArtWalk through social media.
Need Help Finding a Business Host?
If you don't already have a Downtown business connection, there are several ways to find one:
Post on social media. Share a photo of your work, let people know you are looking to participate in ArtWalk, and tag Downtown businesses you'd like to collaborate with.
Attend ArtWalk. Visit Downtown during an ArtWalk and introduce yourself to business owners. It's a great way to see which businesses participate and get a feel for where your work might be a good fit.
Contact Elizabeth City Downtown, Inc. If you're having trouble making a connection, we can provide a list of Downtown businesses that may be looking for an artist or musician.
What Kind of Art Is Welcome?
ArtWalk welcomes a wide variety of creative work. Nearly any medium is welcome as long as it is art, art-related, artisanal, or handmade.
Examples may include:
Painting and drawing
Photography
Pottery and ceramics
Sculpture
Jewelry
Fiber arts and textiles
Woodworking
Printmaking
Handmade crafts
Artisan products
Art demonstrations
Interactive art activities
Live music and other art-related performances
The important distinction is that ArtWalk is an art-focused event, not a general vendor market. Only artists, art-related activities, handmade items, musicians, and crafters will be included on the official ArtWalk map.
Where Can Artists Set Up?
Artists and musicians must remain at their host business during ArtWalk. You may set up:
Inside your host business
In your host business's parking lot
On the sidewalk directly in front of your host business
When you set up, you must keep a 4-foot passageway on the sidewalk clear for ADA accessibility compliance - wheelchairs and strollers should be able to walk by your display easily. Do not set up away from your host business! Artists and musicians may not independently claim a sidewalk without a participating business hosting them.
First Friday ArtWalk Participation Rules
To keep ArtWalk organized and enjoyable for artists, businesses, and visitors, please follow these rules:
1. ArtWalk is an art event, not a vendor event. Your participation must have an art, art-related, artisanal, handmade, or musical component. General vendors who do not offer an art-related product or activity will not be included on the ArtWalk map.
2. You must be hosted by a Downtown business. Artists and musicians cannot participate independently. A participating Downtown business must host you.
3. Stay with your host business. You must be located inside your host business, in their parking lot, or on the sidewalk in front of their business. Do not set up somewhere else in Downtown.
4. Your activity must be art-related. To be included on the official ArtWalk list and map, your offering must be art, art-related, artisanal, handmade, or musical.
5. Keep ArtWalk family-oriented. First Friday ArtWalk is a family-oriented community art event. Obscene or controversial art or activities, rallies, and political candidate booths are not permitted.
For Artists: Make ArtWalk Work for You
ArtWalk is more than an opportunity to sell your work. It's a chance to introduce yourself and your creative work to new people and build relationships within the Downtown community.
Consider bringing:
A selected variety of your artwork or handmade creations
Examples of your creative process
Business cards or contact information
Information about where people can see or purchase more of your work
An interactive demonstration or activity, when appropriate
You can also promote your ArtWalk appearance through your own social media channels and invite your followers to visit you Downtown. Don’t be disappointed if you don’t sell your artwork right away! ArtWalk is primarily about building relationships and exposure.
For Businesses: Interested in Hosting an Artist or Musician?
Downtown businesses are an important part of making ArtWalk happen. Businesses can invite a local artist, artisan, or musician to participate. You can connect with an artist directly, post on social media that you're looking for someone to host, or contact Elizabeth City Downtown, Inc. for a list of interested local artists.
Businesses should submit their artist or activity information to Elizabeth City Downtown, Inc. by the Wednesday before ArtWalk so we have time to include it on the monthly map and in the press release. Businesses should also be good Downtown neighbors when selecting artists. Please be mindful of existing Downtown businesses and avoid hosting direct competitors.
How ArtWalk Promotion Works
Once a Downtown business submits its artist or activity information, Elizabeth City Downtown, Inc. handles the monthly ArtWalk promotion. We:
Curate the monthly ArtWalk map
Prepare and distribute a press release for news agencies
Promote ArtWalk through social media
Create and promote the interactive, digital ArtWalk map
Print and distribute the ArtWalk map
Because ArtWalk is a collaborative Downtown event, accurate and timely information from participating businesses helps us promote the event effectively and ensure your inclusion.
Ready to Participate?
If you're an artist or musician interested in First Friday ArtWalk, start by finding a Downtown business that would be a good host for your work. Once you've made a connection, coordinate directly with the business about your ArtWalk activity and location. The business can then submit your information to Elizabeth City Downtown, Inc.
First Friday ArtWalk happens from 4–7 p.m. on the first Friday of every month, year-round, in Downtown Elizabeth City.
We look forward to seeing you!
For more information, questions, or concerns, call us at (252) 338-4104 or email us at assistant@elizabethcitydowntown.com. You can also visit our ArtWalk webpage at www.elizabethcitydowntown.com/first-friday-artwalk.
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