RiverArtsFest celebrates nearly 20 years
in downtown memphis.

Located in Downtown Memphis, Tenn, RiverArtsFest has successfully presented rich, cultural artistic diversity and talent from around the Mid-South and all 50 states, in what has become the longest-running fine arts festival in this region. The festival attracts thousands of visitors, and garners high praise with comments of “excellent examples of artistic creativity” and “great diversity in a high caliber of artists.”

Our mission is to cultivate, promote, encourage and develop public appreciation and support of the visual and performing arts for the benefit, education and enjoyment of the citizens of Memphis and the surrounding communities in the Mid-South.

Our Purpose

In fulfillment of our mission statement the RiverArtsFest organization seeks to produce an annual event located in Downtown Memphis. This annual festival which is open to the public features a juried exhibition in fine art, juried Artists Market, live entertainment, culinary treats, a residency program in the Shelby County Schools, and children’s art activities.

Arts for racial Justice

The arts bring people together.

Many believe in its power. The ability to help us overcome cultural and ethnic differences. To heal. To nurture and care for a community. To inspire love, peace—and change.

At RiverArtsFest our mission is to bring people together through a love of fine arts, great music and the joy of being in community to celebrate a diversity of creativity fueled by individual passions and culture. We work to bring national artists to Memphis, local artists to the spotlight, and master artists to our public schools. Our vision is to bring fine arts to our wide community, beyond one weekend in October.

Yet with the murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, among countless others, and the passion and purpose of the Black Lives Matter movement painted so clearly before our eyes, we wonder, how do we model a more inclusive community and how does the work we do as arts leaders exemplify this call for change? How are we using the arts to bridge divides and cultivate understanding and equity? These are questions we must routinely ask ourselves and answer.

Senseless killings and flagrant discrimination of Black and Brown people are painful, heartbreaking reminders that racism continues to be present in Memphis, America and around the world. There are no excuses and it must end. Like many of our fellow arts organizations, we stand in solidarity with our community against injustice, racism and oppression; and for justice, peace and equity. We recognize that we must do more to amplify the Black and Brown and LBGTQ+ voices that are not heard or represented.

We know that support and change take many forms and that true understanding comes with openness and introspection. This is intentional work, and it must be done but it must be done in a way to bring about genuine, systemic change.

We will look for guidance by leaning into our strengths and amplifying the voices and talents of artists, volunteers and leaders of color here in Memphis, and across the nation. We will expand our outreach by providing opportunities for artists of color to teach in our broad, Shelby County community. We will thoughtfully grow our festival in ways that help us to live into our mission with inclusivity as our guidepost.

We will continue to trust in the power of the arts to bring people together.

General Information

RiverArtsFest, Inc. is recognized by the IRS and State of Tennessee as a tax exempt art services organization under IRS Code section 501(c)(3). All proceeds are used to produce RiverArtsFest and to support other artistic, non-profit activities in this region.

RiverArtsFest steering committee is comprised of individuals from both organizations along with former board members of Arts in the Park. While we come from diverse backgrounds, we all share a genuine desire to promote an appreciation of the arts by the citizens of our community.