What is Friday Hop?
Friday Hop is a community run nationwide initiative dedicated to fostering monthly vibrant, community-centered art events across the United States. Every hop has it’s own flavor, from First Friday to Fat Friday and everything in between, including mid-week events. The essential theme that strings every Hop together is a focus on bringing people together to enjoy and support local arts and culture using our simple, tried a true system.
Our Mission
The National Friday Hop creates vibrant community spaces where local art and culture thrive. Through curated monthly gatherings, we connect artists with audiences while fostering economic opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs in cities and towns across America.
We strive to:
Empower local communities to celebrate and showcase their unique artistic and cultural identities through regular, engaging monthly gatherings that attract visitors and provide hyper local regional markets to support small business and entrepreneurs.
Connect artists, audiences, and local businesses in communities across the nation. The National Friday Hop aims to weave a rich tapestry of artistic expression that celebrates the diversity and creativity of America’s cities and towns.
- Provide resources, guidance, and support to help local organizers create successful and sustainable Friday Hop events tailored to their community’s needs.
- Connect communities through art, music, food, and local businesses, creating lively and inclusive atmospheres that reflect each area’s distinctive character.
- Support local artists, cultural institutions, and small businesses by providing a consistent platform for exposure and economic opportunity.
- Cultivate a nationwide network of art-loving communities, facilitating the exchange of ideas, best practices, and cultural experiences.
- Enhance the cultural vibrancy of participating cities and neighborhoods, contributing to their economic vitality and quality of life.
- Promote accessibility and appreciation of the arts among diverse populations, encouraging cross-cultural understanding and community cohesion.
- Develop small business and strengthening local economies by creating consistent marketplaces for small businesses that encourage arts and culture entrepreneurs.
Community Roots
The National Friday Hop initiative has woven itself into the fabric of communities across the United States, creating a tapestry of artistic expression that spans from coast to coast. In each participating city and town, these monthly events bring together local artists, musicians, businesses, and residents, creating unforgettable evenings that celebrate the unique cultural identity of each locale.
From gallery openings in New York’s Chelsea to street performances in New Orleans’ French Quarter, from artisan markets in Portland’s Pearl District to mural tours in Miami’s Wynwood, the Friday Hop has become synonymous with vibrant, community-centered art experiences across America.
By providing resources, guidance, and a shared vision, the National Friday Hop empowers local organizers to create events that resonate with their specific communities while being part of a larger, nationwide celebration of art and culture. This balance of local flavor and national unity has made the Friday Hop a cherished institution in numerous communities, eagerly anticipated by locals and sought out by visitors month after month.
National Resources For Local Communities
Our commitment to fostering thriving arts scenes and supporting local enterprises remains steadfast across all our member communities. From bustling urban centers to charming small towns, the Friday Hop has become a beloved tradition that:
- Showcases local talent: Providing platforms for artists and musicians to share their work with broader audiences.
- Boosts local economies: Driving foot traffic to local businesses and creating economic opportunities for artisans and entrepreneurs.
- Builds community connections: Facilitating interactions between diverse groups of residents and visitors, strengthening social bonds.
- Enhances cultural vibrancy: Contributing to the distinctive character and appeal of each participating location.
- Attracts visitors: Drawing art enthusiasts from surrounding areas, boosting local tourism.
- Encourages artistic exploration: Inspiring community members to engage with various forms of art and creative expression.
The National Friday Hop network allows for the exchange of ideas and best practices between communities, fostering innovation and continuous improvement in event organization and community engagement. This collaborative approach ensures that while each local Friday Hop maintains its unique flavor, it benefits from the collective experience of the national network.
What does it cost?
Programs That Work For Every Budget
We offer Free DIY Kits as well as Full Service Turn-Key Products that come with a Support Team to run the program for you
At National Friday Hop, we believe that every community, regardless of size or budget, should have the opportunity to cultivate a vibrant arts scene. That’s why we’ve developed three distinct tiers of service, ensuring our program is accessible to cities and districts across the spectrum. Our offerings start with a free tier, perfect for communities with strong volunteer bases and a DIY spirit. This option provides access to our tried-and-true program guidelines, online resources, and basic marketing materials, allowing communities to self-manage their Friday Hop events with our expert guidance. For larger communities in need of a complete package with a support team, we offer an easy to budget flat rate all-inclusive packages with short simple contracts and customizable services to meet your needs.
We Can Help
Let us launch, run and promote for you
For those seeking additional support, we offer a tiered options that includes volunteer management and event coordination assistance. We also provide a comprehensive, turnkey solution where our team invests directly in your community, handling everything from event planning and artist coordination to marketing and sponsor acquisition. This flexible approach allows us to meet each community where they are, providing the level of support they need to launch and maintain successful art activations. Whether you’re a small town taking your first steps into organized art walks or a bustling city looking to elevate your existing cultural events, National Friday Hop has a solution tailored to your needs and budget.
Proof in the Numbers
The transformative power of Friday art walks and arts districts is not just anecdotal—it’s backed by two decades of hard data. Our comprehensive metrics, collected over 20 years across diverse communities, demonstrate the profound and measurable impact these initiatives have on local economies and social fabrics. On average, communities implementing regular Friday art events have seen an increase in new business openings within the first two years, a reduction in commercial vacancies, and a rise in residential occupancy rates. The economic ripple effect is substantial, with participating districts reporting an average boost in Friday night revenues for local businesses and an increase in overall annual tourism. Moreover, community surveys consistently show an improvement in resident satisfaction and an uptick in positive sentiment among visitors. These numbers tell a compelling story: Friday art walks and dedicated arts districts don’t just enliven weekends—they revitalize entire communities, creating tangible economic growth, fostering civic pride, and establishing destinations that residents and tourists alike are eager to explore and support.
What We Offer:
Helping Communities Support and Promote Local Art and Culture
At the heart of the First Friday Hop is a celebration of art and culture. Each month, participating galleries and venues showcase new exhibitions, featuring works by both emerging and established artists. Visitors can explore a wide range of art forms, from painting and sculpture to photography and mixed media.