**NOTE** THIS APPLICATION IS FOR VENUES (GALLERIES, CAFES, BUSINESSES WITH PHYSICAL LOCATION) NOT VENDORS. Fresno Arts Council does not manage independent vendors for ArtHop.
Please call the Downtown Fresno Partnership for a list of vendor contacts. 559-490-9966. Thanks!
1. Annual ArtHop™ membership fee is $180.00 for the period of ArtHop™-related art programming occurring between January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025.
2. ArtHop™ participation requires a physical location to exhibit artwork, depending on circumstances that may be related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic or other public health emergencies and/or natural disasters. The Fresno Arts Council will assist you in contacting artists, or you can use our website and social networks to post an open call for artists.
3. ArtHop™ is FREE to the public and there is NO FEE for artists to exhibit artwork at your location. Therefore, you are prohibited from charging entrance fees and/or ticket sales during ArtHop™ and/or broker fees for exhibitions. You may, however, discuss the terms and rates of a commission from any sales made during ArtHop™ or the exhibition period at your location at your discretion.
4. Once you have confirmed and booked an artist for the exhibition, please inform your artist(s) with a production timeline for the agreed-upon exhibition in a reasonable manner, i.e. one-day or monthlong exhibit or more, so that artist(s) can prepare. We suggest drafting an agreement with your artist(s) that clearly states the dates and times for both installation and removal of each confirmed booking with your artist(s).
5. ArtHop™ is observed on the first and third Thursday of each month between the hours of 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. You are welcome to open your ArtHop™ event(s) earlier and/or extend your hours past this general event period.
a. ArtHop™ venues will provide a public reception during ArtHop™ hours, or from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Music and/or other artistic performances are optional but encouraged. Receptions may include snacks or appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages. Venues that choose to serve alcohol must be compliant with ordinances from the City of Fresno: you may need to acquire a one-day license or permit. If serving alcoholic beverages, venues should monitor the serving area to ensure that no minors under 21 years of age are served whether directly or indirectly.
b. All exhibiting artists must be present and/or available during the ArtHop™ event to greet the public and discuss their artwork. ArtHop™ venues will be supplied with ArtHop™ brochures for promotion. If you require additional printed brochures during the 2024 season, please contact the Fresno Arts Council during regular business hours.
c. The first Thursday ArtHop™ is held in Downtown Fresno and the Tower District areas; the third Thursday ArtHop™ is held in the greater Fresno metropolitan area, including the City of Clovis and outlying areas of Fresno County.
6. The Fresno Arts Council does not provide insurance coverage for your ArtHop™ event and is not responsible for any damages and/or loss of property. Venues will provide insurance for ArtHop™. Artist(s) featured during ArtHop™. Featured Artists will provide insurance coverage for their own artwork(s) exhibited.
7. ArtHop™ venues are responsible for submitting event programming updates, including any flyers and/or social media, to the Fresno Arts Council by the Friday before the next scheduled ArtHop™ date. This will allow Fresno Arts Council staff time to promote your upcoming ArtHop™ event(s) online through our website, e-newsletters, and social media. You may send (1) image and a brief blurb (200 words or less) describing the event to elisa.flores@fresnoartscouncil.org.
8. ArtHop™ venues are encouraged to release promotional materials to the media (and the Fresno Arts Council) at least 30 days prior to the event. Please email announcements to elisa.flores@fresnoartscouncil.org. Printed materials may be delivered to the Fresno Arts Council during regular business hours or mailed to our address: 1245 Van Ness Avenue, Fresno CA 93721.
If you have questions about the terms of these general guidelines, please contact elisa.flores@fresnoartscouncil.org or call (559) 237-9734 during our regular business hours. We are open Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM PDT/PST. Thank you for your support for the arts in Fresno County, and for sustaining ArtHop™’s 25th year of free and public arts programming!
The Fresno Arts Council in partnership with The Fresno City Hall, is now accepting submissions from artists, art groups and art organizations to exhibit artwork at one of two floors from January 1, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2025.
FRESNO ARTS COUNCIL & CITY OF FRESNO EXHIBITS IN PUBLIC PLACES GUIDELINES
2025
PURPOSE
The City of Fresno (City) and the Fresno Arts Council (FAC) wishes to expand the art experience for the public, to make available to this community artwork of high quality, to help create a more visually pleasing environment, and seek to provide awareness in the diverse histories and cultures of this community.
STATEMENT OF INTENT
City Hall is a public facility of the City; it’s not a formal museum, nor is it a commercial gallery; it’s a facility for conducting government business. The audience ranges from children to the aged, from employees to the general public, from people with limited life experiences to the sophisticated, from the few who come to the facility specifically to see the exhibits to the many that are required to be present for various reasons. The exhibit provides artists with access to a wider audience, and it provides the public an exposure to art, which they might not seek on their own. All exhibits should be appropriate for such a mixed audience. Artwork that makes Political Commentary will not be displayed.
CITY & FAC RESPONSIBILITIES
1. The City and FAC will be responsible for providing the necessary supplies needed for hanging the exhibits. If special equipment is required, FAC and their Curators will coordinate with the Exhibitor and the City.
2. The City and FAC do not provide insurance for the artwork of the Exhibitor.
EXHIBIT CRITERIA
1. Each work cannot be taller than 34”; the length size is open on north and south walls; on east walls, work can be considerably higher, but not wider than 54”. Each work cannot weigh over 50 lbs. All work needs to be wired to hang in our hanging system.
2. Each work must be completely dry--no freshly painted work accepted; professionally finished and framed (uni-frames not acceptable); backed with hooks and coated wire positioned near top of work and ready for display. If wire is positioned too close to the middle of the piece it will not hang flat.
3. Write artist name and title of work on the back of each work.
1. Exhibitor will deliver work on the scheduled dates at City Hall at 8:30 a.m. and pick up work at 8:30 a.m.
2. Pedestals or easels to display work are not permitted due to safety regulations at City Hall.
3. Deliver work and labels describing each work (headstones) to be displayed next to each work. Print labels using Avery “Clean Edge” Business Cards; handwritten labels not accepted for display. No changes to labels will be permitted during the exhibit. If changes are required contact FAC with said changes and provide an equal label for replacement. Sold pieces can be marked with a dot sticker on the label. The information required on the labels are as follows:
Title of work
Name of artist
Medium
Year
Price; show NFS if not for sale
Exhibitor will provide FAC a list of work exhibited. If possible, include numbered stickers on artwork matching the artwork to the numbers on the list.
7. Exhibitions must include an “Artist Statement” describing artwork, size 8.5” x 11” framed, mounted and ready for display. Email the statement for approval prior to the exhibition date to: elisa.flores@fresnoartscouncil.org
8. Exhibitor will deliver work at City Hall. PLEASE NOTE: Artwork will be selected and hung at the discretion of the Preparator PRIOR TO BEING HUNG. After work has been selected, Exhibitor will take the work that was not selected.
ARTIST OR ORGANIZATION RESPONSIBILITIES
The Exhibitor selected to display artwork at City Hall must comply with the following guidelines:
1. Signed Agreement and Schedule of Works must be submitted to FAC before exhibition is mounted.
2. Schedule of Works must include prices consistent with the labels displayed.
3. Provide the name of a person to coordinate and oversee all arrangements necessary for the exhibition, publicity and installation plans. Exhibitor must provide all labor to transport work to City Hall, and whatever else is deemed appropriate.
4. Exhibitor will deliver and pick up work by designated schedule. If work not claimed by the pickup date, it will be transported and stored at the FAC office.
5. Exhibitor can provide a reception during ArtHop on the first Thursday of the month from
5-8 pm; free to the public. Receptions not on a regularly scheduled ArtHop must be approved in advance by FAC.
6. An Alcohol permit must be requested a month in advance in order to serve alcohol during your reception. No alcoholic beverages are served to minors at the receptions.
7. NO WINE BOTTLES OR GLASSES ARE ALLOWED IN CITY HALL. Box wine, wine bags, beer cans are allowed.
8. Exhibitor must be present during the ArtHop event, or other receptions open to the public.
9. No soliciting of a private or political nature shall occur with the exception of informational material regarding the artist’s work or the organization itself.
10. Public information and/or advertising regarding the exhibition, receptions and other activities are the responsibility of the exhibitor. FAC must approve the use of their name in any promotional materials and reception details in advance.
11. Exhibitor must provide their own insurance; the City and FAC does not provide insurance.
12. Artwork displayed may be available for sale. Exhibitor is responsible for the sale transactions. The interested party will contact FAC and we’ll contact the Exhibitor.
13. Exhibitor agrees to notify FAC one month in advance, or ASAP, if unable to exhibit work during the scheduled dates at City Hall. FAC will seek a replacement for the exhibition.
EXHIBIT RESTRICTIONS
1.Artwork will not be displayed without a signed Agreement and a Schedule of Works.
2. All exhibits and events are subject to change without notice. FAC will do their best to keep in contact with Exhibitor of any changes.
3. Artwork cannot be added or removed premature to the exhibition schedule.
4. Artwork must not be of a nature that would threaten public safety or contain graphic nudity or profanity.
5. Exhibits must abide by all City and Fire Code Regulations; access must be available to all exits at City Hall.
6. No painting or reconstruction of any wall is allowed.
7. No hammering, screwing, or pounding, or attaching anything to the exhibit walls, spaces, or areas are allowed. Hanging rails and display space and area must be used appropriately.
Please sign this form. if selected, to exhibit at City Hall and you agree with all the above guidelines. This form must be signed and received within 15 days of notification to Exhibitor, or this agreement is cancelled.
Exhibitor’s Signature: ______________________________________________________
Printed Name: ____________________________________________________________
Date: ___________________________________________________________________
Home Phone: ____________________________________________________________
Cell: ____________________________________________________________________
E-mail: __________________________________________________________________
Note: This is an abridged version of the City of Fresno Exhibits in Public Places Policy accepted by the Fresno City Council on June 2, 1992.
Fresno Arts Council seeks qualified panelists to serve as adjudicators to review for the Expanded Access to Arts and Culture Fund. Accepted panelist applicants may serve on multiple panels (General Operating Support and Project-Specific Support).
An adjudication panel made up of community members representative of the cultural, demographic, and geographic diversity of Fresno will be assembled. They may include artists, culture bearers, and Non-Profit administrators. The Commission and Fresno Arts Council shall ensure that grant applications are reviewed in a transparent, competitive process. A list of eligible panelists will be submitted to the PRAC prior to the start of the adjudication to review process.
Panelists are required to declare any possible conflict of interest at the time of application. Panelists may not be on the board or staff of any applicant for that grant cycle, nor related by blood or marriage to any applicant in that grant cycle. Panelist applicants who will submit grant applications may not serve on the adjudication to review panel for the grant for which they intend to apply.
Ex. If you are associated with an organization that will submit both General Operating Support and Project-Specific Support, you may not serve as a panelist; if you are associated with an organization that will submit a General Operating Support Grant application, you may serve only on the Project-Specific Grant panel, provided that you did not also submit an application in that category; and so on.
Panelist Application Opens: March 3, 2025
Panelist Application Deadline: May 15, 2025
The panelist review period is anticipated to be during June-July 2025 (dates are subject to change).