The art business is no different than most other commercial enterprises: it takes a little money to make a little money. That is true for all of the artists who show their wares at the annual Cherry Creek Arts Festival. Setting up those displays of painting, sculpture, jewelry, photography, ceramics and more requires a significant investment in raw material.
Paint does not come cheap, nor do cameras, clay, precious stones, sheet metal and other supplies. On top of that, individual artists often need to invest in infrastructure costs, like studio rent or installing a kiln or a wood-cutting workshop. Then, they need to invest in the fair itself.
Renting a booth, transporting their work to the site, and three days worth of labor greeting potential buyers. For artists just starting out — who need to navigate the best ways to turn a profit — the job can be daunting. The Cherry Creek Arts Festival has long offered a leg up for newcomers to the art fair world.
For two decades, its Emerging Artists Program has provided mentorship for artists who are in the process of getting their careers going. The program offers professional advice, plus free booth rent for their first fair. This year, to celebrate the program’s 20th anniversary, the fest is kicking it up a notch.
For the first time, it will offer direct financial support, awarding grants of $5,000 to the five artists selected for the 2024 event. “We do workshops with them, about everything from how to price your work to ho.