Released by Artisphere.
Artisphere presented by TD Bank, one of the consistently top-ranked art festivals in the country, will take place May 7-9 in downtown Greenville. This year's festival will be safe, small, and socially distanced, and will span four gated blocks of South Main Street from the intersection of River and Augusta to Markley at Fluor Field.
With over 100 juried visual artists selected from an applicant pool of 999 from all over the U.S., Artisphere is committed to providing a safe venue for patrons to enjoy this much anticipated family-friendly festival. Artisphere is excited to keep art at the hear of this year's event, and to promote sales for both the artists and for our vibrant downtown.
Artisphere 2021 MapArtisphere
"At TD Bank, we are pleased to continue our partnership with Artisphere, because we believe arts and culture make considerable and necessary contribution to the well-being of our community," said Chris Fincher, Regional Vice President for TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank. "We look forward to celebrating the creativity of the talented artists participating and the dynamic arts culture of the Upstate with a safe, small, and socially distanced festival this year."
As Greenville's first large scale outdoor event to take place in 2021, Artisphere will gated in order to manage crowd size. With timed and ticketed entry, patrons are strongly encouraged to pre-register for one, or more, of the ten 2 1/2 hour time slots. The online reservation system at artisphere.org will open to VIPs March 1st and to the public March 15th. A $5 reservation fee will be assessed and then returned to patrons at the gate in the form of Artisphere credit to use toward purchasing art at the festival. Masks are required and hand washing and hand sanitizing stations will be in abundance. Social distancing reminders will be posted throughout the festival site.
Greenville artist and multiple Artisphere award recipient Joseph Bradley says "I'm so proud that the board of Artisphere and City of Greenville have decided to go forward with the festival for 2021. Rather than canceling, I'm excited to see events looking for solutions to keep everyone safe during the pandemic. Artisphere is a nationally recognized Art Festival and we're thrilled to set an example of how outdoor events can proceed as we transition to a post-pandemic country."
In addition to GE Artist Row, a number of signature Artisphere experiences will be on offer: Clemson STEAM Exhibit, Spinx Kidsphere, Legacy Early College Kidsphere Music, Live Art Demonstrations, Street Chalk Art and more. Engaging at-home experiences such as the Art Lab and the Artists of the Upstate Juried Exhibition will also be offered virtually. The full roster of artists is now live; further programming details will be announced as the festival nears.
Walk up tickets will be available at the gate during the festival weekend, but organizers encourage advance reservations to ensure your spot at the show. "Having done our due diligence to poll patron confidence and enthusiasm, we expect a robust attendance," stated Artisphere Board President, Allison Spinks. "We hope to see you there!"
For more information about festival attractions or how become at Artisphere VIP, visit artisphere.org.
