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Belleville, IL, hosts one of the finest art shows in the country, the Art Fair in the Square.  Seems like they are out there prepping their audience all year. Here's an article from the etiquette writer of the Belleville News-Democrat, Dianne Isbell, including such ideas as:

(Disclaimer -- she calls the exhibitors vendors, not artists -- still this all applies)

1. Do not take pictures

2. Ask permission first and ask for assistance as necessary if you want to try on something

3. Do not eat food of any kind in a vendor’s area

4. Do not place a stroller in a position that blocks other potential customers from viewing the vendors’ products.

5. MY FAVORITE:  Do not demean a vendor by attempting to haggle with them regarding the price of an item you wish to purchase.

6. Many, many more ...

Kudos to writer Lisa Gutierrez for her article "At Brookside Fine, Art Deserves Fine Manners" in the Kansas City Star, all about Art Fair Etiquette for shoppers.

One of this weekend's finest art fairs is taking place in the Brookside Shopping District in Kansas City this weekend, the Brookside Art Annual, May 3-5. Many of you will be there and it is great to see that the publicity for the show includes writers such as Lisa who "gets" the business.

Here are some of her tips:

• First, control your kids. 
• Keep your dogs out of the tents.
• Don't browse while drunk.
• Don’t stand around yapping and block the way into the booths.
• Don’t make uninformed — read “stupid” — comments about the art within their earshot.
• And about buying stuff … don’t dicker. An art festival is not a flea market.