It's official! Been wondering about the Birmingham, MI, spring show? Here is the press release: BIRMINGHAM, Mich., Nov. 23, 2009 – The Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center today introduced a new partner, a new location and a new format for its 2010 fine art fair. The 2010 Art Birmingham will be produced by the BBAC in association with The Guild of Artists and Artisans, a Michigan-based national leader in art festival events and programming. The 2010 festival will take place at the “gateway” to Birmingham, May 15-16. The new location on Old South Woodward runs south from Maple to Hazel, and allows for greater interaction among the city’s civic and business community, artists, visitors and volunteers. The event features work for sale from more than 150 artists working in a broad spectrum of visual media. “Our new collaboration will help us continue our mission as a regional resource for the arts, artists and art education,” Jane Linn, CEO of the BBAC, said. “With The Guild, we bring in a team of expert art event producers, with nearly four decades of resources and experience. The partnership ensures this premier arts event will continue to be effectively produced and provide our patrons with the highest festival quality.” The non-profit BBAC has produced an annual art fair for the last 27 years as the Birmingham Fine Art Festival. In 2009, following reworking by the creative team of The Henry Ford, the event became Art Birmingham. Artists will be able to submit an application online when the Call to Entry opens January 1 and runs through Feb 15, 2010. Details are forthcoming. The BBAC, like other nonprofit organizations, has been streamlining operations and focusing on effective delivery of its services. The new partnership with The Guild means that the BBAC can continue to concentrate on and deliver the educational and cultural programs that fulfill its mission to the local, regional, and national community. ABOUT THE GUILD OF ARTISTS & ARTISANS The Guild of Artists & Artisans is a non-profit, membership association of independent artists, founded in 1970 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Its mission is to develop and present art fairs to provide marketing opportunities for its members which also serve as educational, cultural and entertaining events for the community. The Guild of Artists & Artisans is best known for its award-winning Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair. For more information visit TheGuild.org. ABOUT THE BBAC The Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, providing “art for all” since 1957, is a regional non-profit art center committed to promoting the visual arts with classes for all skill levels. Each year more than 500 classes are offered for 4,000+ students from Pre-K to seniors. The BBAC campus features nine classroom studios, four galleries with free exhibits open to the public, art camps, and a retail gallery shop as well as a dynamic, growing outreach program. For further information about BBAC programs and events, visit BBArtCenter.org or phone (248) 644-0866. # # # Melissa Mengden Bunker (313) 886-9074 office (313) 432-2611 fax marketwrite@comcast.net
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  • Think of the Guild as the hands on partner – we’ll provide all the services that go into creating a successful art fair while the BBAC remains the owner of the fair and shares in every major decision.

    As part of the services provided, the jury will be the Guild’s responsibility. We jury online through Juried Art Services; we’ve been working very successfully with JAS for more than three years. We’ll be happy to assist any artist with their JAS portfolio and application.

    Guild members do not receive any favored status in this event; the only Guild fair that is reserved for members is the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair.

    The Guild and the BBAC have been communicating on an almost daily basis; you know, a partnership has many moving parts and we feel that working together we are creating something very special – something that will benefit artists and the community.
  • I am wondering…does this mean Michigan Guild will be doing the jurying? Will there be favored status for members? I’m not one, FWIW, and have not done any of their shows.

    I always liked this show. It always seemed a little more independent than many other art fairs. It had a different flavor to it, styles of work you would not find at most shows, which made it fresh and interesting. Plus more of a supportive community feeling as well. I wonder if that will change if, in fact, the BBAC is relinquishing control of jurying to an outside party.

    I see the application will now be online. Independent system or through ZAPP or JAS?

    I’d like to know more, for example, in what ways the Michigan Guild will be helping out.
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