Emerging Artists Programs

We are looking at having an emerging artists program for one of our events. We have about 16-18 smaller (60-150 artists) fine art festivals in California, and would like to use one of the larger events for this. In looking thru the discussions on this site, I do not see a whole lot of info on this. So I would like to ask everybody - artists and show directors - what they have seen or experienced that worked well? What did not work well? What kinds of awards were given? The process for choosing the artists? The criteria for who would be able to apply? We have a few ideas, but I seem to have a lot more questions than answers!

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  • I have never sold a sculpture nor have I been in a festival. At our community college I have submitted work and won. I' m 51 years old and have done art my whole life mainly illustrating and signs, and murals. I have never done a show does this still make me an emerging artists?
    • I would think that you would or should be able to apply, at least to our event. I can imagine that it is completely different selling your work at an art festival than other ways. With our program, we would like to encourage more artists (young or old) to participate in art festivals, help them get started. 

      • Curtis, thanks for not making age the defining factor for those "emerging." There's a million reasons that someone might not take the brave and determined step in showing and selling artwork until later in life.

        • I agree it is a big step for anyone, regardless of age (but I guess that is already evident!). We are still working on the requirements and process of selecting of a group of emerging artists. I am hoping we can get this in place for our February event!

    • Kara,

      by some festivals' definitions, you qualify, by others you do not. You have to read each festival or competition's guidelines. Some have age limits, some do not. Some want only residents of the state or county, or city in which the festival takes place. Some require that you have an art degree, some don't.

      I posted several examples above, take a look and apply the guidelines to yourself. Lifelong artists who are just venturing into art festivals, or who had a change of career and are now working toward being a professional fine artist may qualify for many programs --- but not all.

  • Curtis,

    I found another description of Emerging Artist that might be helpful.

    http://sausalito-emerging-artists.sausalito-california.info/

    An emerging artist is a person who's in the early stage of their career, someone who hasn't yet established a solid reputation as an artist amongst art critics, art buyers, and art galleries. They also have yet to be juried into local, and regional Art Fairs and Festivals.

    The term emerging artist is often used for young and recently graduated from a prestigious art college, but can also apply to someone who's made a career change or a recently decided to prioritize their art above everything else.

    While Wendy said, "that you can't hold the same criteria to their work" as you do for other artists, I do believe many of the larger shows must jury in their emerging artists for the same reason you jury the rest of the show: to get the highest quality and to manage the number of entrants.

    • And now that you have me thinking about it, a couple more definitions for comparison. Guidelines, restrictions and amenities all differ.

      Gasparilla Festival of Arts: Emerging Artists Program

      Gasparilla Festival of the Arts is proud to showcase the work of emerging artists, representing a diversity of styles and media, as part of our annual event. The Emerging Artists Program was created to recognize and showcase the artwork of up-and-coming artists who wish to establish themselves in a professional visual arts career.

      A limited number of emerging artists will be selected to show in the festival from the field of applicants through a jury process. Once selected, these artists are invited to participate in the festival at no cost. They also will be provided with the use of an individual display tent and receive a $250 expense allowance.

      Although these emerging artists do not compete with the other artists in the festival for prize money, their artwork will be reviewed by the festival juror and will be eligible for the $1,500 Emerging Artist Award.

      Applicants to the Emerging Artists Program should not have an established record as a professional artist showing their work in museums, art centers, major galleries or juried outdoor art exhibitions. In addition, applicants must not have more than 25% of their total annual income derived from the sale of their artwork and must not be licensed professionally as a visual artist. Emerging artists must abide by the same festival rules governing other festival artists.

      Columbus Arts Festival: Emerging Artist

      he Emerging Artist program is designed specifically for artists who have extremely limited or no experience exhibiting and selling their artwork at arts festivals. Artists who apply in this category must be residents of Franklin, Union, Delaware, Licking, Fairfield, Pickaway, Fayette and Madison counties.

      This program has been designed to help promote Central Ohio artists who are new to presenting their work at festivals. This year there were 36 applications to this program and 11 artists were selected by the Festival jurors. In addition to a lower booth fee Emerging Artists also receive assistance from Festival staff on how to best present their work to the public.

      Main Street Arts Fest - Emerging Artist

      The Emerging Artist program offers an opportunity for artists who have never exhibited before in large events to experience the A to Z of showcasing their work at an internationally recognized arts fair, to thousands of affluent and influential buyers and art aficionados.

      1. The Emerging Artist Program is an opportunity to nurture and assist artists as they begin their careers.

      2. The Emerging Artist Program is designed for artists who have little or no experience exhibiting and selling their artwork (no more than two large, juried arts festivals)

  • My daughter (at my insistence - I mean encouragement) did a number of events sponsoring emerging artists.  All the suggestions Camryn gave are excellent.  Fairport Canal Festival made the kids come to a meeting that was mandatory about a month or so before the show to show them how to display and mark their items for sale.  They did a nice presentation. Corn Hill lets the emerging artists take 2 bites of the apple and then they are OUT.  I think this is because it is a well established program.  Their parameter is that the entrants have to be under 25. Lewiston asks for Student IDs from High School or College... which is a good idea. The tent issue was a big problem for Fairport and Corn Hill as they supplied the tent.  Lewiston doesnt do that and tents are pretty cheap now....and no one had issue with it.  Many of the kids borrowed them from friends.  I do think that is a good way to eliminate some headaches for you.  I applaude you for making this a part of your event.  

    • Luckily my first show did NOT have an age criteria for "emerging," as I would not have qualified. One show I wanted to apply to as emerging had an age criteria (I think 27 and under?) and I was so miffed and insulted, I've never applied as a real artist.

      I doubt they will notice, but it makes me feel better. ;-)

      • Camyrn, It wasn't my intention to make you feel bad.  I was just listing what the 3 shows did that had Emerging Artists Programs.  

        Curtis, I think if you plan to jury the Emerging Artists you really need to be conscious that you can't hold the same criteria to their work as you do with the rest of the entrants.  In all 3 of the programs I described, not one of the Emerging Artists was juried at all.

        Keep in mind, that you will get kids trying to enter with hair chaulking, henna, and crap as well.  So while jurying isnt a bad idea, I think it has to have a different set of criteria.  Good Luck with it.

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