Art Festival Directors Conference
April 24-26, 2024 - Registration Open
Early Discount Deadline 1/15/24
LOCATION: Sheraton Oklahoma City Downtown Hotel, One North Broadway Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102
TIME: Wed, April 24th - Opening Night of Festival of the Arts (Ticketed Event) | Thurs, April 25, 8am to 5pm | Friday, April 26th, 8am to 3pm
REGISTRATION: Registration Opens 9/1/23
COST: In Person Only: $595 until 1/15/24 | $695 1/16/24 - 3/15/24 | $795 3/16 to 4/20/24
CONFERENCE CHAIRS:
Cindy Lerick - President, Art of Events LLC
Seth Lewis - Festival Director, Arts Council Oklahoma City
Robin Markowitz - Executive Director, Art-Linx
Kerry Murphy - CEO/President, Artisphere
EVENT DETAILS
This two and a half day professional development event brings together show directors and those connected to the industry for learning, discussion, inspiration and networking opportunities. This conference is tailored to individuals who are involved with
the planning of an art fairs or festivals, including board chairs, council or chamber staff, and volunteers.
REFUNDS: This conference is a labor of love and break even at best - your payment is your committment to the conference.
Conference attendees will have the opportunity to participate in:
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Vital networking events
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Presentations by experts highlighting critical trends affecting the art fair industry
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Training on skills to amplify visibility of festivals, grow participation, promote artistic excellence and more
Conference Schedule Coming - All times and presentations are subject to change
This conference is produced by Art-Linx
Please contact Robin Markowitz at 202-251-0637 or email robin@art-linx.com with any questions
CONFERENCE CHAIR BIOS
Conference Co-Chair Cindy Lerick, President of The Art of Events, providing services to a broad range of festivals and events around the world. Cindy has been the Executive Director of ArtFest Fort Meyers (FL), Sausalito Art Festival (CA), Executive Director/President of the Saint Louis Art Fair from 2009 - 2017. Before that she was the Executive Director of the Uptown Association and the Uptown Art Fair (1996-2007). She also co-produced the Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival from 2002-2004.
Conference Producer and Co-Chair: Robin Markowitz has been immersed in the art festival world as a Jewelry Artist, Art Festival Director, Principal at Art-Linx and Editor of the Art Festival Newsletter. I began my art career as a jeweler, showcasing my work at juried art festivals since 1995 and have served as an Festival Director since 2009. Art-Linx is the culmination of all my art expertise. Art-Linx is the only multi-platform connecting service for the art festival community: connecting artists to art shows, directors to directors and galleries/art publications to artists. The Art Festival Newsletter (published 6x per year) has topical articles for the art professional and highlights industry trends.
Conference Co-Chair Kerry Murphy, is the CEO and President of Artisphere. Under her leadership the festival is consistently recognized as a one of the country’s TOP Fine Art & Fine Craft Shows by Art Fair Sourcebook and Sunshine Artist magazine. Kerry oversees all aspects of planning and implementing this three-day multi-disciplinary event that brings more than 70,000 people to downtown Greenville to enjoy a range of activities surrounding the arts. Prior to joining Artisphere, Kerry served as the Executive Director of Carolina Ballet Theatre, and as a Sponsorship Consultant for Southern Hospitality Group working with such local events as The Cliffs Challenge, a televised golf tournament, and the USA Cycling Pro Championships.
She currently serves as the Vice Chair of the City of Greenville’s Arts in Public Places Commission.
Conference Co-Chair Seth Lewis is Director of the Festival of the Arts (Oklahoma City). As Festival Director, he works with volunteer co-chairs to oversee and coordinate the planning and implementation of all Festival activities developed by over 40 volunteer committees. In his role, he works with volunteer leaders to recruit and train approximately 400 volunteers and maintain a team environment that facilitates the volunteer/staff partnership necessary to produce a successful Festival. Seth formerly worked in sports entertainment with the OKC Dodgers and the hospitality and event industry in Oklahoma City.
2022 Conference Participants by Festival or Organziation
4 Bridges Arts Festival (TN)
An Occasion for the Arts (VA)
Artisphere (SC)
Art-Linx (MD)
Art of Events (MN)
Capital Art and Craft Festivals (Spargo, Inc.) (VA)
CenterFest Arts Festival/Durham Arts Council (NC)
CherryArts (CO)
Consociate Media (VA)
Evergreen Fine Arts Festival (CO)
ISO Arts Consulting (PA)
Lenexa Art Fair (KS)
Mount Gretna Art Show (PA)
Mountain Art Festivals (CO)
Mountain Heritage Arts & Crafts Festival (WV)
Oklahoma Festival of Arts (OK)
Omaha Summer Arts Festival (NE)
Olathe Arts Festival (KS)
PA Guild of Craftsmen (PA)
Port Warwick Foundation (VA)
Renaissance Craftables (NJ & PA)
Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show (PA)
Rose Squared Art Shows (NJ)
Saint Louis Art Fair (MO)
St. George Arts Festival (UT)
Shenandoah Valley Art Center (VA)
Tephra Fine Arts Festival (Tephra ICA) (VA)
The Peoria Art Guild (IL)
Waterford Fair (VA)
VisArts Gallery (MD)
VisArts' Rockville Arts Festival (MD)
Zapplication (CO)
2019 Conference Participants by Festival or Organziation
4 Bridges Arts Festival (TN)
An Occasion for the Arts (VA)
Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original (MI)
Artisphere (SC)
Art-Linx (MD)
Art of Events (MN)
Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts (PA)
CherryArts (CO)
Cornell Art Museum Art on the Square (FL)
Engenius (AL)
Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce (AZ)
Frederick Festival of the Arts (MD)
Fourth Avenue Street Fair (AZ)
IMAGES (FL)
Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff (MI)
Lenexa Art Fair (KS)
Mount Gretna Art Show (PA)
Mountain Art Festivals (CO)
Mountain Heritage Arts & Crafts Festival (WV)
Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival (VA)
Oklahoma Festival of Arts (OK)
Prairie Village Art Show (KS)
Redlands Festival of Arts (CA)
Renaissance Craftables (NJ & PA)
Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show (PA)
Rockville Arts Festival (MD)
Rose Squared Productions (NJ)
Saffire (TX)
Saint Louis Art Fair (MO)
Sedona Arts Festival (AZ)
Shenandoah Valley Art Center (VA)
Stockley Gardens Arts Festival (VA)
Summerfair Cincinnati (OH)
Waterford Fair (VA)
Vail Arts Festival (CO)
Zapplication (CO)