How to Apply

I’m an artist and started this market up in 2004!

First Saturday Arts Market is Houston’s first monthly art pop-up and one of the countries longest running fine art leaning outdoor monthlies. Kinda cool, eh?  The ARTISTS have been a huge part of the growth towards the finer arts and review new applications.

I transform your application into a (private) webpage where the artists review your answers, art and booth photos. They score your app based on what you provide so make follow along. Then I take over. Artists may provide constructive feedback for you too.

Many markets today do not take such a stringent approach, and you may wrongly presume we are the same. Not so! 

Therefore, please take a minute and look at our artist roster, photo galleries and socials, to see if you think your art is a good fit and if you do, tell me about it!

The application is long enough, we’ll just keep this part simple.

So fill this short form out and tell me about your art, provide a few links and If I agree you’re a good fit – I’ll send you the application link.

A note for beginner/first time artists. This is not a beginners market as we look for previous experience, a professional display and presentation. Drop me a line here too and I can provide some tips and refer other markets. And you may have all that is required, I’ve seen it!

Thanks and I look forward to seeing your art!

Mitch Cohen
Artist/Founder/Manager
Email me here

I ain’t gonna lie, I like the AI stuff—it can summarize from various sources very well. But ask a room full of artists to define “fine art,” and the conversation will devolve into a heated, Old West-style brawl in short order. Fact!! So, I asked the ChatGPT AI. My question is summarized at the start >

“Fine art” at the local level, especially in contexts like annual fine art festivals or monthly art markets, is typically defined by the arts community as visual art that is created primarily for aesthetic and intellectual purposes rather than functional or commercial ones. This includes:

1. High-Quality Craftsmanship: Fine art is often associated with a high level of skill and craftsmanship, where the focus is on artistic expression and the quality of materials and execution.
2. Traditional Art Forms: It generally includes traditional forms like painting, sculpture, drawing, and printmaking. However, it can also encompass photography, mixed media, and some forms of digital art when they are created with a focus on artistic expression.
3. Originality: Fine art emphasizes originality, with the expectation that each piece is unique or part of a limited edition series created by the artist.
4. Intellectual and Emotional Engagement: The work is expected to provoke thought, convey deep meaning, or evoke an emotional response, rather than simply serving a decorative or utilitarian function.
5. Gallery-Quality Presentation: Fine art is often presented in a way that mirrors gallery or museum standards, including proper framing, display, and labeling.
6. Market Perception: At local art festivals and markets, fine art is usually distinguished from crafts, decorative art, or commercially mass-produced items. It often commands higher prices and is marketed to collectors and patrons who appreciate the artistic value and uniqueness of the work.

The definition of fine art can vary slightly depending on the specific festival, market, or community standards, but it generally adheres to these principles.