After more than eight years leading the growth and expansion of the Riverside Arts Market, John Silveira’s final day will be August 31, 2024. John joined Riverside Avondale Preservation after spending 23 years operating Certified Farmers’ Markets in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a Navy Veteran, John brought the skills of an air traffic controller combined with a Farmers Market professional, skills that are both necessary to convert a parking lot into a vibrant market for hundreds of vendors and thousands of guests each weekend.
The Riverside Arts Market has seen tremendous growth and success under John’s leadership. This includes regular weekly vendor counts growing from 60 to 150 during his tenure. John led the creation of a “Vendor Interest Form” for potential new vendors that regularly reaches over 1,000 applicants each year, allowing RAM staff to individually select artists and producers that uniquely grow the market’s locally made offerings. John put a strong emphasis on vendor relations, selecting vendors with strong business acumen and creative, unique products.
He reconfigured the market layout to allow each vendor the best chance at success, focusing on creating a unique visitor experience every Saturday and making RAM a destination for Jacksonville arts, music, and culture.
In April 2024, RAM celebrated its 15th anniversary where John and the entire RAP team celebrated. The day showcased many of the original vendors who are still operating at RAM as the market is a critical economic source for not only them but many of the small businesses and artists we serve. “I’m most proud of the Community Impact Award RAM received from the Cultural Council. It’s a reflection of all of us at RAM coming together as one community,” says John.
As we reflect on the tremendous impact of John’s leadership at the Riverside Arts Market, we invite you to visit him, and say “Hi”, and “Thank You”, each Saturday from now through August.
