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April 12 & 13, 2014
St. Simons Island, Georgia
Glynn Art in the Park EXTRAvARTganza
Glynn Art Association
Postell Park, in the St. Simons Island Pier Village
10 AM - 5 PM
70 artist booths
Deadline – March 28, 2014

Glynn Art in the Park EXTRAvARTganza on St. Simons Island, GA offers a quality arts and crafts event in a small-town oceanside setting. The Glynn Art Association is the organizer for this 21st annual spring event. The island is one of four barrier islands known as the “Golden Isles” on the Georgia coast, midway between Savannah, GA, and Jacksonville, FL, including Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island, and Jekyll Island.

The festival occurs during the time of year when many visitors are in town to enjoy a spring break vacation, coming from throughout the state, as well as from around the country. The jury brings in a well-balanced selection of about 70 artists representing 2D and 3D media.

Postell Park, home to the festival across the street from Glynn Art Visual Center, was re-designed a few years ago and laid out specifically for events like this. The one square block setting is located under mighty live oak trees, with the Atlantic Ocean a few hundred yards away, creating a unique ambiance.

A Children’s Art table enables the creation of a take-home piece of art, suitable for all young ages. A few food vendors will be on site in addition to multiple restaurants in the nearby Pier Village, within a short walking distance. This years festival also coincides with the Georgia Coastal Artists’ spring show and sale, making for an even more exciting EXTRAvARTganza!

Advertising is done through local newspapers and tourism guides, billboards and signs throughout the community, posters in storefronts, Constant Contact emails, our website, and social media.

Surveys from previous festivals consistently praise our staff and volunteers for their hospitality.

One artist recently wrote: “The Art Association does everything right and I love this show.” A local residentwrote to us: “I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the festival this past weekend. I went to the festival on Saturday 'just to look,' the art was very impressive and I ended up buying several things.“

For an artist application or more information on the Glynn Art in the Park Fall Festival, call 912-638-8770, Festivals@glynnart.org or visit the website www.glynnartinthepark.org.

I've done the two Bayou City shows in Houston for the past 6 years and it seems to me that the decisions the committee members (Art Colony Association Board of Directors) have been making concerning the size, layout & management of both shows are slowly (or quickly this year) eroding the overall experience for both artist and patron.

I understand that shows need to evolve and update and stay fresh but the committee for these two has made some questionable decisions over the past several years; decisions with consequences from which they have not learned...or possibly are turning a purposely blind eye.

For example, several years ago the Downtown fall show decided to put a group of artists booths in a little park which is enclosed by a tall permanent fence with only 2 small entry points.  I was assigned a spot there the very first year they did it and when I questioned the location was assured it was a prime spot and even more desirable because I could now leisurely set up during the day instead of during the normal semi-chaotic nighttime crush. I had my doubts but decided to give it a chance. That show ended up being my lowest profit show ever. Myself and the other artists in the park were virtually a separate show. A show that nobody knew about. We sat and watched the crowd through the fence. It was a classic example of a dead spot and I made certain to explain the situation on my artist survey.

Unfortunately they are still putting artists in there...and the last 2 years the rain has turned that area into a low-chance-for-success, muddy nightmare. I have made sure my booth location was never in the park again and my show success there has returned to normal. For me, the rest of the Downtown show has been as well run and profitable as ever (despite the nasty weather the past 2 years) so I tend to view their decision to keep putting artists in the park as strictly money-motivated. It's definitely NOT a decision based on concern for the artists.

The Memorial Park spring show has always been a well-run beast in my past experience. There are a few small issues like some buy/sell sneaking in, loud stage acts and having street performers walk around but nothing terribly egregious. Until now.

To me the decision to add 150 artists stinks of financial desperation or art show-ignorant new board members...or both. Sadly, Ms. Kindred and her staff are left to deal with the fall-out of such unwise and short-sighted board decisions. I am a firm believer in decreasing the number of artists in a show when you want to raise the quality and experience for everyone involved. The Winter Park show in Florida is a good example of this strategy.

Of course, the Art Colony Board has every right to enlarge their show (no matter how poor a decision that might be) but the method in which they chose to do it in this particular case may just be the death of a formerly good show...and the taint of this seriously bad decision-making is going to inevitably have consequences for the Downtown show.

Once you betray the trust of your high-quality artist pool the end isn't far away.

I have been bemused by the way the Art Colony Board has chosen to manage their spring show and after some thought it seems to me that they must believe we artists are simply a limitless & interchangeable factor in their financial calculations. In the acceptance email back in December it stated that over 1500 applications had been received for 300 openings. I suppose that to a non-artist board member that must seem like an almost bottomless (and lucrative) artist pool and, therefore, no matter what conditions they mandate the artists and their fee money will always come begging for a spot.

If art quality didn't matter to the art show patrons that would be a true enough situation.

But art quality does matter. In truth, to be a top tier art show it's about the only factor that does. Everything else is just window dressing.

Were I a board member I would be very worried about alienating a large chunk of the best artists in the “bottomless artist pool” because once they stop coming to the show(s) the fine-art patrons will stop coming too. Sure, for awhile there will be more artists ready to pay the high booth fees and show up to gamble on the crowd but the people that comes to the show will not be there to buy art and without buyers, well...enough said.

So if the Art Colony Board is aiming for a low end, buy/sell infested, mediocre show I'd say that by behaving in such an unprofessional, erratic and downright sneaky manner they've taken a big step toward that goal. This could have been handled so differently. It's hard to imagine a professional group of people purposely making the sorts of decisions that have been made.

I wonder what the 6 people (2 of whom are on the Art Colony Board) who originally spent so much time and effort to jury this show think of the changes. It would feel like a slap in the face to me.

May 3 & 4, 2014

Sanford, Florida

Historic Downtown Sanford

Sat. 10am-6pm; Sun. 10am-5pm 

125 Artists
Deadline: March 21

Applications on Entry Thingy 

$14,000 in Awards $3,000 Best of Show

A NEW art festival experience... 

We are very excited to announce our 3rd annual event, rapidly becoming one of the South's premier outdoor fine arts festivals. A different festival experience awaits you! 

Throughout the festival we will include 12 demonstrating areas for artists selected through our jury process. These artists will have adjacent spaces to demonstrate their artistic process along with their finished artwork to sell.  

Here are our plans to make this an exciting successful event for you:

Anticipated attendance: Approximately 30,000 visitors over the two day Festival run.  

Entertainment: Soft acoustical music artists perform throughout the festival footprint. Performance art students from Midway Elementary School also will be featured.

Learn more and apply: www.stjohnsriverartfest.com

Jury Fee: $35.00 - Booth Fee: $225.00    

Contact Information: riverartfest@gmail.com
Phone: Director/Artist Support Rae Marie: 407-324-1577
Alt Phone: Director/Demonstrating Artist Support Kim House: 407-323-9272

Did you listen to the podcast featuring this show and its organizers? We talked about the headaches and joys of starting an art fair. Listen here: www.ArtFairRadio.com

I ask about some feed back in my webiste. I got a some help in other areas and I appreciated. Here is one thing that make me wonder:

Friend send me this comment: I don't think there are grammatical errors, no. But I think your language and the ability to convert to correct English needs some work. I also think it's not all 'about you' and is mixed with about the work. I think about me should be ALL about you. Pull people in and tell them about you personally and your passion for photography. The info about the works, film format, type of paper, that stuff should be on the same page(s) as the images. Trust me bro. Those others don't know what they are talking about.

This what my about Oscar section shows:

My photography is always a work in progress. I started learning about photography at the University of Sacred Heart in Puerto Rico where I obtained my first bachelor’s degree in mathematics with minors in chemistry and photography. After some elective courses in photography, I was intrigued by the work of Nitza Luna, Henri Cartier-Bresson and Pete Turner. I relocated to Chicago in 1992 to pursue my passion for photography and received my degree in photography from Columbia College, Chicago. My primary focus was lighting and color. Since then I have been showcasing my work in museums, galleries, cafes and jury art fairs.

In November of 2012, I realized that I had something special in the works, and I embraced it by creating the Delicates Series (the framed pieces). This is possibly the most personal and emotional series that I have created. The series is a reaction to being homesick during a long winter in Chicago and not being able to visit Puerto Rico. The images capture the tropical feeling that I remember from Puerto Rico and my childhood. All the images are from different conservation parks. The images for the Delicates Series are print based on demand and no image is reproduce more than 250 times no matter the size.

All images captured before 2013 are taken with slide film using my 645 and 35 mm format cameras. I scanned all images and color-corrected them to match the original slides. All 2013 images have been captured with film and digital media. There is no post-manipulation; the prints reproduce the natural colors, tones and saturation of the original images. All 12x18 prints or smaller are printed on Fuji color Crystal Paper (Glossy or Luster Surface) and all 16x20 prints or larger are printed on Epson Premium Luster Photo Paper. Both papers ensure longevity, preventing discoloring or fading and thus adding value to my work. I frame my own pieces with studio moulding, museum glass (99% UV protection and anti reflecting glass) or conservation clear for smaller pieces (99% UV protection), rag mats (archival mats, 100% cotton), and the prints are dry-mounted in acid-free archival boards.

Warm wishes, Oscar Matos Linares.

The main question is what should be in about you or bio.

Here are the monthly winners for best writing on AFI - or what we call the Nominees for the Noble Prize in Literary Achievement in Art Fair Erudition.

The following people have entertained, informed, taught, thrilled, and generously helped us all year sharing 876 posts that help us all make our way through the art fair business. Our many thanks to these 12 and the other 864 who also enlightened us.

(Our apologies for being so late sharing the info. You know how life is ...)

Take a few minutes now, stop and read them and then at the end you can vote for the Post of the Year and the winner of the Noble Prize. (prizes will be awarded)

January - Nels Johnson - "WHY WE DO ART SHOWS (besides the money)- - Englewood, FL - - ITS A GOODIE!"

February - Robert M. Wallis - "St. Louis Art Fair Mock Jury and Image Workshop 2013, Part 1"

March - Nels Johnson - 3 Parts: "The Grand Scheme Finally Revealed--Everybody gets rich, even Barry Bernstein"; "The Grand Scheme Revealed --Level Two--Barry Bernstein will Love this"; "The Grand Scheme -- the Uber-Deluxe Package for $999.00."

April - Oscar Matos Linares - "The only thing I ask you God."

May - John Smith - "Top Ten Lessons Learned from our First Show or Learning to Swim by Jumping in the Pool"

June - Elle Heiligenstein - "Show Review: Art in the Park, Columbia, MO"

July - Valerie Tyler - "Being respectful of all buyers"

July - Mary Johnston - "Ouch - The ZERO show"

August - Jim Parker - "A Trifecta of National Shows- -Des Moines, Cherry Creek & Ann Arbor (the Original)"

September - Melanie Rolfes - "Alexandria"

October - Carole Fleischman - "BAYOU CITY ART FESTIVAL DOWNTOWN, HOUSTON TX 2013"

November - Geoff Coe - "My Northeast Show Summer: Sandy and Sequester take their toll" (tie)

November - Larry Berman -  "The New Definition of Owning Art"  (tie)

December - Pat Sorbini  -  "Re-calculating"

Here is the survey, where not only can you vote for your favorite writer but you can give some "atta boys" to the good people who share with you daily on this website.

Click here to take survey

Please vote today: Deadline: March 20 - midnight
(deadline extended)

Deadline is still extended (Fri. afternoon 3/21) because your dear editor is running way behind. If you want to vote do it now. It is not closed because I don't have the time to stop and analyze the results.

And besides this is one business where everyone knows how to extend a deadline.

August 16 & 17
Mt. Gretna, Pennsylvania
Sponsored by: Pennsylvania Chautauqua
265 Artists
Deadline: April 1

Artist fees: $25.00 application fee
                 $350.00 per 10'x12' booth space
Admission: $10 per person, children 12yr and under free

In mid-August as many as 18,000 festival-goers will plan on enjoying a weekend of art, crafts, entertainment and gourmet food in Mount Gretna, PA.

Every year, during the third weekend of August, this community of some 700 homes and cottages suddenly springs to life, welcoming 264 artists chosen through juried competition and 20,000 visitors who-by their presence acknowledge the role that art plays in their homes, hearts, and lives.

Every year, as thousands of art show patrons return, many others discover Mount Gretna for the first time.  For everyone who comes, it is a return to an earlier era: a time when neighbors greeted neighbors from their front porches, when going for ice cream meant going for a stroll rather than getting into an automobile, and when life itself pulsed at a rocking chair pace.

For more info: www.mtgretnaarts.com
Apply: www.Zapplication.org
Email: mtgretnaart@comcast.net, or call 717-964-3270

CLICK HERE -- To view the Artworks of participating artists for our three 2014 Festivals.

The third and final installment of Barry Witt's Bonita Springs National wrapped up yesterday.  A beautiful, cloud-free weekend with a fine stable of artists at a show where (in delightful contrast to what we find so many other places) A-R-T is the focus, not the music, the munchies, or the dog-walkers.

And yet...attendance was moderate on Saturday and--perhaps due to the aftereffects of the Insidious Daylight Time Change--lighter still on Sunday, with a two-hour mid-afternoon burst of energy salvaging the show for me and for many of my neighbors.  I wound up with about $500 more in the till than I did at the so-disappointing Naples National two weeks earlier: Another paycheck show, at a venue where, based on past experience, I expected much better. 

There was some grumbling in the ranks about how great this show had been when it was held at the Promenade, an upscale venue just off heavily-trafficked US 41 that, like much of the art show business, fell on hard times when the recession hit in 2009.  The former crown jewel of high-end Bonita shopping fell victim to poor management, which raised its rents to loyal small-business tenants as anchor stores abandoned it for the trendy Coconut Point mall not far away.  In the end, it was home to the Bonita Springs Art League and little else, and was sold at a bargain-basement price to a new management group, which promises to revitalize it (about which, more later).

This year, Witt moved the Bonita Springs National to Riverside Park, a city-managed facility that is only a few miles away by automobile but light-years away in perceived swank and reputation.  The park--and the show-- lies along Old 41 Road and the "downtown historic area" of Bonita Springs, home to mom-and-pop businesses, ethnic restaurants, and the Everglades Wonder Gardens, an aging tourist attraction of bygone days that recently shuttered its doors and was purchased by a Florida photographer who--stop me if you've heard this before--promises to revitalize it. 

For those of you who don't frequent shows in SW Florida, Barry holds three Nationals each year, second week of each month, January through March.  I did not apply to the January show, figuring that a new venue would have some kinks to work out.  That turned out to be the case, but give Barry credit for listening to artists and making quick adjustments--some that very weekend, others by the time the February show rolled around. 

The February installment is a relatively new addition, and although it had a superb art roster it butts heads directly with Howard Alan's Coconut Point show. Attendance, accordingly, was quite a bit lighter than I'd expected it to be, as were sales.  Although some artists I spoke with did well, overall, show veterans definitely noticed a downturn.  Nonetheless, the show garnered high marks for a smooth check-in procedure, lots of friendly, knowledgeable volunteers/boothsitters, an easy Friday load-in (drive-to-your-booth convenience, at least if you were located on the street and not in the park.  I am not sure if park artists could drive in or not), and ample parking. 

I didn't notice any tweaks to layout or procedures at the March show, so I assume the kinks had been worked out.  I had exactly the same booth location as in the February show--helpful, since at the National you don't get booth assignments until you check in, so any notification you do to past customers is necessarily last-minute. (The show does provide a detailed, relatively easy to read map and artist roster, however. But more than one patron and artist commented that some directional signs--"booths 145-193 thisaway"--would be appreciated.) 

Crowds were moderate on Saturday, but--after 90 minutes or so of the "browse mode" I've come to expect as early arrivals stroll the show to see what's available, I began noticing quite a few packages being carried about, including some pretty large 2-D work.   We were optimistic if a bit drowsy from the switch to Daylight Time as we opened up on Day Two.  But the crowds were thin indeed--late in arriving and definitely not in a buying mood once they came.  In my area of Old 41, there was a welcome burst of buying energy between about 1 and 3 PM, which saved the show for many of us. I was reasonably satisfied with both shows I did; they were certainly profitable enough to warrant a return in 2015. Yet, the consensus among those artists with a much longer track record at this show than I have seemed to be: "Not quite what it was." 




****

So what's the verdict on the change of venue?  It would be easy to draw a conclusion, as many artists feared, that the move from The Promenade to the park would be the beginning of the end for this show.  But that would be short-sighted, in my view, and flat-out wrong.  Let's take a look at a few of the concerns that were expressed when the move was announced:

* "The park is in a bad part of town."  Truth is, it's a lovely park, well-used, well-maintained, with lots of restrooms, a refurbished amphitheatre, and even its own wi-fi.  It hosts a regular run of community events; there's fine security at the show, and  even a Sheriff's Office substation right on the grounds.  There was a lot of (well-marked) patron parking on site and along nearby residential streets.  (A few patrons--just a few--complained that there should be even more.)
Does it bother the golf-course and yacht club set that this area of Bonita is a working class, ethnically diverse community?  That's a question I can't answer.  One of my show neighbors, an artist from multi-cultural Miami, shook her head in bewilderment as she considered the issue.  "Those folks should just get over it," she said.

At any rate, it might be too early to make a call on this one.  There was certainly money around--my average sale was, in fact, up considerably from the last time I did the show.  I did not consistently ask my customers if they had come to the show before, and that's my fault. (I did, however, mail my mailing list, and I saw about the usual number of repeat customers: so either my past customers aren't 'good-shoes people' or the venue wasn't a deterrent.)  Perhaps some of you who did the show, and DID ask, could weigh in below. 

* There's a bigger reason, though, why I think this show will not only survive the change in venue, but emerge bigger than ever.  And that's because there are changes--big changes--comin' to River City Bonita.  

Bonita Springs and its neighbor to the north, Estero are on the verge of a boomlet the likes of which Southwest Florida hasn't seen since the late '90s.  Last year Hertz Corporation--yes, the rental-car folks--stunned the business world by announcing that by mid-2015, they will locate their corporate headquarters in Estero, bringing about 700 jobs to the area at an average salary, it is said, of close to $100K.  (And it isn't a pipe dream: groundbreaking has already happened near Coconut Point Mall, and key corporate personnel are already relocating to a temporary building in North Naples.) That's some serious moolah. And its impact won't be just those 700 salaries, but also, in many cases, jobs for their spouses, and--here's where we artists come in--new homes that have to be furnished and decorated. 

Beyond that, you can bet that a whole host of service businesses will spring up in its wake.  There are other changes afoot, too--things having to do with tax codes and annexations and zoning--that I only partially understand.  But I've lived in expansionary times in big cities several times in my life, and I've seen this play out before.  

Taking an even WIDER view of our industry as it pertains to SW Florida: What might this mean, not just for Bonita Springs National, but for the glut of shows in the area?  The  oft-expressed downside of "too many shows" doesn't quite tell the whole story.  It's also been a problem of not enough money to spread around.  To the extent that economic expansion solves that problem, that could be good news. 

Surely, show promoters are taking notice. It's too early to tell, and I don't want to speculate in print (or whatever the heck the cyberspace equivalent of "print" is),  but I suspect there will be a few adjustments in the market before next year's Florida show season rolls around. 

 

Hello everyone, I'm new to AFI, but not to the arts community. I live in Chicago and have been housing arts for over 10 years. During show season, I have accommodated up to 6 guests in a 3bdrm condo. I'm going to list in the AFI classifieds. I'd like some input on what YOU would be looking for in terms of temporary housing during a show. Type of accommodations? Price? Ammenities that are important? Thanks for your help. I hope to meet some of you soon.

Hi

I just added the store to the website. Everything I do is limited by homestead.com who is my web provider and do not plan to change. I running a test that will last until Jan 2015. If you guys can take a look and see if anything jumps at you like totally wrong please let me know. I plan to run next a email marketing so any input is appreciated.

The website is: www.lpstudios.net

Thanks

August 9 & 10
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Downtown Milwaukee
10am-5pm
135 Artists
Deadline: March 17

The Wisconsin Designer Crafts Council proudly presents the 40^th annual Morning Glory Fine Crafts Fair on August 9-10, 2014. Join this group of talented craftspeople dedicated to the art of fine craft. The Fair has been popular with artists and patrons for 39 years and features 135 fine crafts artists exhibiting in ceramics, digital, enamel, fiber, glass, jewelry-metal, jewelry-non-metal, leather, metal, handmade paper, photography, printmaking, sculpture, wood and 3-D mixed media.

Morning Glory is held in downtown Milwaukee on the grounds of the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, alongside the Milwaukee River, and the adjoining Red Arrow Park. Morning Glory includes many amenities for artists:

• Friday afternoon set-up
• Overnight booth security
• Parking in a covered lot available
• Booth sitters
• Over $3,000 in prizes
• On-site caterer/food service with an indoor hospitality area
• Saturday and Sunday continental breakfasts, including complimentary Starbucks coffee both mornings
• Saturday evening reception and awards presentation
• World's greatest volunteers!

What last year's artists said about us:

Morning Glory also includes many amenities for our patrons:

• Sally Bright at Morning Glory

  Outstanding exhibition and sale of jury-selected fine crafts from throughout the country, sure to please the most discriminating patrons
• Opportunity to meet the artists and learn firsthand the personal story of what's behind the artwork
• Ample, nearby parking
• Free admission to Morning Glory
• Delicious food available on site
• All while enjoying a relaxing setting in the shadow of the Marcus Center, designed by noted Chicago architect Harry Weese 

Application deadline is Monday, March 17.
Visit www.zapplication.org to apply.

Morning Glory Fine Craft Fair - you know you've always wanted to try this one! Make 2014 the year you join us, in this our 40^th year.

Questions? Need further info? Contact bethhoffman@wi.rr.com, 262-894-0038

Today I am putting forward my ideas on marketing and what the options are in the Art world.  I have worked in a retail environment for most of my life.  It is seldom pretty, always competitive, and will spit the ignorant out in a second.  Whether artists realize it (and some do not) this is the place they will be when they choose to sell their artwork.  Creating your paintings, photos, macramé (do they do that anymore?), and whatever else we create is usually fun, or at least should be.  Aunt Molly comes over and see’s what you are doing and says: “Golly Bubba you should sell those Possum socks, they are beautiful”.  The light goes on and Bubba is doomed, UNLESS he is savvy to what he will be getting into.

First Bubba obviously needs more critique and I do not mean a Jury that may or may not actually look at his work before they send him that happy acceptance message that asks for the $10000.00 booth fee up front.  Rain…too bad ‘no refunds’.

Bubba needs to find people 1. He does not know, people who may not like him, and some one of knowledge that will jury his stuff knowing that the fee they are getting does not get bigger for BS.

So now Bubba finally somewhat understands if Aunt Molly was almost right.  Let’s say that Bubba gets great reviews and is surrounded by happy bubbles that are blurring his vision.

NOW the work begins.  Bubba being goes to the local ‘Flea Market’ (it wasn’t his fault, they called it an Art Festival and served beer) only to find out that the only thing selling was watermelons.  Well we have all been there one Way or another and that didn’t stop us so Bubba will persevere.  Starring eyes will do that to us all.

Bubba now decides that he needs a higher class clientele and settle on a $10.00/square foot booth at the local ‘Art Festival’ *seems as if I am repeating myself) and settles in for 2 days in which he almost broke even. Not bad.  Of course if he doesn’t count his time, food, and backache from sleeping under the truck ($10.99 for Ibuprofen at Walmart) for 3 nights. 

So…Now the local Auto body shop sees Bubba stuff and offers to display them next to the coffee machine in the lobby for a 60 percent.  Bubba is ecstatic, he goes there all the time and knows they are busy and they luckily did not ask for some kind of contract (Bubba can’t write).  Bubba of course never hears from them again except and being slightly ‘memory deficient’ just forgets the whole thing.

Now, the panacea of all who would sell retail….THE INTERNET.   I will now get somewhat serious.  Somewhat that is.  Unfortunately the very things that make the internet great also make it a nightmare for those who choose to sell un-necessary goods there.  Artwork is mostly beautiful, inspiring, and desired, but seldom considered a necessity. 

You have access to Zillions but those Zillions must sort through Zillions to find just you.  The search engines make it and even harder task now because of the prevalence of Spam and other nasty things.  Though I used to be very well versed in HTML and inner workings of website with just a couple of years away from it I was amazed at how behind I am.  Web crawlers, Markup, sitemaps, bots, OMG when does it end.   So if you have not the slightest idea of what I just said leave it to the obvious that making your own site is probably an exercise in futility.

Of course there are the great people who for a few bucks will set you up with a site of your own.  The few bucks can become morer (yes there is no such word I made it up because it fit) rather quickly when you add shopping carts, etc.  Now you have a site that looks more like the local grocery than an “artist’s site”.

The ugly fact is that marketing your artwork is exceedingly difficult and often disappointing. Ask JC Penny, Kmart, and others going down the pipe.   But that is why you should Enjoy what you are doing.  Art for art’s sake.   I do online sales but do not get excited about it and I am versed in web management, the price I pay is thus reasonable. Even so; I use it more as a way to organize myself and my sticks than any real hope to sell out.

 I hear you all out there yelling PORTFOLIO, PORTFOLIO,   yes I hear you but then we get back to the zillions thing.  But by all means post a Portfolio so those who care can see your work can without coming over and drinking your beer..

 WE then get back to shows.  Shows can be fun and rewarding, you get to meet fellow artists, and hopefully sell a few things.  But you must find the ones who are truly interested in you and promoting art and not making and easy 250000.00 on a weekend.  They are there, you just have to be patient and look. Never go to shows that allow anything other than artist made goods and for the shows that add 100.00 a day for electricity; Boycott their butts and next year we will not have to deal with them. 

Got long winded there.  Sorry

Mark M

ArtFest Fort Myers - February 1 & 2

May 17 & 18
Riverside, Illinois
Saturday, 10 - 5; Sunday, 10 - 4
100 exhibitors max
Deadline: March 15

Jury Fee: $35
Booth Fee (10x10): $300

RAW - Riverside Arts Weekend is pleased to present our 7th year of fine art in the heart of our National Historic Landmark community in Riverside, IL. The festival compliments this beautiful Frederick Law Olmsted designed historic community by bringing fine art patrons, music, children's art activities and performing arts to a crescendo for an amazing weekend.

This juried fine art festival is held between the river and beautiful Guthrie Park in the historic village of Riverside.  All artists are juried and emphasis is placed on accommodating ARTISTS!

RAW is a not for profit organization committed to the arts. Riverside Arts Weekend is sponsored and supported by the Village of Riverside, the Riverside Chamber of Commerce, community businesses and art patrons.

At D & W Events we recognize the Chicago area is inundated with art festivals.  Most are NOT fine art/craft, artists present with original work.  Our goal is to present high quality festivals with artists' original work ONLY and an equalized quantity of media.

Apply: https://www.zapplication.org/event-info-public.php?fair
Learn more: www.dwevents.org/raw

September 5-7
Clayton, Missouri
Fine Art & Craft Festival
Business district of Clayton in Saint Louis, MO
Friday 5 pm-10 pm
Saturday 11 am-10 pm; Sunday 11 am-5 pm
181 Artists
Deadline: March 20

Fact Sheet:

• Website: culturalfestivals.com 
  
• Avg. Sales: $7500 (based on 2013 post event survey)
  
  
• Jury Images:  4 Images of work plus one booth image
  
  
• Viewed:  simultaneously with images horizontally across the screen (booth image is last image in the row)
  
  
• Jurors:  The jury panel is made up of arts professionals, peer jurors, and local buyer/collector (all paid) for a total of 5 jurors.
  
  
• Scoring:  yes, no, maybe
• Jury/Application Fee:  $40 non refundable
• Booth Space Fee: $625 and $725
• Cash Awards:  Up to $21,000
• Booth Space:  10'x10' with 2' buffer all around
• Electric:  500 watts provided free, no generators
• Produced by:  Cultural Festivals 501(c) 3 Non-profit corp.
• Artist Presence: Required
• Reproductions:  Not allowed
• No. of Applicants in 2013:  1305
• No. of Exhibitors from Jury Pool:  150
• No. of Exhibitors Exempt from Jury:  31
• Security:  24-Hour
• Parking:  Free/Reserved

In addition to the amazing visual art exhibition, the festival will feature live performing arts ensembles on three stages, the Creative Castle featuring educational art projects for children, street performers and fifteen of St. Louis' most delectable restaurants.

Matthew Hatala's booth. Too full at St. Louis?

For more information contact:

Cindy Lerick

President & Executive Director

Cultural Festivals

phone: 314-863-4485
Learn more:  CulturalFestivals.com 

Apply: www.Zapplication.org