How do you get an exhibit for First Friday's Art Exhibit in Kansas City?

I have a friend that is quite talented and believe she would easily draw a crowd with her vast and differing photographic prints. I am currently residing in Canada and not sure how I can help her as she is new to the art scene and I am of little help 1000 miles away. Does she contact the KC Art Institue? Bring her work into a gallery or participating restaurant that exhibits on Fridays? How can she get her work seen!?!?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

First Fridays in Kansas City is a monthly event when the galleries in the Crossroads art district stay open late, have parties, and invite the public. To be officially involved, an artist would need to have work in an exhibition running that month in one of the galleries. There are a wide range of galleries that participate, from Kansas City's most blue chip that show artists they represent (mostly artists with national and international reputations) to emerging galleries, artist-run collaborative galleries, art studios, yoga studios, coffee shops, etc.

I would encourage your friend to spend some time in the area during the day and visit all of galleries and other businesses in the area that exhibit or might be interested in exhibiting art. Here is a map of venues that participate in First Fridays. http://kccrossroads.org/maps/v2/#
This site also lists other businesses in the area, so even if a site isn't currently participating, they might be up for showing work - just have to ask! This website is also a good resource for discussion, events in the area: http://www.crossroadscommunityassociatio...

After your friend gets to know the galleries and venues, she will develop a sense for where her work makes sense based on the kind of work they are currently showing (best to go a few times over several months so she sees a few shows or look at past exhibitions on gallery websites if they have one). Also look at the resumes or bios of the artists showing to see how she compares (exhibition history, formal education). Some are going to be showing experienced artists, others are going to be open to someone just starting their career or people who do art part-time on the side. Then you just have to chat with the people who work there and find out who is the decision maker and if they are interested in looking at her work! She'll need to have either a website, physical portfolio or jpgs of the work (properly sized for email) she wants to show.

The more established/professional the gallery, the more difficult and formal their process for selecting artists will be, and some only show artists they have long term contract to represent. But if showing in a coffee shop or boutique satisfies her goals, then it should be fairly easy to find a taker. If one says no, then ask ask them who do you think would like to show my work? Art is subjective, and there could be a million reasons why someone may want or not want to show a particular body of work, so just keep asking.