Let’s Make a SPLASH!
Splash is an annual week-long arts event held in Elizabeth City, hosted by Arts of the Albemarle (AOA) in the city’s downtown neighborhood—happening in 2024 between October 15-19. While Splash originated as a gathering of artists, today it has evolved into a week of community creativity and fun with a mission and programming that is twofold: first, engaging local and visiting artists with learning opportunities and an inspiring environment to create and collaborate; and second, creating a symbiotic ecosystem between artist and community, where artists’ work are supported and community members are exposed to new experiences and ideas.
Splash Week 2024 will take place from October 15—19, closing out with the first-ever Splash Art Fair, that Saturday, from 11:30 AM-2:30 PM. Click the schedule to download your copy!
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Splash is North Carolina’s only city-wide retreat for visual artists, welcoming novice and professional artists alike. With the beautiful river view, exciting downtown shops and venues, and historical architecture, it’s a great place to stay for a week of creating, as inspiration is everywhere. During Splash Week artists from near and far come together and spend the week sharing ideas, making friends, making new work, networking, and more. Throughout the week, artists have the chance to work together in the Splash Studio (held in the Madrin Studio on N. Poindexter Street) and partake in workshops, masterclasses, socials, and more. Only enhancing the experience, visiting artists are given the opportunity to be hosted by local families to provide the ultimate immersion.
While this is an artist retreat, Splash Week wouldn’t be the same without the energy brought by the community! Because of this, AOA has begun enhancing the community-facing facets, aiming to engage as many people as possible with the vibrancy and zeal that permeate the air during this very special week each October. In addition to being invited to watch artists work in the Madrin Studio, the week now includes free artistic demonstrations in the gallery each day during lunch time, a Splash field trip day with local schools, workshops that are open to all who wish to register, and the first-ever Splash Art Fair, which will close out the week on Saturday, October 19th on N. Poindexter Street from 11AM-2 PM.
Register for workshops and to reserve your table for the week in the shop below.
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Community meets creativity at this streetside art fair, where artists and artisans are invited to sell their work and engage with the public. In addition to artisan vendors, there will be free music, family activities, and crafts, stretching down the street and into the Madrin Studio, where Splash artists have been hard at work all week long.
The first-ever Splash Art Fair will take place on Saturday, October 19th, from 12-3 PM on N. Poindexter Street, adjacent to AOA!
Artists who are already registered for a Splash table do NOT need to register separately to sell work during the fair. The cost to register as a vendor is $40 per business or individual. No commission is taken, set-up and sales are at the discretion of the vendor, and all art must be appropriate for a family-friendly environment. Artists and artisans working in areas like the following are invited to apply:
2D art (drawing, painting, printed digital art or graphic design, etc.
Ceramicists
Textile artists – quilting, embroidery, hand-sewn wearables
Wood workers
Handmade jewelers
Photography
