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First
Fridays in Florence
An Arts Event in
Historic Downtown Florence
Alabama |
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First
Fridays Overview
An enjoyable evening for locals and visitors to experience the
artistic talent home to the Shoals and surrounding areas. Musicians
will be performing, artists will have exhibits on sidewalks, and
several downtown merchants will be open for visitors. Items will
also be available for sale by artists. Come enjoy a family-friendly
environment like no other in the area, enjoy dinner downtown then
have a leisurely stroll through the arts. Join co-workers or bring
your family to experience the wonderful excitement downtown Florence
has to offer. First Fridays is currently free to participating
individual artists, musicians and visitors.
First
Fridays Event Logo Winner
The First Fridays Committee has selected
their logo. The winning logo design, created by Clyde R. Beaver III, will help identify the
event by appearing on brochure cards, business cards, letterhead,
name tags, etc. Special thanks to (in alphabetical order) Beth Agee, Clyde Beaver, Lindsey Holt and Teryl Shields for all of their great work on this project.
The
next First Fridays in Florence outdoor event is
December 4, 2009
What:
First Fridays
When: Friday, December 4 from 5pm to 8pm
Where: Historic Downtown Florence
Weather Updates:
Click
here for detailed local weather maps from WAFF 48 News...
First
Fridays Participation Guidelines
Step One
Everyone wishing to participate must first apply by downloading and reading
the participant
guidelines.
All participants are required to adhere
to the guidelines.
Step Two
NEW artists and musicians
may submit photos/samples of their work up to two weeks prior to the event
for jury review and approval. To register, email us at info@firstfridaysflorence.com
or mail photos/samples to us at P.O. Box 431, Florence, AL 35631.
All Participants
(Artists, Performers, Musicians, and Groups)
ALL First Fridays participants are required to register two weeks prior to each
event in order to reserve a location.
Original artist must be present
at each event, no representatives or resellers are allowed.
Returning
artists may confirm booth locations via email
or through our toll free number
at 877-290-8880.
Special notice to Group
(non-individual artist)
participants:
A total of 3 non-profit groups are scheduled per
event
Click
here to download a non-profit group reservation form
A total 2 for-profit
groups are scheduled per event
Click
here to download a for-profit group reservation form Rain
Alternate
In
the event of inclement weather (not forcing the event to cancel completely), the
City of Florence parking deck will be used to host artists and performers. Limited
electrical outlets and an elevator are available. Check for relocation
signage during the event along Court Street and at the parking deck for further
details.
| First
Fridays Introduction
First Fridays takes place outdoors on the first Friday
of every month (except January, February and March). It is coordinated by volunteers
from several organizations and the business community including
Downtown
Florence Unlimited (DFU),
City of Florence, Florence Main Street, Florence/Lauderdale Tourism Department
and the University of North Alabama.
"It is an opportunity for artists to sell and demonstrate their art and musicians
to play their music, and for people to experience the beautiful historic downtown
we have."
- Founding committee member and DFU past President Lori Davis
The nine months of art and music nights stemmed from the Florence Main Street
Program's Art Nights, which happened every Thursday in October of 2004. It has
now progressed into First Fridays, which started in August 2005. See
photos from past events.
Photo by Dave Messer
Currently there is no fee charged to artists or performers for booth
space. This is a wonderful opportunity for area artists and musicians to gain
exposure. We regularly draw interest from artists and attendees from Huntsville,
Nashville, Memphis, Birmingham, Tupelo, and other surrounding areas. We've even
had artists from Los Angeles, Atlanta and New Orleans.
Join us between
5pm and 8pm in historic downtown Florence for art, music, shopping and fellowship.
Come enjoy a family-friendly environment like no other in the area, enjoy dinner
downtown then have a leisurely stroll through a festive Court street. Parking
is available on the streets and in the City of Florence public parking garage
(behind Ricatoni's). Join co-workers or bring your family to experience the wonderful
excitement downtown Florence has to offer!
Be sure to stop in the galleries
and stores open on Court Street to find that perfect gift or one-of-a-kind arts
item you've been looking for...
all while listening to live music.
What Artists are Saying...
"I want to personally thank you for your undivided
attention at First Fridays. People were so friendly and welcoming. I am working
on several commissions that I received in your town, my event sales were good
as well. Your town is definitely one to be proud of and I am looking forward to
returning to First Fridays in Florence in the near future. I will definitely spread
the word about your First Fridays."
- Darlene Collins, Louisiana Artist Planning
to attend our First Fridays?
Shoals
Map and Directions
Accommodations
in the Shoals 
In
the News...
The
First Fridays in Florence
Committee received a certificate from Governor Bob Riley
at the State Capitol Wednesday. David Messer, past President of
DFU and Ashley Winkle, Director of Florence Main Street, accepted
the award for the First Fridays Committee. The certificate recognized
the First Fridays event as a partner in the 2007 Alabama Year
of Arts campaign. The Travel Industry Association awarded the
Alabama Tourism
Department its Discover America marketing award for the campaign
and is featured in the November issue of National Geographic
Traveler.
Pictured:
Lee
Sentell, Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel Director
David Messer, Downtown Florence Unlimited past
President
Ashley
Winkle, Florence Main Street Director
Florence, Alabama and its downtown development (including First Fridays
events) are featured as a "wise" community in the EPA Smart Growth
publication This is Smart Growth. Read what they are saying
about Downtown Florence and its "smarth growth" development. Visit the EPA
Smart Growth Website to download and print the full publication or
to order free copies.
 First
Fridays in the Times Daily - by Shelbia Brown
First
Fridays on About.com
- by Susann
Elsass
First
Fridays in the Flor-Ala
- by Christine Fink
First
Fridays in the Courier Journal
- by
Jill Oliver
First
Fridays in Florence in the One Paper - One Paper Staff
Tools for Schools at First Friday in Florence. Click
here for a photo slide show from News Channel 19 coverage of the First
Fridays August event in downtown Florence.
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July 2007
Featured Book Signing
Meet author Karyn Zweifel and purchase her book
Alabama
Arts. She will attend the First Friday arts event July 6th from 5-8pm in historic
downtown Florence. Saturday, July 7th, she will present a brief Book Talk at the
Florence-Lauderdale Public Library at 11am with a book signing to follow, 350
North Wood Avenue. The book, published in March by The Birmingham News,
is 129 full-color pages filled with lively arts in every corner of our state.
It is for sale at $14.95.
"Our
state has a perfect climate for growing all kinds of crops, including artists
who lead us to see the world differently," Zweifel says. "Alabama's
art reflects its people
and its culture, painting a picture of changing times and attitudes. It is found
everywhere, from two-lane country roads to the state's industrial heart. Murals
and monuments, galleries, theatres and bookstores all reveal the dreams of the
individual artists, even better, they help each of us bring into sharper focus
our own beliefs and hopes for the future."
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January
2007 Photography Exhibit
David Messer presents New Orleans: A Post-Katrina
Photo Essay. This photo essay is a capture of time and space, 15 months after
Hurricane Katrina and the breaking of two New Orleans (NOLA) levees in August
of 2005. The photographer traveled with his New Orleans family the week of Thanksgiving
through these areas and documented the conditions as of November 2006. Although
the scarcity of residents and devastation of places of worship were overwhelmingly
disheartening, encouraging spiritual beacons rose from the ruin. More information
is available at:
Helping
rebuild New Orleans.
Promotional
Events
Listen for First Fridays updates
and announcements on the air
at
Jim Marlboro of The Rock-A-Billys
(They play regularly at First
Fridays)
aired on Kix 96 (96.1) recently
In Conjunction with the
Goerge Lindsey UNA Film Festival
Order
your specialty automobile license plate today
from the Motor Vehicle Division
and show others
you support the arts...
2007
Events and Photos
January
Event Pictures
Photo by Dave Messer
2006 Events and Photos
January
Event Pictures
February
Event Pictures
March
Event Pictures
April Event Pictures
May Event Pictures
June Event Pictures
July Event Pictures
August Event Pictures
September
Event Pictures
October Event Pictures
November Event Pictures
December
Event Pictures
Photo by Lance Thomason
2005 Events
and Photos
(Click on a link to view)
August
Event Pictures
September
Event Pictures
October
Event Pictures
November Event Pictures
December Event Pictures
Photo by Lance Thomason
Related Sites of Interest
Alabama Renaissance Faire
City
of Florence
Downtown
Florence Unlimited
Florence
Kiwanis Club
Florence/Lauderdale
Tourism
Florence
Main Street Program
George
Lindsey UNA Film Festival
Historic Preservation Inc. (HPI)
Kennedy-Douglass
Center for the Arts
Shoals
Art
Shoals
Chamber of Commerce
Tennessee
Valley Art Association
Tim
Stevenson's Fine Art Gallery
Walnut Street Historic District
W.
C. Handy Music Festival
Sponsor Contact Information
Van Morgan, President - Downtown Florence Unlimited (DFU)
Toll free at (877) 290-8880
On the Web at www.DowntownFlorenceUnlimited.org
Email: info@firstfridaysflorence.com
Featured Downtown Art Galleries
For art gallery event information and
schedules,
Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts - Call (256) 760-6379
Stevenson's Fine Art Gallery - Call (256) 764-9922
Terms
of Use
When you register as a First Fridays participant, you may provide
us with two types of information: personal information you actively
choose to disclose ("Active Information". e.g. your Name, business
Name, address, phone, fax, email, web site URL, etc.) and use
information collected, in a way not visible to you, on an aggregate
anonymous basis ("Passive Information", e.g. total number of participating
artists at First Fridays events, information that may be used
for marketing, information reported to city agencies, etc.). If
you use our web site or maintain email, snail mail or telephone
contact with us, we may retain such information also.
Sharing
Information with Advertisers or Other Third Parties
We may disclose anonymous information about user habits, characteristics
and user patterns, based on aggregate user statistics to advertisers
or partners. Your personal information will not be shared with
any non-approved First Fridays committee entity.
Sharing Information with the Government or
As Otherwise Required by Law
We may be required by law or government agency to disclose both
Active and Passive Information you have provided to us.
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Sponsored
by Downtown Florence Unlimited (DFU)
in cooperation
with the City of Florence, Florence Main Street, and Florence/Lauderdale
Tourism Department
Funded
in part by Alabama Mountain Lakes
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2009 Schedule of Events 
