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Applications open May 10th, 2025. Join the email list for Open Application Date reminders.
Springboard's Youth Arts Festival & Makers Market
Saturday, October 4, 2025
12:00PM - 3:00PM
Currently accepting applications 🏁
Apply to the fair
About the fair
Join the Springboard: Youth Arts and Entrepreneurship Program's 2nd Annual Durango Youth Arts Festival and Makers Market for a day filled with arts and youth entrepreneurship!
Springboard's Youth Makers Market is a unique one-day youth marketplace during our Durango Youth Arts Festival. The Makers Market showcases local Youthpreneurs between 8-18 years of age representing a range of elementary, middle, and high schools from the local school district, homeschoolers and 4 Corners areas participating in Springboard: Youth Arts & Entrepreneurship Program. Participants are encouraged to creating a product or services, develop their own brand, build a marketing strategy and utilize their communication skills while interacting with potential customers at the one-day marketplace!
Springboard: Youth Arts and Entrepreneurship Program offer's pre-event free community workshop to boost youth financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills. Follow our Facebook or Instagram to stay up to date regarding free pre-event offerings.
Springboard's Youth Makers Market is a unique one-day youth marketplace during our Durango Youth Arts Festival. The Makers Market showcases local Youthpreneurs between 8-18 years of age representing a range of elementary, middle, and high schools from the local school district, homeschoolers and 4 Corners areas participating in Springboard: Youth Arts & Entrepreneurship Program. Participants are encouraged to creating a product or services, develop their own brand, build a marketing strategy and utilize their communication skills while interacting with potential customers at the one-day marketplace!
Springboard: Youth Arts and Entrepreneurship Program offer's pre-event free community workshop to boost youth financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills. Follow our Facebook or Instagram to stay up to date regarding free pre-event offerings.
Join the email list for application opening dates, newsletter or if you have questions about accessibility email us two weeks prior to the festival so that we have time to respond to your questions!
Email Springboard.YAEP@gmail.com becoming a volunteer or event sponsor.
Email Springboard.YAEP@gmail.com becoming a volunteer or event sponsor.
Hosted by
Jennifer Fernandez
🗓️ Started hosting in 2024
✅ Identity verified
⭐️ 5.0 (9)
Jennifer Fernandez is the community youth advocate and community event planner. From launching and participating in local non-profits, participating in community boards, a Native American Liaison in the school district and a NAPAC committee parent, Jennifer is always looking for ways to support her community youth.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Durango Youth Makers Market?
The Youth Makers Market is a unique one-day youth marketplace during the Springboard: YAEP's annual event the Youth Arts Festival & Makers Market. The 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!
The Youth Makers Market is a unique one-day youth marketplace during the Springboard: YAEP's annual event the Youth Arts Festival & Makers Market. The 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 8-18 years of age in elementary, middle, and high schools from the local school districts, homeschoolers and 4 Corners surrounding school districts may participate.
How many businesses will you accept?
We will accept up to 45 businesses. Biz may have up to 3 partners, each youth's legal guardian must fill out form once accepted the original biz application is approved. If you have more than 3, please email organizer to discuss exceptions.
We will accept up to 45 businesses. Biz may have up to 3 partners, each youth's legal guardian must fill out form once accepted the original biz application is approved. If you have more than 3, please email organizer to discuss exceptions.
Where should I begin?
Attend one of our pre-event workshops! Springboard is proud to offer FREE educational workshops to empower youth (ages 8-18) with the skills they need to succeed in business, art, and beyond!
Money Moves: Financial Literacy for Youth Entrepreneurs
Learn smart money skills — from budgeting startup costs to setting prices for your products!
Attend one of our pre-event workshops! Springboard is proud to offer FREE educational workshops to empower youth (ages 8-18) with the skills they need to succeed in business, art, and beyond!
Money Moves: Financial Literacy for Youth Entrepreneurs
Learn smart money skills — from budgeting startup costs to setting prices for your products!
Youth Entrepreneurs and the Makers Market
Get ready to launch! Learn marketing basics, branding, booth design, and event logistics to shine at the Youth Arts Festival & Makers Market.
Mentor Chats and Presentations
Connect with real artists and entrepreneurs, ask questions, and get inspired by local leaders!
Get ready to launch! Learn marketing basics, branding, booth design, and event logistics to shine at the Youth Arts Festival & Makers Market.
Mentor Chats and Presentations
Connect with real artists and entrepreneurs, ask questions, and get inspired by local leaders!
These hands-on workshops build business skills, financial literacy, marketing savvy, and creative confidence.
Workshops are FREE and open to all community youth!
Workshops are FREE and open to all community youth!
How do I apply? Can I apply as part of a group?
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 partispant payment of $10.00 per youth participating. If payment is not made within time limit, then your spot will be forfeited.
Scholarships are available for those in need. Please email Springboard.YAEP@gmail.com for scholarship information.
Scholarships are available for those in need. Please email Springboard.YAEP@gmail.com for scholarship information.
What is on the application?
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?
What if someone else has the same business idea?
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.
How will the fair be set up?
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 we are indoors, your space will be 6x4
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)
If we are indoors, your space will be 6x4
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)
What are the rules?
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.
