Best Art Fair Winners 2018

8869188266?profile=originalArtFairCalendar.com has announced the results of its 7th annual "America's Best Art Fairs" survey. This survey is the only national online listing of the country's juried art fairs and craft shows, designed to reward the festivals that create opportunities for artists to sell their work.

The study opens the voting beyond the traditional "art fair insiders" such as artists and show organizers to focus on voting by art fair patrons, fine art collectors and the public that attends art shows and festivals nationwide, every event needs these 3 groups of people to make it work: show organizers, artists and the art buyers.

We asked our mailing list of over 57,000 art fair patrons what was the best art fair in the country and had an outstanding nationwide response. Nearly 90% of the respondents completed our lengthy 23 question survey and the answers were both expected and intriguing. 

The winners reflect who voted. The winning shows shared the survey, got their constituents involved and knew that the resulting PR would pay off for their event. Just like in any election its all about getting out the vote. 

America's Best Art Fair 

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Our #1 art fair is the Old Town Art Fair for the 4th year in a row. The show earned more than double the votes of any other event.

Survey said:

  • The setting is fantastic in the historic Old Town Neighborhood. It has a wide variety of artists with high quality art. We buy art here always.
  • great art, great city - What could be better than Old Town Chicago????
  • PERFECT mix of art, culture, food and FUN

2018 AMERICA'S BEST ART FAIRS - the Top Ten

  1. Old Town Art Fair, Chicago, June 8 & 9, 2019

  2. 7c5d3be6-c9b8-4733-8c99-6cddad40a504.png?width=350Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, Winter Park, FL- March 15-17, 2019 (image at right)

  3. Sunriver Art Fair, Sunriver, OR - August 9-11, 2019*

  4. The Ann Arbor Art Fairs, Ann Arbor, MI (all 4) - July 18-21, 2019

  5. Lakeshore Art Festival, Muskegon, MI- July 5 & 6, 2019

  6. Geneva Art Fair, Geneva, IL - July 27-28, 2019

  7. Old Florida Celebration of the Arts, Cedar Key, FL - March 30-31, 2019

  8. Coconut Grove Arts Festival, Coconut Grove, FL - February 16-18, 2019

  9. Ann Arbor Street Art Fair - The Original - July 18-21, 2019

  10. La Quinta Arts Festival, La Quinta, CA - March 7-10, 2019

* This show wasn't even listed in the survey. But the committee got behind it and got their fans to "write it in." Pretty amazing community organizing. Right?

52 Weeks of Art Fairs

See our entire Top 50 art festivals, a year round listing to encourage "art fair tourism":  www.BestArtFairs.com

At that link also find:

  • who took the survey
  • why people come to art shows8869188285?profile=original
  • what they buy, why they buy and why they don't come to some shows any more, including a lot of great tips for show organizers.

**Look inside the most recent results in our new ebook: "2018 Art Fair Survey, Who Won and Why", a 20 pages of analysis of what the respondents had to say about their favorite, and not favorite events.

For more anecdotal information listen to a recent podcast with Lynn Smith, vice chair of the Old Town Art Fair, where she shares her insights on why the OTAF garners so much enthusiasm throughout the greater metropolitan area, making it a "must attend" event. Art buyers from Florida and Ohio also join us to tell us why they attend art fairs and buy art. Winners! 2015 Best Art Fairs

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Show directors, we have prepared a 60 page report of in depth helpful insider information from experts who already know how to produce a successful art fair including: 

  • Our analysis of the extensive survey results and how to use them to make your show a "best art fair"
  • 5 Important Keys to a Successful Art Fair +++
  • Our 5 favorite ideas for encouraging buyers to attend

Click here for more info.

ArtFairCalendar.com's mission is to promote the American tradition of art fairs by showcasing events where art collectors find hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind fine work and encourage the interaction of client and creator. 

P.S. Surprised at these results? Me too! Kudos to the Sunriver Art Fair, Lakeshore Art Festival, Old Florida Celebration of the Arts and Geneva Art Fair for "getting out the vote." Tells you something, (doesn't it?), about the energy behind these shows. Comments welcome below.

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