After a brief hiatus the Utah Arts Festival is excited to launch its ArtTour scheduled for the weekend of October 4-6, 2024. Registration is open to artists working in all mediums and will focus primarily on the Wasatch Front, though artists from across the state are welcome to participate. The goal of ArtTour is to facilitate interest in and appreciation for art of all kinds, and support and promote the work of a wide array of artists in our community. Guests can meet artists, ask questions, see and experience art in action and purchase original works.
Event Details
- Dates: October 4-6, 2024
- Hours: Artists are welcome to be open earlier or later, but should be prepared to commit to the following hours for the event.
- Friday "Opening Night" celebrations, 6pm-9pm
- Saturday & Sunday, 12pm to 6pm
- Cost: ArtTour is free for the public to attend
- Artist Registration Deadline: August 23, 2024
Questions?
NEW this year
- This year the Utah Arts Festival will be working with local businesses and arts organizations to build collectives where artists who don’t have their own studio or who prefer people not to have the public in their personal space can come together and display their work. You’ll be able to identify your interest in being part of a collective on the registration form.
- The Utah Arts Festival has hired a dedicated social media expert who has made a significant impact for our organization creating engaging, interactive content. We are thrilled to be able to share her skills with participating ArtTour artists in 2024.
- We have a dedicated app built in-house by our amazing web team with a user-friendly interface, better mapping and location services and ability to offer incentives to patrons who visit you to encourage participation.
- We can feature you as an interactive artist, demonstrating artist, or exhibiting artist and share info about activities taking place in your space during the weekend.
- We are encouraging businesses (like local restaurants, coffee shops, bars and art-related businesses) to register to host collectives and to help us build better pathways and fun environments for patrons.
Call for Artists
Registration Fees
- Early Bird Registration: $100 per participating artist during early bird registration, through July 8, 2024.
- Regular Registration: $125 per artist from July 9 through August 23.
- Scholarships: A limited number of Artist Scholarships will be available.
Registration TBA
Collectives
For organizations or businesses, are you interested in hosting artists in your space during ArtTour?
Registration TBA
What participating artists will receive:
- Customizable design assets created by our marketing team plus training for how to use them.
- Paid digital advertising of the ArtTour purchased by Utah Arts Festival.
- Social media promotion through the Utah Arts Festival’s channels utilizing a paid social media expert.
- Media training to help promote your work to the public.
- Earned media opportunities with local TV, radio and print outlets.
- Profile on our website as well as a new and improved iOS and Android app dedicated to the ArtTour.
- Yard sign
Requirements for artist participation:
- All participants are dedicated artists. Both established and emerging artists are welcome.
- Live in or are consistently producing work in Utah and have the ability to display, sell and discuss your work.
- Be willing to invite guests into your identified space during Art Tour.
- Display and sell only original works created by the registered artist.
- Must be open Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 6pm with the option to participate in UAF ArtTour “Opening Night” celebrations Friday 6pm - 9pm on Friday, October 4th. Artist are welcome to open earlier and stay open later and will have the ability to note that on their profile.
- Each participating artist will have a minimum of 8-10 works for display or purchase.
- Be able to facilitate and manage art sales, including making arrangements with gallery representatives if necessary.
- Provide the following items for the website and mobile pass listing
- Artist Description/Bio (80-200 words)
- Location description/instructions
- Images (as .jpg or .png, 1280 x 640 - only 1 per listing)
- Artist website (and/or social media)
- Promote UAF ArtTour participation and the app through personal channels.
- Complete a post-tour evaluation.
Artist FAQ
Who can participate in the UAF ArtTour?
Any full or part-time artist working in Utah. Please note our area of focus this year is the Wasatch Front as we feel we have the best resources to represent those artists. We do hope to expand the area of focus in future years with more enhanced statewide representation.
When is the ArtTour?
October 4-6, 2024 (studios must be open Saturday and Sunday with the option to participate in UAF Studio Tour “Opening Night” celebrations Friday).
Where does the UAF ArtTour take place?
Any registered studio or collective site located in Utah, primarily the Wasatch front.
I live outside Utah. Can I participate?
Yes, you can join or partner with an artist or group site in Utah to open a weekend studio to display and sell your work. You must be present at the studio tour to participate.
My studio is in my home. Can I still participate?
Yes. Many artists work out of their homes, and if you are comfortable inviting people into your space, this will be an excellent opportunity for you to interact with the public and let them see what makes you an artist. After registering, you will be invited to an online workshop on conducting a successful open studio, including one in your home studio. Please consider how easy it is to access your home studio and be prepared to share any helpful tips for patrons in your profile. For example, if you’re in a gated community is there a special way people will have to access your space? Do you live up a long driveway? Perhaps you’ll want directional signage so people know they’re in the right place. What is the best place to park to access your space?
I am not comfortable inviting the public into my home. How can I participate?
We understand that not all artists comfortably invite people into their home studio. The best alternative is to partner with other artists or studios, or potentially participate in one of the collectives.
What are the benefits of participating in the UAF Studio Tour?
- Sales opportunities
- Connection with new art lovers and collectors
- Listing on easy-to-use mobile Utah Arts Festival ArtTour App
- Inclusion in all marketing programs and materials
- Develop relationships with existing collectors and customers
- Friends and family experience “what you do”...
- Interaction with the art-interested public
- Share new ideas and concepts
- Collaboration with other artists
- Participation in a statewide arts event
- Motivation to clean and organize your studio and share work with new audiences
How much does it cost for artists to register?
Registration Fees: $100 through July 8th, $125 through August 9th.
What if I can’t be open on all the days of the tour?
We understand that not all artists can be available all three days, but would still like to participate. Please select the open dates on the registration form.
I have gallery representation. Can I still participate?
Yes. Artists with gallery representation are responsible for making arrangements with their respective galleries. You may also suggest your gallery register as a business.
I am part of an artist collective. Can I participate?
Yes. Registration is individual so each artist wishing to be listed should sign up on their own.
I’m an artist whose work doesn’t fit into one of the traditional mediums. Can I participate?
Yes. The goal of this initiative is to include and highlight artists of all kinds. We want all of our participants to be successful so please reach out to our ArtTour Coordinator for questions or to see if participating is right for you.
Questions?
Program Contact: Sarinda Jones,
Media Contact:
ArtTour Coordinator: Sarinda Jones
Sarinda Jones is a Salt Lake City-based artist with a strong background in fine art and a focus on working with glass for over twenty-five years. Her artistic practice encompasses public art, studio art, and arts education. She firmly believe that art should be accessible to everyone.
Sarinda has firm grasp on the creative process and what it means to be a working artist as well as the business-savvy necessary for success, and is actively involved in promoting and facilitating community engagement with art.
Her experience and insight makes her a wonderful fit to take on this project and manage ArtTour as we work to evolve and grow the program to serve and support a wider array of artists and engage the community. Learn more about Sarinda.
