The City Market Building in downtown Roanoke, which has been looking for ways to get more people through its doors since reopening several years ago, is taking an artful approach. Beginning in May it will invite a dozen local artists a month – visual or otherwise – to set up shop on the second Sunday of each month.
At the same time says Michelle Dykstra, the building’s director, the food vendors have vowed to be open for business during the Second Sunday Art Market, creating what Dykstra calls “a nice lively atmosphere inside the market building.”
Spaces can be reserved for $25 apiece after the City Market staff reviews and approves applications from artists. Its no fundraiser though – Dykstra said that space-holding fee will be returned to each participating artist as a $25 gift certificate that vendors at the market building will accept.
Dykstra made the announcement recently at a social event put on by the Roanoke Arts Commission. “Everybody wants to see if it’s going to succeed,” said Dykstra. She adds that it really is going to be a community event. “We need the artists to be excited about it and want to participate.”
Applications for the first Second Sunday on the Market (May 10th) will be accepted through the middle of the first week in April; after that there will be a monthly deadline for the following month’s event. Applications can be found on the newly revised website, citymarketbuilding.com, which Dykstra said was set to debut late this week. You can also get an application for a space by e-mailing Dykstra, [email protected].
“The process is open to all artists,” said Dykstra, and it may be themed at times – like all works under $200 that day for example. “No matter the medium, the age, past performance history or anything like that …we are looking to get new artists and existing artists alike.”
Gene Marrano
