The goal and vision of Able Trade has always been to take away as many barriers as we can to help artists make a career of their talents, but to be able to do that is a lot more than just being able to make great art. Exposure, sales, and connections can make or break a business so we wanted to create a space that artists and small businesses of all kind can get their name out and show our community all they have to offer.

Able Trade brings in a featured artist and vendor every First Friday of the month and doesn’t take a penny from anyone involved. We pay out of pocket for a First Friday coordinator, a fresh Keg, snacks, a photographer, printed materials, advertising, and spend plenty of hours each month cleaning, prepping, fixing, and getting things in order to host this monthly event. We are happy to do it because we believe in it strongly, but we thought there is a chance others might also feel inclined to join in and become a part of giving our Knoxville artists a leg up.