Farmers’ and Artisan markets in the summer season provide artists and crafters with a valuable opportunity to market their trades, sell their work, and be part of the vibrant Columbus community. Every summer through fall, downtown Columbus is home to the Pearl Alley Farmers’ Market, which now serves as a valuable service opportunity for VSA Ohio, the state organization on art and disability.
Last year, VSA Ohio recognized a unique opportunity to support the creative careers of our primary constituents, artists with disabilities. Outdoor markets are an important method for artists to market their work, meet new audiences, and access buyers. Unfortunately, artists with disabilities encounter multiple barriers to participation in large-scale festivals and markets: rental costs are high and due up front, reliable transportation is needed, time commitments are large, and the physical demands of setting up a booth or a tent may be too much.
VSA Ohio realized that for a small rental fee and a few hours of our time, we could rent a booth space at Pearl Alley and break down many of these barriers. VSA Ohio now puts out a Call for Pearl Market Merchants in the spring, encouraging individual artists and arts studios that serve people with disabilities to sign up for any Friday from May through September – with no rental fees. Pearl Market staff makes breaks down physical barriers to participation by providing staff to set up booths and tents for all vendors, a valuable service for everyone. VSA Ohio’s artists bring unique flair and character to the market with a plethora of products and works of art including paintings, prints, photographs, sculptures, jewelry, and textiles.
Participating in a farmer’s market provides a valuable outlet for artists to sell their work. This real world experience is also essential development for all creative professionals to create marketing materials, design an attractive sales space, and engage directly with audiences and potential patrons.
We invite you to join us at the Pearl Alley Farmer’s Market, now through September. Stop by the VSA Ohio booth to get to know one of our constituent artists. We’re there every Friday, from 10am-2pm in Pearl and Lynn Alleys in downtown Columbus. For more information on VSA Ohio, visit www.vsao.org or call 614.241.5325.
GCAC Presents is a bi-weekly column brought to you by the Greater Columbus Arts Council – supporting art and advancing culture in Columbus – in partnership with the Columbus Arts Marketing Association, a professional development and networking association of arts marketers. Each column will be written by a different local arts organization to give you an insiders look at the arts in Columbus.