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You all are invited to take part in our 4th Annual Secret Santa Gift Exchange. Members of the artist community sign up to exchange gifts. We do it anonymously (or not). All gifts should be handmade/from an art fair/etc. In the past it has been lots of fun to see what people send each other, from handmade potholders (honestly) to batiked pillows and original fused glass serving pieces. 

(Search "Secret Santa" on this site to see the cool stuff.)

Play with us?

It works like this:

1. you sign up here: http://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/naughty-or-nice-4th-annual-secret-santa-comes-to-afi, or email me "connie@artfaircalendar.com" that you want to participate
2. I send you the link to be part of our gift giving. You click on it!
3. You have until December 13 midnight to join at the site DrawNames.com
4. December 14 we use the DrawNames.com site to do an anonymous matching with someone else who has signed up
5. on December 19 all packages need to be in the mail
6. in the week of December 21 we show off our received gifts to each other
7. The person who got the coolest gift and tells us about it in the most creative way wins a prize.

Hope you'll join us.

May the gifting begin!

Would love to know why the people who run this site got ride of the groups.  When I go into afi the only group i get are directors and organizers.   I belonged to the southwest group and we had some great discussions we shared info.  NOW NOTHING!  Can not even find this group.  What is going on ?   Help

After an abortive trip to Texas, and a bout of feeling lackluster and burned out, and just laying (lying?) around watching TV, I'm back in the studio and am absolutely loving it. It's fabulous to have TIME to paint, to experiment, to think about how I can improve and then work at doing it. It's grand. 

I'm going to go bigger this year, and bolder. I'm delving into figurative work - people in motion, mainly. I'm raising the colors in my palette, and cutting down on my strokes. I'm excited about this new direction - and scared, too, for sure. But fear often jazzes me. 

All of this is helping me look forward to the next show season, instead of sort of dreading it, as I was a couple weeks ago. I hope you all are having the same sort of rebirth, in this cold, dark month! 

Down in Delray Beach, FL, this past weekend it was "Small Business Saturday", as it was across the country. Yet it was also the weekend of the Downtown Delray Beach art festival. Good idea? Shop owners don't seem to think so, and then others do. The DDA likes it, shop owners not so sure.

"It kind of defeated the purpose of promoting our small business in town when they brought other small businesses to interfere with tax-paying stores and restaurants that have been here forever," says Megan Addison, from Periwinkle.

She believes crowds and closed streets from the festival kept Small business Saturday customers away.

Leaders from the Downtown Development Authority point out this festival has been coming to the area for the past 16 years. Small Business Saturday has only existed for five years.

What do you think?

Here's the rest of the story: http://www.wptv.com/news/region-s-palm-beach-county/delray-beach/did-art-festival-derail-delrays-small-business-saturday

I did this show that happens Thanksgiving weekend many years ago, but quit it and a few others before it so that I could be home in Wyoming for Thanksgiving. Seeing the list of winners makes me wish I could still travel to Florida for two reasons: I see a lot of friends and a gobs of prize money! I haven't yet heard about sales, how the change of venue is progressing, and how the other show not too very far away on the same weekend (READ THE REVIEW BY LORI KAY FOR THE OTHER SHOW HERE) figures into the mix out there on the beach. Congratulations everyone! WOOHOO!

Category / Award Artist Name Booth #
Best in Show – $3000 Raymond Book 278
Best Display – $500 John Mascoll 147
President’s Award – $500 – PENDING

A. Oils and Acrylics
1st Place – $1,800 Richard Currier 359
2nd Place – $1,200 Michelle Hinz 370
3rd Place – $800 Angus Macaulay 209
Merit Awards ($500 each) A. Brown 131

B. Watercolors
1st Place – $1,800 M. Kemper 115
2nd Place – $1,200 Witha Lacuesta 368
3rd Place – $800 Jim Holehouse 102
Merit Awards ($500 each) Michael Weber 291

C. Drawings, Graphics, Collages, Printmaking & Paper
1st Place – $1,800 Collin Margerum 248
2nd Place – $1,200 Jeff Eckert 358
3rd Place – $800 John Margerum 151
Merit Awards ($500 each) Anne Wooster 166

D. Clay
1st Place – $1,800 Robert Kastrinos 328
2nd Place – $1,200 Mina Heuslein 249
3rd Place – $800 Fong Choo 154

E. Sculpture
1st Place – $1,800 Joan Rasmussen 212
2nd Place – $1,200 Jack Hill 101
3rd Place – $800 David Figeuroa 148

F. Photography
1st Place – $1,800 Jay Canterbury 220
2nd Place – $1,200 Chris Gug 318
3rd Place – $800 Lorri Honeycutt 343
Merit Awards ($500 each) Karin Connolly 361

G. Glass
1st Place – $1,800 Bill Slade 160
2nd Place – $1,200 Kirk Miller 328
3rd Place – $800 James Stanford 300

H. Jewelry
1st Place – $1,800 Erh-Ping Tsai 224
2nd Place – $1,200 Claudia Melchiorre 303
3rd Place – $800 Wiwat Kamolpornwijit 241
Merit Awards ($500 each) Peggy Miller 170

I. Leather, Fiber & Wood
1st Place – $1,800 Bounkhong Signavong 289
2nd Place – $1,200 Lillian Huger 280
3rd Place – $800 John Mascoll 147
Merit Awards ($500 each) Leean Krotetsch 340

J. Mixed Media
1st Place – $1,800 Nicario Jimenez 109
2nd Place – $1,200 James Nemnich 124
3rd Place – $800 Tony Krysinksy 251

January 22-24

Electricity: $25 (limited availability)

The Callanwolde Arts Festival is a two-day indoor festival located in one of the most distinctive historic properties in Atlanta.  This event will feature approximately 80 painters, photographers, sculptors, metalwork, glass artists, jewelers and more! The Festival will also offer artist demonstrations, live acoustic music, plus gourmet food trucks with healthy alternatives.

The festival will also feature a VIP Reception January 22nd 6pm-9pm in which visitors can tour the mansion and shop before the festival opens to the public.  Guests will be treated to adult beverages, live music, VIP access to the festival, and hors d'oeuvres.  The 27,000 square foot mansion is centered around a large enclosed courtyard nestled in historic Druid Hills, part of metro Atlanta just minutes from major interstates and central Midtown Atlanta.

Apply: https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=4370

This past weekend I exhibited at the Cocoa Beach art festival, not to be confused with the Spacecoast art festival which was originally at this location but last year moved to port canaveral. For a fledgling show in its second year I feel they did a good job.

This show is tied in with a music festival, a turkey trot marathon and the local firefighter chili cook off and has a very loyal following from locals and tourists alike. The people turned enmass on Saturday ready to buy and buy they did, Sunday was about half the crowd but still respectable. Financially this was the best show I've done since returning to Florida, seldom can I say I do 15 times expenses. I spoke with several artists with varying sales, wood turner $3500, jeweler $2500, glass artist $3100, others didn't want to give totals but most I spoke with were satisfied with their sales. I saw several pieces of large decorative art that found new homes.

This show is laid out along main streets, and in adjoining parking lots, no back to backs and very generous spaces. Set up was the day before and staggered, breakdown was the usual free for all that we see at most shows but no blood shed. Plentiful volunteers offering booth sitting, a very nice breakfast both mornings of fresh fruit, muffins, bagels and cream cheese, juice and three different types of hot coffee. The music during the art show was a good volume and age appropriate.

This show does have awards although I'm not sure of the structure or amounts, but I did see a few of the winners and I do agree with the judges decisions.

For a relatively new show I think they did a credible job and I will definitely be applying to this show again.

ArtFairCalendar.com has announced the results of its 3rd annual "America's Best Art Fairs" survey. This survey is the only national online look at 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 50,000 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 25 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. 

Best City for Art Fairs: Chicago

Chicago has it all, indoor and outdoor art fairs.  10 of this city's shows were voted into the Top 50, with 5 of them in the Top 20. Congrats to this city full of art lovers. Making a trip to the Windy City? Plan it so you too can catch an art festival. Our list of Chicago events.

Our #1 art fair is the Old Town Art Fair, June 11 & 12, 2016.
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

2015 AMERICA'S BEST ART FAIRS - the Top Ten

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

* - new to the Top Ten

At that link also find

• who took the survey
• why people come to art shows
• 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.

For more anecdotal information on a recent podcast with Lynn Smith, vice chair of the Old Town Art Fair 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

Show directors, we have prepared an extensive report full of 

helpful information with 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.

See the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/

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. 

January 30 & 31
Columbus, Ohio
Presented by: Ohio Designer Craftsmen
130 Artists
Deadline: December 7

Application fee: $25
Booth fee: $250, $375, $500

The Art Studio Clearance Sale is one of the most anticipated shows in Ohio by artists and shoppers alike! Booth fees are low, hours are easy and no fancy set-up is required.  Shoppers eager to buy line up early from our parking lot to the front door ready to take home the deals.

• Do you have work sitting in your studio that you aren's crazy about?
• Do you need feedback from shoppers on new work, designs, colors?
• Unload a kiln during the year only to discover a few firing mishaps?
• Have you been hauling around pieces that can't seem to find a home? 

• Groove to the oldies played each day as shoppers bebop through the aisles (sometimes literally) searching for bargains.
• Remember the fun of shopping with "blue light specials"?  WE HAVE THEM HERE! We roll out the flashing blue light for artists and announce creative sales gimmicks throughout the show to drive shoppers to your booth.
• Artists only "Garage Sale Swap" - look behind the curtain for artists   supplies, display materials, tents, dollies, whatever any of our artists need to unload.  Deals are made between artists-one artists's trash is another artists' treasure!

May 20-22, 2016 
Reston, Virginia
Presented by:  Greater Reston Arts Center
215 Artists
Deadline:  December 6

Application Fee:  $50; Booth Fee:  $500

Our fine art event is held in the streets of Reston Town Center, a unique, walkable downtown, filled with a variety of residences, offices, upscale retail shops, and fine dining. On Festival weekend we draw up to 30,000 visitors.

Our clientele is described by Art Fair Source Book as "affluent, enthusiastic young to middle aged couples who are not too price sensitive." Art collectors know our Festival and mark their calendars early for this marquee event.

Each year our competitive, juried, Festival features over 200 skilled artisans who utilize both traditional and unconventional materials and techniques to create hand-crafted, original works of art available for purchase.  We heavily market that the diversity of fine art and craft, ensures there is something for every taste and budget.

For artists we will continue to maintain the excellent and ample volunteer support and new this year will also include set/up help on Friday. Other artist amenities include booth sitters, continental breakfasts on Sat & Sun, drive up booth set-up/ tear down, free bottled water delivery, indoor restrooms, reduced hotel rates, reserved artist parking for oversize vehicles, security, and artist mentor opportunities in local schools.

GRACE is committed to elevating the profile of our Festival, and has maintained its increased marketing budget to reach new audiences and promote interest from collectors. GRACE contracts with a public relations and communications firm to develop an aggressive marketing and promotion campaign to better market and celebrate our festival artists with well-placed advertising in prominent magazines and newspapers, social media, radio and with our TV media partners.

What the artists say about us:

• Photographer John Scanlan: The 2015 was my  best show ever in Reston.  The location, the weather, the organization and attention to detail were superb!  Not to mention the buying energy.
  
  
• Exhibitor Carol Ferony:  I value this show; it has great art patrons.  Of all the locations I travel this is still my best market.

• Ginny Herzog from Minneapolis, MN observes:  I have been exhibiting at the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival for fifteen years and it is my favorite and strongest show on the east coast.  This show repeatedly delivers art savvy patrons and collectors from around the DC area and the 2014 show was my best show was my best show ever in 35 years as a professional artist.

This was my first real show and I didn't really know what to expect.  I was attracted to it because it's close to home, the booth fee was only $30, which included one 6' table and two chairs and I was able to bring along another table of my own.  The show hours were also appealing, 6 to 9 on Friday evening and 10 to 4 on Saturday.  So, not a huge investment, great location, affluent area...all good, right?

So, on Friday evening they had appetizers and wine for show-goers and artists alike with a ticket price of $5.oo which got you in free on Saturday should you decide to come back.  This all sounded great but I only sold one $20 item to this "social hour" crowd.  But I figured the weather was kind of crappy that night and things would be much better on Saturday when it was reported to be sunny and not as cold.

Okay, got there early...didn't bring along my knitting or a book as I was still optimistic and assumed I'd be too busy for any of that...ha!  My neighbor in the booth next to mine, who was also a fiber artist, (we were all kind of lumped together) brought her knitting along as she was a more seasoned craft fair participant and must have had an inkling about how this show would play out.

I had several friends come to visit,some that I hadn't seen in many years and a couple of them bought some things and then it did start to pick up a little with a few sales here and there but it certainly wasn't as well-attended, overall,as I had hoped it would be. There were some other competing art & craft fairs going on in the area the same week-end but my complaint, which I shared with the promoters in my feedback summary, was that I don't think they spent any money on advertising.  Sure, they put up a few signs in the immediate area and had a FB page but I never say any mention in local publications or other media.

My suggestion was that instead of spending money on eats and wine (they even fed us on Saturday) which was nice but I'd be glad to bring my own lunch next year if they could do a little better on shining a light on the event itself.  Overall, it was a good learning experience and I made about $200 but for a fledgling show (only it's fifth year), they've got some tweaking to do before they can truly be a success.

July 2-4
Denver, Colorado
Cherry Creek North Shopping District
250 Artists
Deadline:  December 1

Application Fee:  $40
Booth Fees: 10'x10' $800 (row), $925 (corner), $350 Emerging Artists  

Known as Colorado's signature cultural event since 1991 and America's Most Honored Arts Festival, the festival garners recognition and respect at the local, state, regional, national and world-level with marketing and sponsorship arenas, as well as both the festival and visual artist industries.        

• Annual artist sales over $3.1 million/$12,000 per artist average
• $900,000 marketing and advertising the visual artists
• $30,000 offered in artist purchase awards at the event
• 350,000 annual visitors hosted over July 4th holiday weekend
• New jury panel every year; helps successful jury entry for persistent applicants

The 2016 Arts Festival will feature 250 exhibitors, including 12 artistic award winners returning from the 2015 show.  Artistic excellence of original, handcrafted work is the sole criteria for selection of exhibitors.

Higher than average sales are attributed to an educated art-buying audience, the event's layout and location in the heart of Denver's affluent district of Cherry Creek North. The visual artists' success and festival experience are the core values and measurements of success for the Cherry Creek Arts Festival.

The Arts Festival features artists in 13 different media categories including: ceramics, digital art, drawing, fiber, glass, printmaking, jewelry, metalworks, mixed media, painting, photography, sculpture and wood.

The CCAF also announces the 2016 Emerging Artist Program.  This is an extraordinary opportunity for artists with very little, if any experience exhibiting and selling their work. Emerging Artists apply in the same manner as professional artists and submit their artwork through the category, "Emerging Artists."

Apply:  www.Zapplication.org

ABOUT CHERRYARTS:  Since 1991, the 501c3non-profit mission of CherryArts has provided access to a broad array of arts experiences and to support education in colorado.  Along with the signature 3-day festival,  CherryArts festures year-round education and outreach programs is schools throughout Colorado.

Learn about CCAF national art show rankings and festival industry awards at:  www.cherryarts.org/awards

For more information please visit:  www.CherryArts.org or call (303)355-2787.  

Does any one have info about the Gilmores show? Looking for info about the Myrtle Beach show.

Thank you

ZAPP and the Saint Louis Art Fair are offering artists an opportunity to have their images critiqued through a Mock Jury.  Whether you are new to the digital application process or looking to improve your jury submissions, all artists are welcome to attend and learn! 

Need not be present to participate in the Mock Jury.  

The jurors comments will be emailed to you.

 Here’s how it works:

  1)     Create a FREE user account or login online at www.zapplication.org.

  2)     Upload your artist images and complete the application.

  3)     The first 150 artists to submit an application will be accepted to participate.

  4)     One application per artist per medium.

  5)     The cost is $10.

  6)     Application deadline is Wednesday, January 6, 2016.

  7)     The Mock Jury will take place on Saturday, January 23, 2016 - Grey Eagle Distributors - 2340 Millpark Drive, Maryland Heights, MO 63043

  8)     Jurors will speak openly about submitted artist images.

  9)     Everyone is welcome to join us in person to experience the mock jury. More information will be sent at later date.

10)     For those applicants not able to join us in person the jurors comments will be emailed to you.