No one was buying Kaitlin Fritz's art when she set up a blanket in Cal Anderson Park and sold her COVID-era works a couple of years ago. The next year, the creator of the Cutie Foundation — founded to support and showcase young Queer artists — posted on Instagram asking if anyone wanted to join her. Free of charge to vendors and emphasizing the work of young Queer artists, the new market steadily grew to cover half of the park, attracting a crowd that cares about mutual aid. Some vendors have free stuff or sliding-scale pricing, and one vendor's profits funded their friend's top surgery.

Now, Fritz (she/they) and her team of volunteers are planning fundraisers for a permanent retail and event space.

Fritz credits the success of the event to a need for such markets she was hearing about, even in the early days of Cutie Fest. She said the participating artists are usually young people who have not been given space or taken seriously.

"There are markets, but there's not a lot ... [and they] are pretty broad: there will be some old dude selling crafts and a young person selling anime art prints," Fritz said. Cutie Fest is more focused.

The reality of vendor fees — something Cutie Fest doesn't charge — has also helped attract that kind of seller. Getting a full-sized space at Punk Rock Flea market costs $100 for one day or $150 for a weekend. The smaller booths at Urban Craft Uprising shows cost $175.

"If foot traffic's not great, the market's not for you. You're spending a hundred dollars and making a hundred, and then you're there in the hot weather all day," Fritz said. "It's the expense; it's not accessible. Once you get there and you pay all this money, there's no support. They don't care if you make money."

At Cutie Fest, a group of volunteers called Cutie Facilitators provide the support Fritz believes other markets are lacking. The facilitators help vendors set up booths and print out payment-option QR codes. In Fritz's vision for the retail and event space, that support won't disappear. She hopes to provide mentoring opportunities around sales and financial planning, setting people up to make money and run their own business.

"You can't do that unless you know somebody," Fritz said. "[You need to] give an opportunity for all these young people to know somebody and be able to ...have grown-ups who are in the business and have connections with the city. I get so passionate about being able to provide that."

Planning for the joint retail and event space is still in the early stages, but Fritz's vision includes a place to sell artists' work without taking out any commission, a space for fundraisers and other events, a small coffee shop, and a tool library.

Fritz feels that it's the Cutie Foundation's job to fund the space. Since it is not charging artist fees, she's finding creative ways to secure that funding. Right now, Fritz is waiting on nonprofit certification, which would allow the organization to tap into city and grant money.

"There's so much money that is allocated for ...young arts, so much money just sitting there, but there's not enough people that are taking the money," Fritz said.

Venmo is the primary way to donate to Cutie Fest at the moment, but Fritz is planning multiple fundraising events over the summer and an Indiegogo campaign. The goal is to raise $60,000 for initial costs.

Fritz is looking for locations that are central and easily accessible by public transportation, since some artists use the bus to get to Cutie Fest events. The Cutie Foundation has a budget of $5,000 per month, and Capitol Hill and the Central District are at the top of its list.

The Cutie Foundation's website is currently rather barren, and there's a lot to be done before a permanent space can be opened. That being said, Fritz seems optimistic about the project.

"So far it seems like Seattle's okay. The local art scene has come together a little bit, doing cool stuff," Fritz said.