is a unique one-day youth marketplace during the Durango Youth Arts Festival and Youth Makers Market. The Durango Youth Makers Market will inspire youth to discover their inner entrepreneur. This one-day market gives youth the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses from arts, goods, or services!

Local Youthpreneurs between 8-17 years of age in elementary, middle, and high schools from the local school district, home schoolers and surrounding school districts may participate.

Start with our resources page. Read inspiring stories about other young entrepreneurs and play games to hone your business skills.

Application must be submitted online. Please submit one application for each business. Youth working as a group should submit one application that includes each child’s information. No more than 3 participants per business. Once approved you will have 3 days to accept and make booth payment of $10.00. If payment is not made within time limit, then your spot will be forfeited.
Scholarships are available for those in need. Please email durangoyouthartfestival@gmail.com for scholarship information.

The application asks youth to think through some simple, but important elements of their business:

What product or service do you plan to sell?
What price will you charge for each product/service? How much will each product/service cost you?
How will you pay for your startup costs? If someone is helping you with your startup costs, how will you pay that person back?
How will you advertise/market your business before the fair?
At the end of the fair, how will you determine if your business was a success?

We will limit each category so we do not have ten cupcake stands and so on, we will give you a chance to give your biz a niche or switch up product if you fall under this situation.

The fair will be a tented outdoor event. Each business will be responsible to bring a 6-foot table (or 8 foot to share with one other business), full-cover tenting with 40lb weights, and 1-2 chairs. Table cloths will not be provided. You will be responsible for your set up. Set up must stay within the 10x10 tent, max two businesses under one tent.
If you need the above, we can help seek community sponsors to help with table and tents. Please email once accepted application if a sponsorship set ups is available. (limited supply)

This event is designed to give youth the experience of selling a product or service. If a parent is found selling or promoting a youth’s product or service, their child’s business will be disqualified. Family business are not allowed.

Parents of younger youth may sit in the booth, but the youth should be responsible for set up, customer interaction, and sales.

Parents may help their youth fill out the application, but we expect the children to do as much as possible by themselves.