UPTOWN ARTS FESTIVAL 2024

Thank you for your interest in being an artist/local goods business vendor at the FIRST ANNUAL Uptown Arts Festival🎉!

Please read the following information before submitting your application.

Application link: https://forms.gle/EExZwyg9eUu9hSES8

Application is free. 

If you are accepted to the Uptown Arts Festival, booth fee of $100 will be due by May 6th. Applicants will know application status by May 3rd. 

Event Details

Uptown Arts Festival

Saturday, May 18, 2024

Event time: Noon-7pm

Location: 

Front Yard, Grind City Brewing Co.

76 Waterworks Ave. Memphis, TN 38107

Vendor setup time: 9am

Vendor takedown time: 7pm (until 9:30pm)

Deadlines

Application Opens: April 17, 2024

Application Deadline: April 30, 2024

Applicant acceptance emails: May 3, 2024

Applicant payment ($100) due: May 6, 2024 at 11:59PM

Map of Artist booths emailed & published: May 11, 2024

Uptown Arts Festival Mission

Our mission is to celebrate Memphis culture through showcasing Memphis area artists AND the local businesses in the Uptown neighborhood & the greater Medical District umbrella. Attendees can expect local artwork & dry goods from diverse mediums, locally crafted food & drink, live demos, and live local music! We are a grassroots team led by Grind City.

Artist Information

Please read the artist information below thoroughly before submitting application. 

Note: If you are a local food vendor or business that wishes to participate, please email info@grindcitybrew.com Please note we will prioritize businesses in Uptown and the Memphis Medical District.

Art Qualifications

In an effort to spotlight the high craftsmanship of our city and surrounding area makers, the Uptown Arts Festival prohibits pre-fabbed, machine-made, machine-tooled, machine-screened, and other mass produced work. Please note that printmakers and photographers are required to disclose their printing processes. Additionally, factory-made wearable items, regardless of artists’ modification or enhancement are discouraged. Expertly-curated vintage goods are the exception. For this reason, we ask artists to list their materials sources in the artist application. By completing the artist application, applicant declares their work is their own (no production studio work) and is not made from pre-fabbed materials as described in this paragraph.

Fees

Application fee: $0

In an effort to make this market accessible to all artists, only those that are accepted into the Uptown Arts Festival will be asked to pay to participate ($100 booth fee).  

Booth Fee: $100

Artist parking Fee: $0

Artists will receive one regular-sized parking spot. Please email info@grindcitybrew.com if you need a trailer-sized spot. No gate fees for artists or attendees. Parking for festival attendees is on-site and will be $10 cash or credit.

Artist Mentions

Artists will be featured in at least one social media ad, as well as at least one email blast, and will be listed on the Uptown Arts Festival website & map. Artists must link their Facebook and/or Instagram to be tagged on these platforms.

Artist Rules

1. Artists MUST pay the $100 booth fee before the deadline (May 6, 2024 at 11:59PM). Failure to adhere to booth payment deadline will result in your application acceptance being withdrawn and an alternate being invited instead. 
2. Artists must be age 18+. Artist booths must have at least one artist/designated representative at the booth at all times. 
3. No weapons allowed on site. No dogs or smoking in booths, please! Strictly enforced.
4. Each artist is allotted a 10x10’ space for their tent. All goods and artist belongings must fit under the tent, save for storage space. 2x10’ storage space will be provided. We ask each artist to carefully hide boxes, storage, and clutter for guest experience. Festival team may come ask you to hide your items. Artists may purchase up to 1 more 10x10’ booth space for themselves. Power is provided at a very limited amount of booths at Uptown Arts Festival. Artists must have a tent and should bring their own 10x10’ tent. Tent cannot be branded with any other entity likeness except for that of the artist or of the tent manufacturer. No sports team branded tents either, sorry!
5. Art booths must be open for the entirety of the festival. No early takedowns for sold-out booths, so plan accordingly!
6. Artist booths may not sell food or drink. If you are interested in selling food or drink, you must fill out a food vendor application by first emailing an expression of interest to info@grindcitybrew.com
7. If an artist chooses to livestream in their booth, filming equipment must remain inside artists’ 10x10’ tent. Artist cannot have any other art booth in the shot of their livestream. 

As a thank you to all artists, each artist will be given 1 can of Grind City Brewing Co. beer and 2 cans of electrolyte water. 

Early-Career Artist Scholarship

We will award up to 3 early career artists with a waived fee, two 6’ tables, AND a 10x10’ tent (if desired) for use at Uptown Arts Festival. Early career artists are makers that are typically 5 years or less into their career. This scholarship will be awarded to makers of any art medium. Early-Career scholarships will not be made public without consent of the recipient artist. If you are interested in getting an early-career artist scholarship, please indicate in the artist application. 

Event cancellations

No artist or vendor cancellations are accepted, as the application process has a quick turnaround in our first year of Uptown Arts Festival! Should the event be canceled, a full refund of the $100 booth fee will be returned to artists, even if an unlikely cancellation is announced during the festival due to weather concerns.

Security

Festival location (76 Waterworks Avenue & its driveway, Waterworks Avenue) will be secured and patrolled by licensed & bonded security personnel from artist setup to end of artist takedown on May 18th. We will take all reasonable measures to protect the grounds, and we assume no responsibility for any loss or damage to an artist's property.

This is a non-juried art market.

For any questions or additional information, please email Anna:

anna@grindcitybrew.com.

Transparency of involvement

As the primary host of Uptown Arts Festival, Grind City Brewing Co. is responsible for all transactions. We want to be transparent that all sponsor monies go to the creation and advancement of the Arts Festival. Booth fees contribute to the creation and advancement of the Arts Festival in addition to boosting the neighborhood. Booth fees will also be used for staffing security for the festival. Additionally, Grind City is temporarily hosting the Uptown Arts Festival landing page. As the festival grows, the festival will have its own website.