April 9-10, 2025
Registration Open
Deadline: Febuary 28th to pay standard registration fee - payment plans available
LOCATION
The Chattanoogan Hotel, 1201 Broad St, Chattanooga, TN 37402
TIME
Tuesday, April 8, 2025 – Welcome Reception (5pm tentative time)
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 – 8am to 4pm
Thursday, April 10, 2025 – 8am to 4pm
Friday, April 11, 2025 – Opening Night of 4 Bridges (Ticketed Event)
REGISTRATION
Registration Open – https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1tQ1OQizG-VklQrkmsO25irF2ROzs1FKXAgTitbJszVE/edit
COST – In Person Only
$725 1/1/25 – 2/28/25
$825 3/1/25 – 4/1/25
REFUNDS
This conference is a labor of love and break even at best – your payment is your commitment to the conference.
EVENT DETAILS
This two-day professional development event (opportunity to stay for 4 Bridges opening night) 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 art fairs or festivals, including board chairs, council or chamber staff, and volunteers.
CONFERENCE CHAIRS
Cindy Lerick – President, Art of Events LLC
Robin Markowitz – Executive Director, Art-Linx
Sarah Moore – Festival Director, 4 Bridges Arts Festival
Kerry Murphy – CEO/President, Artisphere
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
Tuesday, April 8th
5pm – 7pm Reception
Wenesday, April 9th
Topics of Discussion
- 13th Annual State of the Artist Survey – Speaker, Robin Markowitz
- Audience Development – how to educate a younger audience about what it means to collect art – Speaker, Sarah Moore
- How to respond to negative publicity or social media – Speaker Robin Derryberry
Thursday, April 10th
Topics of Discussion
- Artist Hospitality – share ideas for raising the bar
- Tourism Grants – Donna Harrison, Chattanooga Tourism
- Director Stress Management Session – Dr. Cheyela Rowe
Friday, April 11th – 4 Bridges Opening Night
All conference particants are welcome to help Sarah on Friday morning with show logistics and load-in. She would be very grateful for your experienced help.
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 Chairs
Conference Co-Chair Cindy Lerick, President of The Art of Events, is an accomplished educator currently serving as an instructor at Kansas State University within the Department of Hospitality Management. With a diverse career spanning several decades, Lerick has made significant contributions to both the nonprofit and events industries. Her journey began as the owner of a road race production and timing company, showcasing her entrepreneurial spirit. Transitioning seamlessly into nonprofit leadership, she worked with organizations orchestrating large-scale events.
In her role as President of Art of Events LLC, a consulting firm specializing in nonprofit community festivals and arts, Lerick has provided exceptional leadership and services to clients nationwide. Noteworthy projects include remote management of event staff/board and interns during the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual event management for the arts, project leadership, board development, strategic planning, and event and festival management. Her clients include esteemed organizations such as the Saint Louis Art Fair, Coconut Grove Art Festival, Southern Highland Craft Guild, and the Philadelphia Flower Show.
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 Sarah Moore, Sarah Moore is a native Chattanoogan who has spent her entire professional career in the nonprofit sector, dedicated to arts and educational causes. With a BA in art from Carleton College and an MA in museum studies from George Washington University, she enjoys helping others find ways to create a meaningful space for art in their lives. She has worked at AVA since September 2019, when she came on to run the nationally-recognized 4 Bridges Arts Festival. In 2021, she started the Between the Bridges festival to give local artists a step up to selling at larger festivals. She has served as a Juror for Artisphere in Greenville, SC (2023) and the spring 2024 Tennessee Craft fair in Nashville. In her spare time, she’s an avid knitter and fiber arts enthusiast, loves to cook and bake, and is a die-hard Olympics fan. She lives with two ridiculous cats named Marvin and Floyd.
Conference Participants by Festival or Organization
2024
4 Bridges Arts Festival (TN)
An Occasion for the Arts (VA)
Artisphere (SC)
Art-Linx
Art of Events
Art in the Loop (TN)
Art Worth (TX)
CherryArts (CO)
Coconut Grove Arts Festival (FL)
Colorado Art Shows (CO)
Evergreen Fine Arts Festival (CO)
Festival of the Arts – Arts Council of Oklahoma City (OK)
Hotworks, LLC (FL, MI)
Lenexa Art Fair (KS)
Mount Gretna Art Show (PA)
Mountain Art Festivals (CO)
National Association of Independent Artists
Olathe Arts Festival (KS)
Port Warwick Foundation (VA)
Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show (PA)
Rose Squared Art Shows (DE, NJ, PA)
Saint Louis Art Fair (MO)
Smoky Hill River Festival (KS)
St. George Arts Festival (UT)
Tephra ICA Arts Festival (VA)
The Peoria Art Guild (IL)
Waterford Fair (VA)
VisArts’ Rockville Arts Festival (MD)
Zapplication (CO)
