Emerging Artists Program

Supporting equity artists

Outdoor art fair with white tents, artwork displays, and people browsing.

Austin Area Arts is proud to offer this program for another year, encouraging more diverse exhibitors at the event. The Emerging Artists tent on the festival grounds will feature a group of 8 Emerging Artists.

These artists identify as a member of one or more equity populations* and face barriers to exhibiting at the Austin ArtWorks Festival. With grant support, the artists are mentored and equipped to exhibit, gain experience, meet customers, network with peer artists, and build relationships with Austin Area Arts. In addition to potential sales at the event, the artists will gain a resumé credential and knowledge of exhibiting at festivals.

To apply contact kelsey@austinareaarts.org

*Equity Populations: An equity population for this program is defined as any group of people facing oppression, marginalization or other systemic barriers to success in the arts. Some examples of equity populations include Black, Asian, Indigenous, Latinx, biracial/multi-racial, immigrant, refugee, English Language Learners, living with a disability and/or mental illness, formerly incarcerated, low income, LGBTQIA+, etc.

The 2026 Emerging Artists mentor is ARK, 2024 & 2025’s mentor and an emerging artist from 2023.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.