Want to support Kansas artists & makers this gift-giving season? Here's how.
From cutesy to creepy & everything in between: our guide to pop-up markets and art sales will get you started on your hyper-local holiday shopping.
There’s no better time to support the local arts community than during the holiday season. Galleries, museums, art centers, church bazaars, markets and pop-up shops all stock unique works made by Kansas artists and makers — and price tags range from just a few dollars to whatever your budget will allow.
If you're looking for alternatives to mass-produced gifts, here are a few suggestions to get you started. All shops and markets are free to enter.
Markets
Women Empowered Handmade Holiday Market and Community Day
10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, November 23, at the Child Advocacy Center Education Center, 1211 S. Emporia in Wichita
Shoppers will find tables with products from local makers and women artists as well as global goods from fair-trade sources. Food from Centro Haviva, music, and children’s activities add to the festivities. Other vendors represent nonprofits that support women. Katy Munden Hays, founder of Alegria Fair Trade and organizer of this event, says the goal is to expand opportunities for humans everywhere.
“We love bringing together people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures because we have so much to learn from each other.”
Haute Handmade presents Holidaze Pop-Up Market
11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1 at Brick & Mortar Venue, 230 S. Topeka St. in Wichita
This season marks the 8th anniversary of this well-curated market featuring locally handcrafted gifts. If you need a little pick-me-up while shopping, the venue has food and drink available. Your entourage can even stop by the photo booth to commemorate your shopping experience.
Wade Hampton Holiday Art Show
6-9 p.m. Friday, December 6, & 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, December 7, at Local Roasters Coffee, 2828 E. Douglas Ave. in Wichita
Local artist Wade Hampton has held a pop-up holiday sale at Local Roasters for the past several years. This one includes more than 100 new drawings, some 10 paintings, plus Wade "Hate" merchandise. The first 50 people get a free Wade Hate/Local Roasters mug. Shoppers can also enjoy treats and coffee samples.
From top left: "Be Soft," a 8.5 by 11 inch drawing by Wade Hampton; ceramic works for sale at Wichita Pottery; artist Elizabeth Owens' take on the Wichita flag, which is available at Lucinda's; one of Augusta-based Diana Burress' fused glass ornaments, which is available at the Wichita Art Museum Store. Courtesy photos.
Old Town Farm & Art Market
10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through Dec. 21 (closed November 30), 835 E. 1st St. N. in Wichita
The outdoor market's website publishes a map of vendors every Thursday for the upcoming Saturday market, which is held just north of the Museum of World Treasures in Old Town. In addition to artisan food items, you'll find jewelry, pottery, wood, paper and fiber art. Two notable regulars: Feather B, artist Heather Byers' line of snuggly, handmade stuffed animals, and Bill Goffrier, specializing in paintings and prints of iconic Wichita locations.
Krampus Karnival and Oddities Market
11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, December 14, at Harvester Arts at The Lux, 120 E. 1st St. N. in Wichita
Krampus is a mythical hairy creature with horns and fangs said to scare bad children into behaving during the Christmas holiday. Organized by Wichita Alternative Mini-Market and Ad Astra Eclectics, this unconventional shopping event promises a dark Krampus vibe of mischievous revelry, with food, drink and local bands.
Vendors, artists and makers offer "one-of-a-kind oddities, handcrafted wonders and curious artifacts you won’t find anywhere else," according to organizers.
Free entry; $5 suggested donation
Art Galleries
If you hesitate to visit galleries thinking prices are beyond your reach, Wichita's First Friday gallery crawl is a friendly, no-risk introduction to a range of locally made art, jewelry, ceramics, and more.
Gallery hours vary, and you can find a constantly updated list of upcoming First Friday events on the SHOUT's arts & culture calendar.
Envision Arts 9th Annual Holiday Market Grand Opening
10 a.m.-2 p.m Saturday, November 30, at Envision Arts Gallery, 801 E. Douglas Ave. Suite 106 in Wichita
Envision Arts' Annual Holiday Market is an opportunity for 30 artists with disabilities to sell their artwork and handmade goods exclusively from the Envision Arts Gallery, in partnership with Wichita organizations Heartspring, The Looking Glass, and Starkey. Free gift wrapping is included.
“All our artists receive 70% of sales and 30% goes to our free art program,” said Sarah Kephart, Envision Arts gallery and program manager. “Not only are you supporting an artist with a disability, your gift has a story that goes along with it that you can share, along with a bio and photo of the artist.”
The market includes paintings, sculptures, functional art such as dinnerware and pottery, and fiber art. Of special note are clocks assembled by workers at The Chicago Lighthouse, which feature a face design by Tomiyo Tajiri, the first blind artist to have an installation in Wichita’s Gallery Alley.
Most holiday market artists will be in the gallery for the grand opening on November 30. The gallery will also be open from 5-8 p.m. First Friday, December 6, and during the gallery's regular hours: 10 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday through December 13. The final chance to shop the holiday market is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, December 14.
Some of the works available at Envision Arts Annual Holiday Market. Courtesy photos.
Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery Annual Holiday Gift Show
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sundays at the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery, 401 N. 1st St. in Lindsborg, Kansas
If you take the time to make the drive to Lindsborg, you’ll find an amazing selection of gifts spilling out from a big gallery room into nearby hallways. The organizers invite Kansas artists to display their art, sculpture, functional art, paper and fiber art — many at affordable prices. Neighboring galleries include works by James Kinser and Ruth Moritz, Nicholas Hill, Richard Davies, and Matthew Regier.
All current exhibits will be on view through January 12, but gift show shoppers don't have to wait to take their purchases home.
Museum Stores
Mid-America All-Indian Museum
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 650 N. Seneca St. in Wichita
The gift shop attached to MAAIM sells Native-made jewelry, fiber art and "Keeper of the Plains" sculptures. Members get a discount in the shop, and gift certificates are available.
Wichita Art Museum Store
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday & until 9 p.m. on Fridays, 1400 W. Museum Blvd. in Wichita
The Museum Store supports Kansas artists by selling their notebooks, jewelry, and glass work, including fused glass ornaments by Augusta artist Diana Buress.
Members get an extra 10% off until Nov. 24. On Small Business Saturday, November 30, select vendor products are 25% off. On the nationwide Museum Store Sunday, December 1, all purchases are 20% off.
Gift Shops
The Workroom at Eaton Place
10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday-Thursday & 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 523 E. Douglas Ave. in Wichita
The Workroom features goods by more than 100 local artists. Its Second Saturday event on December 14 will feature a pop-up shop by El Dorado-based clay artist Frank Keith.
Vortex Souvenir
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday & 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays, 607 W. Douglas Ave. in Wichita
This art and design-focused store is a fun and stimulating place to shop, filled to the brim with items produced by independent artists, some exclusively available at Vortex. You could spend a whole afternoon looking through the quirky selection.
The Blackprint ICT
11 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 104 N. St. Francis St. Suite A in Wichita
One of Wichita's newest gift shops stocks goods by Black-owned brands. Here you can support local artists by picking up stationery by Paris Jane Creates and coloring books by Get Ya Color On.
The Blackprint ICT is one of the businesses featured on the Black Business Tour — Downtown Edition, which will take place from noon-4 p.m. Saturday, November 23. While registration is closed, you may still attend and follow the tour.
Lucinda’s
10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday & noon-6 p.m. Sundays, 329 N. Mead St. in Wichita's Old Town Square
Channing Taylor is one local maker featured at this Old Town staple — you can find one-of-a-kind pieces from her Archival Jewelry line in the shop, which also stocks many Kansas products.
Art Centers
Wichita Pottery's Holiday Sale
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, November 30, at Wichita Pottery, 300 N. Meridian Ave. in Wichita
Wichita Pottery sells work by its students and teachers year 'round, but during their holiday sale, studios are converted into sales floors, showcasing the work of 15 artists. The ceramicists will be on hand to tell you about their work and sell their wares.
Karg Art Glass
8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday & 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays, 111 N. Oliver St. in Kechi, Kansas
The large gallery at this famous glass studio showcases artwork produced by more than 100 artists working in mediums including glass, metal, ceramics, and jewelry. Nic Dikin, a local glass artist, collaborates with customers to create blow-your-own ornaments. Call 316-744-2442 to book your hands-on experience.
Karg Art Glass offers extended shopping hours from 8:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. on Thursdays from December5-19.
Church Bazaars
7th Annual Holiday Craft Fair
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, December 7, at Risen Savior Lutheran Church, 6770 E. 34th St. N. in Wichita
The holiday craft fair at Risen Savior Lutheran Church is one of the largest of many area church bazaars. Shoppers will find handcrafted goods such as baby clothes, college-themed blankets, and cute crocheted toys.
A young vendor and her crocheted cuties at last year's Holiday Craft Fair at Risen Savior Luther Church. Courtesy photos.
Interested in learning about other holiday markets? Wichita Mom Blog has a great round-up.
Cecilia Green, a Wichita State journalism graduate, has been a freelance writer since she moved back to Wichita in 2021 after 30 years of public relations work in Chicago. A longtime arts promoter, she founded an arts council, an arts center and gallery, and created a global arts festival in Bartlett, Illinois. Her articles for the Wichita Beacon and Active Age have earned local and national awards, including Wichita Professional Communicators' 2024 Sweepstakes Award.
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