Show Review of the Month Big Four Arts Festival

May 2024, by Sunhsine Artist Editor

September 9-10, 2023; Big Four Arts Festival, Louisville, KY. Contact: B4B Promotions, Inc. Lou Nunnelley, 2205 Centurion Way, Louisville, KY 40245; Phone: 502-435-7602; Email: b4b@twc.com; Website: bigfourbridgeartsfestival.com; Application fee: $30; Space fees: $400 to $650; Space sizes: 10x10 to 20x10; 100% outdoors; Exhibitors: 150; Attendance estimate: 15,000. 

Compiled from FastAudit reviews 

The Big Four Arts Festival ranked FA55 in 2023’s 200 Best list. Of the artists who reviewed the 2023 event, 73% said they would exhibit in this show again. 

An artist whose medium is painting reported sales of $3,000. The artist said the setting was nice and attendance was good. “The only difficulty was getting to my van during the show for restock and the availability of a booth sitter,” said the artist who would return. 

A fine craft artist who made $1,800 was not pleased with how some vendors were placed. “I paid the same price for a booth as everyone else and was placed in the middle of Business Row,” the artist said. “I spent 16 hours behind my booth hoping to be noticed above a llama.” The artist spoke to all the artists on the same side and said none of them had a good show. “Put your sponsors together and place your artists with one another. We draw off of one another. I will not return to this show until improvements are made.” This artist has been doing juried art show for more than 15 years and said there was plenty of room for all artists and crafts to be together. “I was five booths down from the llamas, and my neighbors were Verizon and Actor Theater. This poor placement cost me sales. My average sales were down $150 on the hour. So, a total of $1,600 I missed out by being ‘over there by the petting zoo.’ This is poor planning, and I will not return to this show until this placement has been better thought out and upgraded. My customers even complained.” The artist said the porta potties also needed to be restocked with bath tissue between the show days. When the artist showed up early Sunday morning, five out of the 10 had no tissue for the day. 

A jewelry artist also expressed disappointment in the festival, saying there were too many buy/sell and service booths. “There were some really nice quality artists at this show that were overshadowed by the other ‘festival’ vendors,” said the artist who had $2,000 in sales. The artist will not participate again for many reasons, including the average customer being $50 and under. 

An artist whose mediums are fine art and painting wants to return. “I really like the location of this show. It's beautiful, with repeat customers, ease of setup,” said the artist who made about $1,200. It is usually one of this artist’s best shows. “But this year, my sales were down by about half. I also feel that the crowd was down by about half compared to last year,” the artist said. “I'm not sure why, because the weather was amazing.” The artist thinks the booth fee is a bit high for the show’s size, likes having a fence around the show, and the fact there is an admission fee. This artist thought there were too many 2D artists this year and too many crafty items being sold.