Blog

July 11 & 12 

Noteworthy:

Located on the streets surrounding the historic Burton Carillon Tower and the treelined central campus of the University of Michigan, the Street Art Fair, the Original offers a serene atmosphere that does not include sidewalk sales or merchandise vendors.  The Street Art Fair is known for attracting collectors, corporate buyers, and gallery representatives.

Highlights:

• The combined Ann Arbor Art Fair draws more than 500,000 fairgoers from across the nation
• Marketed extensively throughout Southeast Michigan and northern Ohio
• In-depth Artist Directory on the Fair's website, which received 11 million hits leading up to last year's Fair.  An enlargeable color thumbnail of your work, contact information and links are included
  (Ronna Katz making the sale at AA)
• Inclusion in the searchable mobile application, which incorporates a color thumbnail of your work and geolocation of your booth on the Art Fair map
• $7,500 in award money and automatic re-invitation for award winners.
• Set-up the day before
• Behind booth storage
• Artist amenities include:  on-site security, indoor restrooms, booth sitting, daily continental breakfast, continuous beverages and snacks available at Artist Hospitality, water delivered to booths, welcome cocktail reception on Tuesday, and an awards breakfast on Thursday
• Paid demonstration opportunities.

Application fee:  $40 

Booth fee; $650 single

Electricity and corners are available for $100 additional

Apply here: www.Zapplication.org 

May 2 & 3 
Elmhurst, Illinois
19th Annual Art in the Park 
Grounds of Wilder Park and Elmhurst Art Museum
10am-5pm both days

For more information and to download the application please visit: www.rglmarketingforthearts.com

and LIKE our Facebook page.

    

January 17 & 18
Venice, Florida
Venice Airport Festival Grounds
Saturday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
200 Exhibitors
Deadline: December 1

NOTEWORTHY:

• Independently juried event
• Cash Awards
• Exhibitors may park immediately behind their booth in most cases
• Long history of excellent sales
• Jury/Booth Fees ($30/$240); double size spaces available at extra cost
• Friday set up and drive up to your space to unload
• Artist amenities include morning coffee and donuts and a Saturday evening buffet meal.
• Overnight 24 Hour security on Friday and Saturday nights
• For more details about the show visit www.venicenokomisrotary.org

This highly regarded festival offers artists the opportunity to present their fine art and craft in a high traffic area during the busiest time of the winter season.  Venice, a few miles south of Sarasota is populated by upper-income residents and affluent seasonal visitors.  Qualify of the work exhibited attracts knowledgeable art lovers and buyers.  Venice is a historically significant community with an established commitment to the arts going back to the days when the Ringling Circus wintered in Venice.   

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

September 13 & 14
Deer Park, Illinois
Deer Park Town Center
Sat. 10am-5pm; Sun. 11pm-5pm
80 Exhibitors maximum
Deadline: June 1

This juried fine art festival takes place in the thriving Deer Park Town Center.  The festival is held around a charming gazebo in the center of everything.  The average home value in Deer Park and the surrounding areas is $850,000!  There are, on average, 40,000 visitors to this lifestyle center every weekend.

The Village of Deer Park and DDR Corp are thrilled to host this 3rd year, artist focused festival and are committed to its success. Deer Park Town Center is a high end lifestyle center. In addition to the amazing shopping experience, the center offers a spa, book store, restaurants, high end retailers and electronics store. 

Our commitment to artists includes:

• Aggressive marketing campaigns-print, radio, posters and internet
• Shows located in areas of high income and traffic
• Best of Show and First Place Awards
• Professional jury and judging with enforcement of all Standards and Rules
• Overnight Security-contracted through a professional security company
• End of show feedback survey to help us continually improve the artist experience
• Discounted hotel options
• Drive to spaces for easy load in and out
• Free day and overnight parking, booth sitters, cold bottled water delivered to your booth, indoor restroom facilities
• Continental breakfast both days plus afternoon snacks

• Jury fee: $35, Booth fee: $300 (10x10) 
  
  

Learn more: DWEvents.org

Apply on line:  www.Zapplication.org

or: paper application

September 21-22

The Catalina Art Association presents the 55th Annual Catalina Festival of Art, this September, one of the longest running and most acclaimed art festivals in California. Join us for this World Class Art Event featuring more than 100 juried artists, several reception events, a Kids Art Show and Annual Charity Art Auction.

What you need to know to participate:

• Catalina is an island so it does require planning to participate in our show. 
• 10x10 popup tents and grid-wall systems are all provided as well as bench seating in most booths. 
• Booths are set up along side the main walking street next to the ocean, which provides amazing views and tranquil breezes. Storage is free and secure. 

Local and mainland press cover the show as well as many travel publications. Awards, ribbons and Cash prizes are given by a respected panel of judges as well as giving thousands of dollars in art supplies to kids! 

Catalina Island's resort setting attracts high end buyers, here on holiday or visiting by cruise ship. For 55 years, this show has been what most exhibitors call a "Working Holiday Show". The locals are extremely helpful, the show organizers are very professional and the show visitors come here to Shop!  

What's not to like about packing your work and heading out on the ferry to spend a few days on an island meeting people on vacation who are eager to meet you? Plus, no tent to set up.

Learn more and apply: http://www.catalinaartassociation.org

Four Rivers Craft Show: June 7-9

Fine Art Show: June 8 & 9
Salina, Kansas
Deadline: February 15

Celebrating Artists, Celebrating Excellence!

• Over half-a-million dollars in visual arts sales annually!
• Ranked in the top 100 art fairs in the country and at the top of those in the central Midwest. Kansas' finest!
• 90 exhibitors in the Fine Art Show
• 50 exhibitors in the Four Rivers Craft Show
• over $11,000 cash Merit &Purchase Awards
• Reasonable booth fees and jury fee
• Booth sitters, water/tea/coffee brought to booth, assistance with unload and loading, Artists' Reception & Breakfast, free reserved parking within the event
• Presented by the nationally acclaimed Salina Arts & Humanities

 A Festival Like None Other

The Smoky Hill River Festival presents a sophisticated palette of events: exceptional fine art and contemporary craft, art installations, superb entertainment, and interactive arts experiences for all ages.  Salina is widely acknowledged as an Outstanding Arts community where art and culture are a $23 million industry annually.  A model in its rich cultural landscape, Salina is a vibrant example of a community that grows, thrives and reaches for the future, through the arts.

• 2000 volunteers assures community involvement
• 75,000 attendees, drawing patrons from the region and across the country 
• $130,000+ thriving Art Patron Program

The artists speak:

Smoky Hill River Festival-All around quality show-first class from patrons to art to staff-outstanding! Michael Stephens-Edinburg, PA

I traveled far, but gained a lot! Ana Petercic-Lincolnwood, IL

Very well run, all-out effort. Duke Klassen &LaDes Glanzer-Minneapolis, MN

A top-notch show in the middle of Kansas-what a treat-great volunteers, easy set-up, oh yea and great sales! Julie Jerman-Melka-Fort Collins, CO

Smoky Hill River Festival is put on and run by geniuses! Ashley Robertson-Woodbridge, VA

This is the most unique show I have ever done in 20 years.  There is so much going on and the community is really into it! Layl McDill-Minneapolis, MN

This show has it all.  Great volunteers, organization, quality and crowds! Carole Osburn-Des Moines, IA

We as artists have the privilege of having an individual voice.  What we ask and hope for is a venue that allows the voice of our art to be heard in its most beautiful form.  This show is a stage unto its own. Here your voice is heard, seen, and felt. Denise Robertson-Columbus, NM

We welcome your application. Available online at zapplication.com or may be downloaded and printed from the Festival website riverfestival.com for submitting by mail.

For more information:

www.riverfestival.com and www.zapplication.org

Karla Prickett, Visual Arts Director

Salina Arts & Humanities

karla.prickett@salina.org

(735)309-5770, ext. 2306

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Below: "Oakdale/Carver Pool" by Molly Dilworth, Brooklyn, NY

Salina Art Center, Artist-in-residence

Integrating the histories of Salina's summer  pastime activity, swimming, the large 1920s municipal pool is painted with two patterns that represent the whites only pool and the inset representing the blacks-only pool. This work is  visible through virtual maps such as Google Earth, marking a visual  history of Salina from an aerial perspective.

June 15 & 16
Wheaton, Illinois
Cantigny Park
Sat. 10am-5pm; Sun. 10am-4pm
Deadline: February 1

Cantigny Park is pleased to announce Art in Bloom, an outdoor arts festival. More than 80 juried artists will showcase their work amidst Cantigny's beautiful gardens, grounds and museums.

Art in Bloom promises even more excitement than our past art festivals, which are always among the park's most popular events. Two-day attendance should be about 10,000 if the weather is favorable. Friday night set-up is available as well as an air conditioned artist break room, snacks, and volunteers galore. This event is located on grass under large trees. Ample parking is another valuable asset!

Our publicity campaign will include, but is not limited to, radio, newspaper, eblast, twitter, facebook, postcards, web, Cantigny Visitors Guide as well as our Spring and Summer Events guide, posters and banners. In addition we plan on working with many of Cantigny's partners, affiliates and sponsors to help make this art fair the best that it can be.

Cantigny is a 500-acre park and part of the Chicago-based McCormick Foundation. It is home to two museums, formal gardens, picnic grounds, restaurants and 27 holes of championship golf.

Quality of artwork will take precedence over quantity of artists so the show may vary in size somewhat. Art in Bloom 2013 promises to be Cantigny's best arts fest ever!

June 8 & 9

The  58th annual Talbot Street Art Fair is sponsored by Talbot Street Art  Fair, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts  and philanthropic endeavors; program grants, scholarship endowments and  awards.

270 fine art and fine craft artists from across the nation will participate in the oldest juried fair in Central Indiana.  The fair remains free to the public.

Media  categories are two dimension, two and three dimension mixed media,  clay, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, photography, sculpture and wood.  Merit  Awards of $250 are given for each category and also a $500 Best of Show  Award. In addition to the Merit Awards, we also sponsor Purchase  Awards.

All of the fair's focus is on the artists.

• We do not have   commercial booths or performing musicians.
• We do extensive advertising to bring you the customers that buy.
• The fair has a dedicated following of patrons who show up rain or shine.
• Our  local and regional media coverage includes billboards, newspapers,  magazines, online ads and radio and television interviews.
• We provide 24 hour security with our Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers
• Free parking for both artists and RV's and cold water.  We also offer the option of Friday afternoon set-up.  Our Block Captains help us create an organized fair that runs smoothly.

The booth space sizes vary from the standard of 10'x12' to 10'x22'.  Fees: $25 Application Fee; Booth Fee of $295-$545.

April 20-May 27
Lincoln, California
"A clay art show and competition"
Presented by the Art League of Lincoln, CA, a non-profit corporation

Gladding McBean Clay Manufacturing Company
601 7th Street, Lincoln, California
Deadline: Feb. 4, 2013

February 9 & 10  
Jacksonville, Florida
Saturday & Sunday
10am - 5pm
Deadline: November 7

Application Fee:  $25
Booth Fee:  $210

Don't miss this opportunity to join some of the nation's most talented and respected artists who will be showcasing and selling their artwork at this highly organized and professional outdoor fine art festival.

This open air art gallery is located in the gigantic parking lot on the corner of Blanding Boulevard and Wells Road at Orange Park mall - the largest mall to the west of the Saint John's River. Artists will be displaying and selling all forms of art including ceramics, metal, glass, jewelry, paintings, sculpture, wood, stone, fiber, photography, and more. All artwork is juried, which provides a higher level of quality, diversity and creativity of art on display.

Artist Amenities

• Extra space behind your booth for storage.
• Drive up access for easy unloading and end of festival loading.
• Friday setup from 3pm-6pm with overnight security and also Sat morning from 6am-9am.
• Complimentary continental breakfast, coffee and water (Sat & Sun from 6am - 9am).
• Floating volunteers will be available to provide breaks for the artists.
• On-site vehicle, trailer and RV parking.
• Discounted lodging rates at local hotels and local restaurant discounts.
• Free golf cart shuttle service as needed.
  Security  will be provided from the close of Friday evening setup (6:00pm) until  Saturday morning at 10:00am, and from the close of the festival Saturday  evening (5:00pm) until Sunday morning at 10:00am. 

Free Admission and Parking
All festivals are open to the public with free admission and free parking.  

Learn more about our shows at: www.BluArtFestivals.com

 Apply online at: www.Zapplication.com

This is the second year that I have done the Brainerd, MN Art show.  The setting is nice and set-up is easy and enjoyable.  That seemed to be where it ends, though.  This show is not for artists anymore.  If you do buy/sell, crafts, and crap, you will do well here. 

The attendance was down from last year.  Last year the show was on a Saturday, which I think was much better.  This show was on Sunday, so many that attended were in their church best.  I found I was talking much less to people vs last year, and the crowd was mostly interested in those big bags of popcorn and corn dogs.  It must be like going to a movie, whereas people need something in their hand to mouth.

My sales were a flat ZERO.  Last year was completely opposite, as it was a very good show for me.  I spoke to many other artisans to get a read of the show, and I heard from one jeweler (that I recommended to this show) that she BOMBED!  Sorry.  Another artisan next to me that does wall hangings using wools (nice stuff at good prices) also mentioned that his sales were rather dismal, although he broke even.  I heard the same at most of the booths.  One photographer was also not happy, as he did zero dollars as well.

I did spend some time with a couple that makes wood items like turntables and napkin holders, and they said they were happy with the show.  Their items were nice, but again priced below $100.00.

I think my disappointment with the show is it seemed that it was just "there".  A lot of buy/sell was evident, including the people that do the letters thing, paintings from China, tie dye shirts from overseas, and a lot of crap.  There were also some good crafts and lower priced art, but it was pretty much the same. 

The judges in my mind didn't have a clue what art was, and judging on who won, their was personal reasons for their win.  Congratulations to them, but there were better artists representations there.  I spoke to one person that helped with deciding whether the product was buy/sell or not.  He didn't have a clue.  I saw a minimum of fifteen...that's fifteen vendors with overseas crap.  Being an importer from the past, it is easy to spot.  Obviously the judging crew doesn't have a clue, or they just let people in to fill space.

One other thing that I noticed at this show is that there are women artists that take your time trying to extract information so they can do it themselves.  These people detest me, as it has happened over and again.  To those cheap skates that haven't a creative clue of their own, I'm getting better at spotting them and telling them to get the h*ll out of the booth. 

Anyway, Brainerd, MN will never be on my show list again.  I hope other real artists get the clue.  I know that there are several others that will never show their again either...they will be replaced by another Chinese vendor.

August 31-September 3 

Happy buyers at Arts, Beats & Eats

Royal Oak, Michigan
Downtown Streets
155 Artists
Deadline: April 10

We invite you  to apply to the 15th annual Arts, Beats & Eats. This festival is the "go-to" event  that heralds the end of summer in metro Detroit, hosting more than  300,000 visitors who come to enjoy the amazing diversity of art, music  and food in a cool urban setting.

This event is held in Oakland County, which is the  third-wealthiest county in the nation (including cities such as  Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills and Rochester).

The 155  artists chosen to participate come from across the country to join our  celebration. Being an art fair artist is a demanding business. A  professional staff awaits your arrival and we look forward to welcoming  you with perks such as vigorous volunteers, easy set up and take down, good cash awards, free food and beverage tickets and personal attention  to particular needs.

New this year:

• A lower number of artists than in 2011
• reduced exhibit space prices
• an enhanced layout with varied price  structures
• easier load in and load out
• improved parking access, and  much more!

This year we  will miss Connie Mettler, who has left to pursue

People love this festival

full time her commitment to artists through her various websites. Good Luck to you Connie!

We are pleased to add Donna Beaubien who has joined us as our new Associate Art Director to our Art Team. Donna comes to us from a long history as an artist and a director of art fairs, such as the Art  Fair Chair for the Guild; Art Fair Birmingham, Meadowbrook, Greektown, and the Village of Rochester Hills Art Shows. Welcome Donna!

We know you  are aware of the challenging economic times throughout the nation and in  Michigan, but we want to reassure you that we are committed to meeting  your needs and bringing you the audience you deserve. Ford Arts, Beats & Eats has been one of the few festivals that has been able to sustain a fine arts component over 14 years, and the event's recent move to Royal Oak and limited number of booth spaces, positions it as one of the top potential sales spots for artists anywhere.

Our  promotion is considered among the best of art festivals

nationwide. You  cannot be in the metropolitan Detroit area on Labor Day weekend without seeing specials about the arts activities on television, hearing artists' interviews on the radio stations and reading comprehensive feature articles in the press, directed solely to the juried fine arts show.

Buyers of all ages

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Looking for more art fairs for your 2012 season?

Visit www.CallsforArtists.com

Public Art Project on Tour in Basel, Manfred Kielnhofer

Shared by Austrian artist and designer Manfred Kielnhofer. The “Light Guards” project is further developed and become a ghost car touring in Basel art show during June 15 – 19 2011.

http://artobserved.com/2011/06/ao-on-site-art-fair-news-summary-and-final-photoset-art-42-basel-2011-in-closing/

Eccentric art was also at Basel, if not as dominant a presence as the traditional buys. Ghost Car by Kielnhofer was a large white van with hooded figures driving outside the fair, and the Bleifrei (which translates to Lead Free in German) Art Collective told Art Info: “Art is like Jesus; it died and it’s coming again.”

Manfred Kielnhofer, Ghost Car (2011) Basel, via Kielnhofer.com

The grim seeker after truth
Anyone wondering why these grim reaper style figures were seated on this white van - look no further than the latest installation from artist Manfred Kielnhofer. He is from Haslach an der Mühl, in the district of Rohrbach in Upper Austria, Austria, and is an artist and designer whose work usually centres around the human anatomy. His recent piece of art is the Ghost Car, which is a product of the developing ‘Light Guards’ project. This project surfaced from the theory that humankind has always been able to boast having guardians in different ways, in potential danger from only themselves. This idea intrigued the artist Kielnhofer, who approached it with his artwork, intertwining the theme of longing for security harboured by all humans. The Ghost Car portrays a sizely white van driving, seating sheet-covered figures. Perhaps this reflects individuality, exploration and recognition of current events in society, as it seems to interpret the theme by suggesting the hooded figures are looking to the drapes and car for protection as they are possibly ghosts, who are afraid of the life after death, and long for safekeeping.
By Alessia De Silva
http://austriantimes.at/news/Panorama/2011-08-06/35422/The_grim_seeker_after_truth
http://kielnhofer.com

Just passing along this opportunity to everyone.  This might be something you are interested in to get exposure for your work.  If you are interested the deadline is November 7th.  Note, there is a stipend for displaying your work.

McColl Center for Visual Art - 6th Street & 7th Street Windows
Deadline: Monday, November 7, 2011
McColl Center for Visual Art is seeking proposals from artists interested in exhibiting new or current work in six windows on 7th Street between North Church and North Tryon Streets in Charlotte, North Carolina or two windows on 6th Street Hearst Tower. Windows are available for exhibition January - June 2012 or July 2012 - January 2013. Two artists will be selected for a 6-month period for each set of windows. Artists will be required to change or alter the windows three times. Artists selected for 7th Street receive an honorarium of $1,250 and artists selected for 6th Street receive an honorarium of $750. Only North/South Carolina Artists are eligible.
Click here for a printable version of the 6th and 7th Street Windows Application 
 

http://www.mccollcenter.org/activate-your-creativity/artist-opportunities

The City of Ann Arbor seeks an artist, or artist collaborators to create artwork(s) for permanent inclusion in the southwest corner of the main lobby area of the Ann Arbor Justice Center (AAJC). Deadline for submissions of qualifications has been extended. Contact Aaron Seagraves, Public Art Administrator, for more information. $150K for public art inside Ann Arbor police-courts building lobby. Deadline is 09.01.11 - Ann%20Arbor%20Justice%20Center%20SOQ%20RFQ-797B.pdf.

2.  Guggenheim Grants for artists and scholars 

The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation is offering unrestricted grant money to selected individuals who demonstrate advanced professional standing in the humanities annd creative arts (excluding performing arts). Fellowships will be granted to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional scholarship/research work or artistic ability. This fellowship is intended to provide time and unrestricted funds to individuals to focus on their projects. Deadline 9.15.11. Learn morehere.

3.  Director of Development - Ann Arbor Summer Festival

The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is seeking a creative and strategic-thinking individual to serve as its Director of Development to plan, manage and implement a comprehensive fundraising program. Details here.

4.  1708 Gallery seeks exhibition proposals for their 2012-2013 season.
National and international artists working in all mediums including, but not limited to, video and film, new media, installation, painting and social practices, and curators are encouraged to submit exhibition proposals. Current students are not eligible. Proposed work must have been created within the last three years. Please visit the exhibitions page of the gallery's website for more details. Deadline: 10.15.11. Gallery website.

5.  WDEE TV (budding local internet TV station) is looking for artists
who would like their art piece placed on the set of a talk show. You will be mentioned in the credits and during the show as that episode's art sponsor. Contact Lfriend@darkelfentertainment.com if interested.

6.  Calling all indie crafters and art makers!
We want you to be a vendor at Liberty Local - a hand made craft fair presented by the Ann Arbor Art Center. The Ann Arbor Art Center is currently accepting applications from artist vendors whose work embraces the indie spirit - unique, handmade and creative. View the rest of the listing on a3arts.org.

All these links come to you by way of the Cultural News from the Ann Arbor area Arts Alliance.

Do you "like" this post? Please, please click on the social media tabs -- Twitter, Facebook, Google & Like

After all my booth fees I didn't have funds to create a professional website. I asked the web wizards if there was a good free site. Thank you Jim for recommending weebly.com. Looks pretty decent, don't you think??

Excuse my sentences or miss spellings, I have to ask my husband to help me to correct it. English is not my 1st language,just learned it 10 years ago, but you can check it out in the meantime at : www.carlabank.com

hope this helps more artist that need a site, it was so easy to make.

June 25
Elk Rapids, Michigan
Veteran's Memorial Park
10am-5pm
75 Artists
Deadline: April 1, 2011
 
Where is Elk Rapids?  Visit this link.
 
Elk Rapids is at the center of some of the most affluent real estate in northern Michigan, on the shores of Grand Traverse Bay, near Charlevoix and Harbor Springs.  This area has really blossomed with new homes, golf courses and galleries in the last ten years, making it a desired vacation second home location, for people from Chicago and Detroit.
 
The art fair is held in Veteran's Memorial Park, by Grand Traverse Bay in the heart of this charming harbor town.  Patrons can walk two short blocks where they will find restaurants, antique shops and art galleries.  Elk Rapids already attracts an art-loving clientele the year around.
 
The organizers have planned every detail including a reception (appetizers and wine) the night before for the artists and volunteers.  The next morning volunteers are on hand with golf carts at 5am to unload artists vans and help with setup.  Then the sun comes out and the people show up.  As they know this is a one-day show so it is "now or never."
 
Prize money:
     $1000 Best of show
     $600 Honorable Mention
     $125 Best Display
     $125 People's Choice
 
Space Fees:
     1 space, 1 artist $125
     1 space, 2 artists $175
     2 spaces, 1 artist  $250
 
Testimonials from artists:

--This was a terrific show, well organized, advertised, and well attended.  Glad to be in the show.
 
--My compliments to all involved.  The art presented was upscale.  Very well done.
 
--Thanks for selecting fine art (as opposed to crafts). It's very difficult to find art shows, and if you continue to keep a high standard and accept only fine art, you will get that reputation and buyers coming with the knowledge that it is an art show and they are prepared to spend accordingly.
 
For more information and to download an application visit: www.artrapids.org

Are you free on this date? What a wonderful place to spend a summer weekend, on the shores of Grand Traverse Bay, enjoying the hospitality of this artsy community.

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