ArtHop™ 2025 OFFICIAL VENUE Guidelines
**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!