Fifty professional visual artists are set to descend on the Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines next week, bringing original ceramics, glass, jewelry, photography, prints and sculpture to a brand-new two-day event called The Invitational Art Fair. The fair opens with an invitation-only VIP Showcase on Friday before throwing its doors open to the public on Saturday, complete with food, drinks and a full lineup of live bands.
The event comes from ARTSwork, which organizers describe as the sister organization of the award-winning Des Moines Arts Festival, according to WHO13. ARTSwork produces the new fair in West Des Moines. As timesrepublican.com reports, the two-day celebration of art and music runs Nov. 6-7 at the historic ballroom.
VIP Night Kicks Off the Weekend
Friday night belongs to invited guests only. The VIP Showcase runs from 6 to 9 p.m. and gives participating artists a chance to invite collectors, supporters and clients to an early look at their work before the fair opens more broadly. Live music that evening comes from Cedar County Cobras and The NOLA Jazz Band Trio, per the same timesrepublican.com account.
Saturday is when the general public gets its shot, with the fair open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets run $5 in advance and $8 at the door, with children 10 and under admitted free, according to the artswork.art event page. Organizers note the event is cashless, so attendees planning to buy art, food or drinks will want a card on hand.
A Full Day of Music and Browsing
Saturday's lineup features Mabel's Porch, Casey Joe Collins & The Foxes, Matt Woods & Malcolm Wells, and the Sara Routh Band, the report notes. Organizers describe the day as offering live acoustical music and a cash bar throughout, alongside the 50 artists showing and selling their newest work across a wide range of mediums.
The Val Air Ballroom, long a fixture of West Des Moines nightlife, provides an unconventional but roomy backdrop for a curated art market of this scale. Tickets and additional event information are available at theinvitational.org, organizers say, for anyone looking to plan their visit around specific artists or performances.
