Are you a Mid-South artist who’s beginning a career in the arts? Do you have little to no experience exhibiting and selling your artwork?

Perfect! You’re the kind of talented artist we’re interested in hearing—and seeing—more from.

WHAT IT IS: The Emerging Artist program provides opportunities for artists in the Mid-South to grow their craft, learn more about the business side of the arts and connect with other artists, exhibitors and visitors to RiverArtsFest.

The Emerging Artist program engages working artists who are in the early years of their careers (typically the first 10 years of professional work) and who have achieved a high level of excellence and creativity in their work; yet have very little experience exhibiting and selling their artwork at any venue. The program is ideal for artists interested in learning about festivals as viable sales options for their artwork.

The primary goal of the RiverArtsFest Emerging Artist program is to directly support the advancement and continuation of artists' careers and creative work.

WHY APPLY: Emerging Artists are provided free entry and a 10x10 booth space at the annual festival. In addition to exposure to thousands of festivalgoers and potential sales, Emerging Artists are paired with a mentor—a seasoned festival participant and local artist—for guidance and support throughout the program. Artists also participate in a workshop series provided by RiverArtsFest. 

CRITERIA: RiverArtsFest invites no more than three (3) Emerging Artists annually to participate in its two-day festival.

• You must be an artist located full-time in Shelby County, Tennessee or adjoining counties.

• You must have little to no experience exhibiting and selling your artwork at any venue. You may not have gallery representation or participated in a juried arts festival of RAF caliber.

• You must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application. Exceptions to the age limit may be considered by the RiverArtsFest program director on a case-by-case basis.

• You must be a working visual artist, responsible for creating their original work, not interpreting the work of others or creating under the guidance of an instructor or mentor.

*RiverArtsFest reserves the right to pre-screen and research emerging artists to ensure they are a fit for this category and do not have extensive experience exhibiting and selling their work.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Emerging Artists are selected by the quality of work samples submitted by the artist.

Program applicants must go through the same jury selection process as artists admitted into RiverArtsFest. Artists may apply only to the Emerging Artist program or for the general show, but they may not apply to both.

The program uses a “blind jury” process, meaning that applicants’ names are not revealed to the jurors. Pay careful attention to the specific requirements for submitting work samples and other information.

Work samples must support the selected discipline. Applicants must submit work completed within the past three full calendar years and up to the application deadline (e.g., application deadline of May 31).

Artists must provide an Artist Statement, a brief overview of their current artwork including artistic inspiration, philosophy, evolution of style, current directions, influences, etc. Artist Statements must be written in first person and may not include information that may identify the artist’s identity, particularly their name and contact information.

Digital Images:

• Provide five (5) individual sample images of your work

• Do not include your name or other identifying information on your images.

• The most effective image presentation is one that shows jurors a cohesive, consistent, developed body of your most recent work. Select images representative of your style, and sequence them in a way that will enhance the juror’s understanding of the direction of your work and draw their attention to your most significant pieces.

Work Sample Requirements: All work sample images must be of original pieces made by the applicant. Work samples should be in the same medium. Samples should be of similar style and technique to complement each other and create a cohesive body of work. Each image should include one work sample only. Sets may be considered as one sample, for example, a set of jewelry may consist of earrings, necklace and bracelet designed to be worn together; a tea set may consist of a teapot, creamer, cups and saucers; and a triptych of three separate paintings that combine to make one image, etc.

Naming work sample files: Work sample image file names should begin with the image number followed by the title of the artwork.

Images must be:

• JPG, JPEG format

• Sized at exactly 1920 by 1920 pixels at a resolution of 72 pixels per inch

• Under 250 MB (inclusive of all 5 images)

Do not include your name or other identifying information in your work samples, embedded metadata or in work sample file names. Visual artists must obscure signatures on their artwork. An application submitted with identifying information in any of these areas of the application will result in the application being ruled ineligible.

Work samples are the primary means by which jurors assess artistic and professional quality. Carefully consider your choice of work samples in relation to the program’s application criteria. Images should not include anything that detracts from or interferes with the main subject of the image.

Applicants who are unsure about the eligibility of their work samples should contact the program director at least one week prior to submitting their application. 

If you have questions regarding your application, please email the program director, Ada Askew, at shefineartmemphis@gmail.com.

A SPECIAL THANKS: The RiverArtsFest Emerging Artist Program is funded through an Arts Build Communities (ABC) grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission and Memphis Brand Initiative.