Art Hop FAQ

General

  • SEABA’s South End Art Hop started as a way to showcase local talents (featured in an old train car!) and has grown to over 100 locations featuring thousands of pieces of artwork with countless activities indoors and out for all ages. The community arts festival takes place over three days in September every year, the weekend after Labor Day, and is located throughout the South End Arts District in Burlington, Vermont.

    2024 South End Art Hop takes place September 6, 7, & 8

  • There are many ways to participate in Art Hop!

    Artists and businesses with a South End bricks-and-mortar location will want to sign up for an Art Hop Site Listing on the map.

    Artists that want to showcase their artwork through a SEABA curated site, may register to exhibit up to 5 pieces of artwork to be shown throughout historic buildings in the South End Arts District. SEABA installs, labels, and sells the work for you online!

    Artists may participate in the South End Art Hop Juried Show by submitting images of up to two pieces of artwork to compete for awards and prize money.

    Artists may register to vend at the outdoor Saturday Market during Art Hop weekend.

    Supporting Members can get in touch at outreach@seaba.com to discuss different ways to participate.

    Businesses may sponsor the South End Art Hop and take part in customized programming.

    Food Vendors may apply for consideration to be part of the event!

    Attendees, you are the reason for the event! Pick up an Art Hop Program in the Seven Days on September 4th to plan your weekend! It’s free to attend, though donations are encouraged!

  • Art Hop registration is now closed for 2024.

    Access to South End Art Hop registration is a SEABA member benefit, you need to be a member at the time of registration AND at the time of Art Hop in order to participate. You will be asked to log in before registering. If you have any questions about your membership, contact outreach@seaba.com. Not a member yet? Join here.

    The deadline for registration this year is July 31st. This is earlier than in some previous years. We heard from you that things often feel hectic leading up to Art Hop. This earlier deadline will allow us to facilitate a more deliberate, relaxed lead-up to the event.

  • Thank you for joining SEABA! If you would like to take part in Art Hop (we hope you will!) you must register separately to be an Art Hop Site, to take part in the juried show, or to participate in other ways.

  • There is no application process for Art Hop (or for SEABA membership), and we welcome your participation!

  • Artists who don’t have a studio in the South End (and those who do!) can:
    * Take part in the juried show
    * Exhibit up to six pieces of art at a SEABA-curated site
    * Vend at our Saturday artists market

    If you’d like to register for the juried show, exhibiting at a SEABA-curated site, or vending at the Artist Market, you can do that on the Art Hop registration page. Remember that you need to become a SEABA Artist Member in order to access Art Hop registration.

    In addition: Many artists and businesses who do have locations in the South End invite other artists in to exhibit/vend for Art Hop weekend. SEABA does not directly facilitate these partnerships, but we’re happy to see them happen!

    If you partner with a South End location, there are two ways to get listed in the Art Hop program:
    * When your location registers as an open-to-the-public Art Hop site, they can add a line listing for you. This will only include your name and medium. It does involve a small extra fee, so be sure to ask your location how they’d like to be reimbursed for that.
    * You can register as a site yourself! This means that your contact information will also get listed, and that you’ll receive your own number on the Art Hop map. You’ll need to become a SEABA member, and then register as an Art Hop site on the Art Hop registration page.

  • We invite businesses from outside (and inside!) the South End to sponsor Art Hop! Contact outreach@seaba.com if you’d like to learn more.

    Partner with a South End business: Many businesses that do have locations in the South End invite other businesses to join them in the celebrations. Do you make tasty beverages? Perhaps a South End business or studio would love for you to offer a tasting sometime during Art Hop weekend. Do you make products that compliment another business’ wares? They might invite you in as a vendor. SEABA does not directly facilitate these partnerships, but we’re happy to see them happen!

    If you partner with a local business or artist, there are two ways to be sure you’re listed in the Art Hop program:
    * If you’re participating for most of the weekend, you’ll want to register as a site yourself. This means that your contact information will also get listed, and that you’ll receive your own number on the Art Hop map. You’ll need to become a SEABA member, and then register as an Art Hop site on the Art Hop registration page.
    * If you’re only participating for a short period of time, the location you’re partnering with can register as a site and then list your portion of the event as an Art Hop happening.

    Food vendors: If you’re a food vendor, we welcome you to apply at this link!

  • Kids Hop: Nonprofits (both in and out of the South End) may participate in Kids Hop on Saturday, September 7th from 9am to 2pm. We provide the space at the Farmers Market, and you provide the tent and free kids' activities. Contact outreach@seaba.com by August 7th to let us know if you're interested in participating this year.

    Partner with a South End location: Artists and businesses with locations in the South End are sometimes open to sharing space with a local nonprofit. Do you have a volunteer or other supporter in the South End? Or does a South End artist’s work pair well with your cause? Check in with them to see if they might have space available. SEABA does not directly facilitate these partnerships, but we’re happy to see them happen!

    If you partner with a local business or artist, you can be listed in the Art Hop program as a site. This means that your contact information will also get listed, and that you’ll receive your own number on the Art Hop map. You’ll need to become a SEABA member, and then register as an Art Hop site on the Art Hop registration page.

  • SEABA’s own permit for Art Hop does not cover dancing or amplification. However, many venues on Pine Street host events during Art Hop weekend. Reach out to the venue that you think you would be the best fit for and ask if they have applied for the correct permits by July 31 to be approved by the City in August.

  • It’s easy! First, register as an open-to-the-public site. Your confirmation email will include a link to SEABA’s South End calendar, where members can post (and update) upcoming events. When you register as a site, your Art Hop weekend event listings are included at no extra charge. (We reserve the right to edit event listings for length.) Be sure to post your event details by August 7th, so that we can include it in the program.

  • Art Hop Sites can host a Kids Hop activity at their own location on Saturday, September 7th from 9am to 2pm. Post the activity on the SEABA Member Calendar using the link in your confirmation email (just like you would with any Art Hop "hoppening"), and we'll include it in the program. (We reserve the right to edit for space. Kids Hop activities must be free.)

    Nonprofits (both in and out of the South End) may participate in Kids Hop at the Farmers Market on Saturday, September 9th from 9am to 2pm. We provide the space at the Farmers Market, and you provide the tent and free kids' activities. Contact outreach@seaba.com by August 7th to let us know if you're interested in participating this year. We ask that nonprofits hosting Kids Hop activities at the Farmers Market have a current SEABA Business/Organization Membership.

  • Refunds are available through July 31st. If you need to request a refund, please contact outreach@seaba.com.

  • The entire South End Arts District takes community safety seriously. Follow any posted signage on mask wearing and capacities. Utilize hand-sanitizing stations or bring your own. If you are not feeling well or have been in contact with someone with COVID-19, please stay home.

    Follow all guidelines to keep safe from EEE. Most Art Hop sites are indoors during daytime hours. Take precautions in the evening by using approved insect repellent, wear long sleeves and pants.

    A few helpful links:

    You may enjoy all SEABA exhibitions online, and curated exhibitions are on view for up to three months should you wish to avoid the crowds during Art Hop weekend.

Art Hop Sites

  • As an Art Hop site, you’ll get a number on the Art Hop map, and we’ll list your address and website in the program that is printed as an insert in 35,000 copies of the Seven Days! We’ll also include your featured artist’s name and medium. (No featured artist? No problem! More than one featured artist? You can purchase additional artist line listings.) If you’re hosting special events or promotions, we’ll list those, too. We’ll also provide a numbered Art Hop poster so folks can find your location. On top of all this, you’ll be helping to support Art Hop as a whole.

  • No, only the main site has to be a member in order to register. (Of course, we encourage artists to register as members, and hope they’ll want to participate in our year-round programs.)

  • As many as you want! Your site registration comes with one artist listing, but you can purchase additional listings for $10 each.

  • Email Kristen at outreach@seaba.com.

  • We may be able to help! Get in touch with us at outreach@seaba.com to learn more.

Juried Show

  • An outside juror, typically from New York or Vermont is selected to review all submissions online. They will create a “juror’s selection” to be showcased in person at the South End Art Hop. Those artists will be asked to drop off the exact pieces that they submitted and were selected. The juror will then view the work in person and select a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner that receives an award and prize money. During the Art Hop weekend, all work that was submitted (regardless of whether it’s chosen to be shown in person) will be listed online, and will be eligible for “People’s Choice” which will win an award and prize money.

  • All 2-D and 3-D work is considered (space permitting). Note that if selected to be shown in person, it will need to be ready for displaying. All paper and photography pieces must be framed. Should you be submitting work that is 3-D or larger than 4' in any direction, please send a note to outreach@seaba.com before arriving.

  • A diptych and triptych will count as one piece for the labels and for sale on the website. If the combined size of the works measure more than 5’ wide, email outreach@seaba.com to see if the work will fit.

  • All artwork must be ready to hang on the wall with a secure wire or hook on the back. Please arrive with the work ready to go, no adjusting on site. Check by holding the piece by the wire or installing at home. SEABA reserves the right not to install work that isn't safely secured.

  • We will email you by August 20th to let you know if your artwork has been selected to be shown in person, and when to drop it off. Drop-off of artwork will take place before the end of August.

  • All work must be available to SEABA from the drop off date through the duration of the show, which may be up to 3 months after Art Hop weekend. Work may not leave the exhibition site early unless it sells through the SEABA Curation Program, in which case a SEABA curator will handle the preparation and sale.

    Artists may not remove artwork from the exhibition location without prior permission from a SEABA representative for the duration of the show. Pick up dates and times will be sent to you through a follow-up in October or November. SEABA is not responsible for artwork left for more than 30 days after the pick-up time slots. Should your work sell, we may negotiate an earlier pick up date for the buyer.

  • SEABA will facilitate all sales of artwork for the duration of the selected exhibition, should your work be for sale. Send all outside inquiries into purchasing your artwork to www.seaba.com/shop.
    Should work sell, artists will receive 60% commission of their set prices, in a check to their mailing address, within 30 days after the exhibition closes.

  • Once you register, your confirmation email will include a link to an art inventory form. We will use the information you enter in this form to list your artwork for sale on seaba.com. The deadline for this form is August 10th.

    Submit images that are web-ready resolution and cropped without a background if possible, as these will be the images that we will be putting up on our website, and they will not be edited. You must submit images in order to participate.

    All information entered in the inventory form will be printed exactly as you enter it, so take care for any typos and punctuation.
    The website will also include the size and how it is presented (framed, etc.)

    Only enter label information in the inventory form for work you plan on dropping off. We can only accept the work that is entered in the form for inventory purposes. No additional work or switching out of pieces is allowed.

  • SEABA is not liable for damage, loss, or theft of the artwork. We do take great care in displaying work in safe and secure businesses, though many are open to the general public, which in turn generates sales.

Exhibiting your work at a SEABA-curated site

  • Artists will have their name and medium listed in the South End Art Hop program guide, featured in 35,000 copies of the Seven Days! It will appear under the site listing of a SEABA-curated site that has been selected for you based on the type of work you submitted. Your artwork will appear in person and online for sale.

  • You may submit up to five pieces. You can submit fewer pieces if you’d like.

  • All 2-D artwork is allowed (space permitting). All paper and photography pieces must be framed. Canvas pieces may opt not to have a frame, though they must be wired appropriately. Should you be submitting work that is 3-D or larger than 4' in any direction, please send an email with the request to outreach@seaba.com for acceptance before filling out the inventory. Note that SEABA reserves the right not to show artwork that is not deemed appropriate for a public family setting. If you believe you may have artwork that could be controversial, please send a request for approval to the email above.

  • Each individual item counts as one full piece, so a diptych counts as two pieces and a triptych counts as three pieces, etc. It will be labeled and shown online as one piece for sale, though is counted as multiple pieces due to the space allotted for in person installation.

  • SEABA will facilitate all sales of artwork for the duration of the selected exhibition. Send all outside inquiries into purchasing your artwork to www.seaba.com/shop, curation@seaba.com or (802) 859-9222.


    Should work sell, artists will receive 60% commission of their set prices, in a check to their mailing address, within 30 days after the exhibition closes.

    When you submit your inventory form, please be sure to submit images that are web ready resolution and cropped without a background, as these will be the images that we will be putting up on our website, and they will not be edited. If you do not submit images, your work will not be featured in our online sales platform.

  • We will get in touch with you by August 15th to select a drop off time frame based on the curated site your work is placed in. Artwork is expected to be dropped off before the end of August.

  • All artwork must be ready to hang on the wall with a secure wire on the back. Please arrive with the work ready to go, no adjusting on site. Check by holding the piece by the wire or installing it at home. SEABA reserves the right not to install work that isn't safely secured.
    All artwork must have details on the back of the work with your name, the title of the work, your email, and phone number. You may choose to tape a piece of paper vs writing directly on the piece.

  • Artists may not remove artwork from the exhibition location without prior permission from a SEABA representative for the duration of the show. Pick up dates and times will be sent to you through a follow up email in October or November.

    SEABA is not responsible for artwork left for more than 30 days after the pick-up time slots.
    The work has to be available for the drop off date and for the duration of the show, which may be up to 3 months. Work may not leave the exhibition site early unless it sells through the SEABA Curation Program.

  • SEABA is not liable for damage, loss, or theft of the artwork. We do take great care in displaying work in safe and secure businesses, though many are open to the general public, which in turn generates sales.

Vending at the Saturday Artists Market

  • The Saturday Artists Market is currently sold out! Click here to add yourself to the waitlist.

  • The Artist Market vending will take place outdoors from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 7th. You will have a 10’ by 10’ space. You will need to bring your own tables, chairs, pop-up tent, and supplies. Artists participating in the market will be listed in the Art Hop program with their name and website or social media link.

  • The South End Art Hop Artist Market will predominantly feature 2-D and 3-D artwork. Past vendors have shown jewelry, custom clothing, paintings, photography, collages, prints, stickers, cards, and pottery. This market is not ideal for vintage clothing racks, furniture, food, or services which would be best suited partnering with a local business site.

  • The Artist Market has historically been outdoors at the parking lot of Dealer.com, 1 Howard Street at the corner of Pine and Howard. That location is TBA for this year.

  • Vendors arrive at 8:30am and wait to be directed to their spot. Once set up, vendors are asked to slowly pull out of the lot on the Pine Street side, drive south on Pine and pull in behind Dealer in their back lot. All cars must be off site by 9:30am.

  • We ask that vendors please do not close up earlier than 4pm; keep greeting those visitors! At 4pm vendors may begin closing up. Do not pull your car in until 4:30 to load in. We expect to be out by 5:30 p.m.

  • You will have room for 10' x 10' set-up.

  • No

  • No, there is no public wifi and no wifi provided for vendors so charge those phones and consider creating your own ‘hot spot’ through your phone provider.

  • We would recommend a pop-up tent or cover should it rain during the day. We will not cancel for rain unless there is lightning or a dangerous situation.

  • With this location, it's important to bring shims and sandbags for your tent, as there is a slope to the lot. You may use The Vaults building next door at 28 Howard Street for bathrooms and water fountains. There is also an info booth in the front lobby.

  • Please plan ahead on how your space will be laid out, and plan for any needed signage.

    Decide how you will take payments, as something like a 'square reader' placed in a front table could be helpful in not having to deal with cash. There is not a public wifi or electricity, so you will want well-charged phones and a data plan you can tap into for card payments.

    You will want to plan for how you will pack items and have easy bags to hand off or place on a table in between you and the customer.

    Please have your own hand sanitizer with you and disinfecting wipes for your areas as needed.

    You will need to bring your own food and drinks (no alcohol).

    You may want to have an assistant to keep you company or someone to watch your things when you go to the bathroom or eat lunch.

Volunteering

  • Thank you so much! Art Hop is a ton of fun, and there are so many extraordinary artists and organizations in our community whose work we get to celebrate. Volunteers help make this possible. Check back soon for a volunteer sign-up link. If you have questions or would like to be notified when a sign-up form is posted, don’t hesitate to reach out to outreach@seaba.com

Sponsorship

  • Thank you so much for your interest in sponsoring Art Hop! Email Christy at director@seaba.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities!

Food Vendors

  • All who are interested in vending food from a truck or pop-up must apply at this link to be considered. The deadline for applications is July 31st, but spots may fill up earlier than that, so get your applications in early. Food vendors will be notified of whether they’ve been accepted by August 7th.

  • There is a $350 fee for vending throughout the Art Hop weekend, should you be selected. Payments are expected within one week of selection or your spot will open up to the next vendor in line.

  • The expectation is that food vendors are open all three days of the event, for all hours of Friday (5pm-10pm) and Sunday (11am-4pm). Leaving early is not permitted. On Saturday, we request that you are open for at least 8 of the 12 hours (10am - 10pm). Customers are looking to eat all weekend – we promise you will make money on each day!

    **If there are extenuating circumstances and you can only participate for 2 of 3 days, please still apply and make that clear in your application. Please also let us know your planned hours for Saturday. Thank you!

Attendees

  • The South End Arts + Business Association—known more commonly as SEABA—is a small non-profit arts organization with a mission to promote the interdependence between art and business to enhance the vibrant, creative and diverse community of the South End Arts District.
    The South End Art Hop is a celebration of all that the South End Arts District has to offer! Taking place the weekend after Labor Day each September, the event is now in its 31st year and is a wonderful outlet for the community to come together and recognize the creative and entrepreneurial spirit of the South End of Burlington, Vermont.

  • Nope! Art Hop hosts scheduled free events throughout the weekend, and exploring is encouraged. We look forward to seeing you there! (Some of the events listed in the Art Hop program, hosted by South End businesses, may have a fee or cover charge.)

  • Art Hop is an excellent time to purchase work from artists! Here are a few ways to do that:

    1. At SEABA’s curated exhibitions, each piece is listed online at seaba.com/shop. You can tell whether a work is for sale by the label next to it. (‘NFS’ means not for sale, and ‘POR’ means price on request and further dialogue is encouraged. A red dot on the label means that the artwork has sold - but follow the artist’s work for another opportunity!)

    2. The South End Arts District features work in other dedicated exhibition spaces, small businesses, and artist studios. Local artists of all ages work in an array of mediums. Look for signage on how to purchase directly from the establishment.

    3. Commissioning a custom work: Artists may supplement their practice by taking in commission work. Collaborating with a patron can be rewarding, though often challenging when you are also living up to other expectations. Know that your support is valuable, and being involved in the process may come with a higher price

  • Finding work that you enjoy is a great reason to document and remind yourself of whom to support later. Ask whether you may take a picture in a gallery or studio. It is often encouraged that you ‘tag’ their social media page if you choose to share online - so grab that business card!