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2011 we did 12 shows with varying degrees of success and 2012 we did 8 shows that were mostly ho-hum shows and last year we did 4 shows .... Naperville, Ill, Lincoln, Neb., Lee's Summitt, Mo. and Topeka, Ks (Mulvane Mt Art Center) I had a late call for Brookside, but the weather was crap and I didn't accept. The most amazing thing happened ... my home gallery sales increased considerable. Makes sense to me, so this year I am staying close to home, doing some summer recreational travel and waiting to see what happens. I must mention that my sales gallery (run by me) and workshop are in the same building and we are open 5-6 days a week.

I will probably have to do some equally distainful things like trying to sell through a 'etsy' store and hype up my web page, but those things don't require travel time, crummy motels and road food plus time away from my studio. So, I will report back in at the end of the season, which here in the Missouri ozarks is after xmas. Luckily for me I don't owe any money, am in a stable relationship  of 46 years, am  on Social Security which equals at least  on art fair per month and I really like to exercise and go trout fishing.

Good luck to all you out there.

Well, I saw Connie's gentle goading while I was goading Barry Bernstein.

I will man up with a full report.

I find it amazing that between over 700 artists who did the Grove, St. Stephen's and Artigras--there has been blicko.

I was patiently waiting.  You know if I have done the show I am going to report.  I was just waiting to hopefully see other input.

So here goes.

GETTING THERE.

It is now a rite of passage for me to travel to Artigras.  I have done the show most years since 1991.

For me, it is a straight shot east out of Ybor on Route 60 to Yeehaw Junction.  About one hour and a half.  Then, another hour and a half down to Jupiter just north of the show site in Abacoa.

Along the way on Route 60 you get to travel thru old Florida towns like Valrico, Mulberry, Bartow, Bealsville and Lake Wales.

This is Phosphate country so you see what accounts for tall hills for us Crackers, big mounds of Phosphate.  Near Lake Wales you are overtaken by the sickeningly sweet smell of citrus in the air.  That's all the oranges getting pulped up into juice at the factories.

Back in Valrico, you are near Plant City, that means strawberries.

You will see the stands selling shakes, flats and jams.  You will witness hundreds of pickers in the fields gathering the ripening berry.

Guess what? A lot of them have learned from us.  You will see white KD canopies everywhere offering a little shade.

The epitome of my trip is when I go by Ruby's fruit and veggie stand in Bealsville.

Ruby has her hand-painted, almost Grandma Moses signs everywhere, advertising her stock.  Ruby now exhibits at Gasparilla and the Disney show--how do you like that.  She is almost as famous as Clyde Butcher who is our Florida version of Ansel Adams, he does it in the Everglades mainly.

Sometimes if I have time I hit the Crazy Fish restaurant in Lake Wales.  Yummy, good, down-home vittles--at down-home prices--try them sometime.

At Yeehaw, you go by the old restaurant-bar with the great hand-painted sign that says "Jackass Crossing."  The signs have been saying new biz coming--for about two years now.

Then I am on the turnpike, love my Sunpass, no stopping no grabbing a ticket, just whiz on by.

When I go over the high bridge that says "Thomas B. Manuel"  I know I am now officially in southeast Florida.  I always try to speed up to see if I can get the van airborne on it.  Never happens--too much art--too much hopeful expectations of coming sales.

Down aways, I see the Jupiter exit and wind east.

I always think of Burt and Lonnie when I come to Jupiter.  Burt being--Mr. Reynolds, Lonnie being, Mrs. Anderson.

In the old days of Artigras they would always make an appearance on opening day-arm in arm like visiting royalty.  Burt always threw out frivolous one-liners, Lonnie just exuded being Lonnie.  We loved it.

In the old days, Jimmy Dean used to show up and buy art for his yacht.

I know this, because once this guy shows up in my booth, laden in gold , with a sweet honey.  He bought a bunch from me.  I did not know him at the time.  So he signed.  It said, "Jimmy Dean."  I exclaimed, " That is a famous name."  He said, "Yep, had it all my life."  True story.

OK, I GOT THERE, WHAT HAPPENED?

Thought you would never ask.

Artigras setup is very mellow.  You set up on Friday.  Show runs Sat. thru Mon.

You can usually park right in front of your booth.  If you are smart, you choose the side that has a lot of room behind your booth for storage.

You may ask,"Which side is that?"

Well, it depends where you are in the show.

Maybe when Barry Bernstein blogs about the Grove, or Geoff talks about Sarasota, then maybe I will give you more info.  All I am saying, there is room for storage behind almost every booth.

If you set up close to your property line on one side and get a cooperative neighbor, you can have an aisle on the other side and hang 2-D work that people can actually see.

I got a sub at Publix in Lake Wales and had a mellow lunch midway thru my setup.  I was done by 4 pm and called Vaughn.

"Vaughn" being my room-mate for the weekend--Steve Vaughn-- a very successful, notorious and giving photographer.  For such a great artist that he is, he is  very humble, open and more importantly, great to be with.

Vaughn does mostly HA shows these days and kills them where-ever he goes.

I spotted him as a up-and-comer at the Cedar Key show in the early 1990's.  He was a unique image-maker from the get-go.

Anyways, Steve and I are old friends, rivals, golf-buddies and confidants.

We have roomed together at many shows over the years.  We are a pair.

We stay at the La Quinta in Jupiter.  Right on the warer.  You can walk to three great restaurants.

Anyways, back to the show.

Vaughn is an image-driven photographer, and I mean that as a compliment.

So after setup on Friday and meeting at the hotel, he says, "Let's go out shooting."  I know he didn't mean "Wild Turkey."  He is not much of a drinker.

So  we meandered down to Jupiter inlet, at the bridge, did some shots--just before sunset.

Then we meandered to the "Square Grouper Restaurant" and did more shooting across at the lighthouse.

Then, it was on to the Juno Beach pier.  Steve does a lot of HA shows here and has a ready audience for his images--me, I was along for the ride.

We lucked out.

Neither of us knew that Friday was the night of the full moon.

There it was, rising out of a cloudy horizon like a fiery phoenix.

We both got great shots.  How great ,to be determined at future dates.

Well, being Valentine's day meant getting into any restaurant that nite was going to be a big chore.  Hours of waiting.  Love was in the air--everywhere.

We finally snuck into a cool Italian bistro and secured two seats.  We ate good pizza and went home to watch the Winter Olympics.

OK.OK.  FINALLY, TELL US ABOUT THE DAMN SHOW!

Thought you would never ask.

Saturday started off very slow, and got slower and slower as the day went on.

It was my poorest Saturday, ever, at Artigras.

Some people made good money--but they were in a distinct minority.  Two, well-known photographers (who don't want to be known in this blog) did not even top $100 on Saturday.

They were not alone.  It sucked all around.

OK, the Sterns killed them--great--they needed it, and God intervened--and they got it.  Enough said.

Ironically, this was the greatest weather we have ever had for this show.  Not one hint of humidity in three days, jeez, we had vests on in the morns, and back on by 4 pm.

Maybe too nice.  Maybe people were golfing, boating and fishing.  They definitely were not buying much art.

As always, there are great exceptions, but they were few.

By show show close, I had done about 50 percent of what I usually do--I was an unhappy camper--but a happy camper, too, because me and Vaughn were going to the Reef for dinner.  Whole Bahamian Yellowtail Snapper coming my way soon.

The Reef, also known as "Charlies" is legendary in this neck of the woods.

Fresh  seafood, done just right, and at the right price, and lots of choices.  Grouper, snapper, cobia, wahoo, you name it--they got it.

Always a long wait.  Put your name on the list and wait--maybe a half hour--then yum!  "We be eating good!"

Back to the hotel--more Olympics, we licked our wounds and hoped for a better day tomorrow.

TOMORROW--ALSO KNOWN AS SUNDAY

Sunday came and gone, and we were not better off then Saturday.  I never made a first sale til 12:30 pm, I got to read the entire NY Times and do the crossword before my first sale, that really sucks.

Again, crowds were milling along, but not really looking.

Also, I got very few, if any, be-backs.  You had one brief shot at them, and then Aloha, they were off to other climes.

Oh, I did not win best in show--I guess I will hold off on that new van purchase.

One cool thing about the show was my neighbor--Tom LeGault.  A famed painter from Michigan.

I have seen him for centuries at Ann Arbor.

He is a painting derverish.  He can finish a 24"x24' ORIGINAL in 30 minutes.  They were buying them as fast as he could finish them.

He had a killer show.  I wish I had half as a good show as him.  Perish the thought.

The crowds bought art, mostly at low-end prices.  I saw my share of photo-canvasses go by.  Saw lots of lowend Giclees.  But, they were few and far in between.  It was not what I called a good show with an audience looking for exciting art.  If anything, they were looking for cheap Kettle Corn and $7 beer.

Vaughn went out with buddies and I went back to the Reef--more snapper, please.

THE FINALE--MONDAY

Mondays at both the Grove and Artigras are very anti-climatic.  I don't know why we have to put up with them.

The best thing you can say about the Monday is--"Well, this ain't a Tuesday show, so you better kill them today."

Usually, if I make more than $300 on Monday, I am doing somersaults.

They should let us tear down at 4 pm so we can be home before dark.  But no, they are cruel bastards.  5pm then wait til the crowd thins, and maybe in by 5:30 and out by 7pm.  

Now, you either suck it up for another nite in a hotel, or drive home in the dark, exhausted and not really fully alert to all the dangers on the road.

Luckily, I have a good ex-show photo-buddy who got out of the biz before the great crash in 2008.  He lives near Jensen Beach, about 45 minutes from the show.  I was there by 7:30 and eating supper with him at Conchy Joes, a legendary eatery right on the water.

I limped home Tuesday morn, kissed my beautiful bride and quickly tried to make up lost time for missing her on Valentine's day plus her birthday two days later.

The Blonde deserves good presents.  She got them.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The way I write my blogs is a dream.  I realize that.

 I wish everybody else could describe their on-the-road experiences like I do.  But that is not going to happen.

I glory in my life, been doing it 39 years, and, I am glad to share it with others.

Hope you enjoyed the ride, Nels.

August 1-3

Park City, Utah
Historic Main Street
Presented by the Kimball Art Center
Deadline: March 1
220 artists

11 years ago I took a job at The Great Frame Up. The goal was to avoid going back to Florida during the winter months and spend more time with my ex-wife. In theory I could keep skipping Florida but I was wondering about shows in Florida. I been told is was not worth the trips or time.

I apply to five shows and I was accepted to 4 out of 5. I decide decline the invitation for the South Miami show. I was rejected from Winter Park. The three shows that I end doing was Beaux, Boca Raton with Patty and Coconut Grove.

The best show was Beaux and it also help to create sales at the Grove. All three shows are run very good. The show that was the biggest let down was the Coconut Grove. Coconut Grove is suppose to be as top 5 show in the nation and to me it was a joke. It seems that they had become a festival not a art show. What I saw was cattle walking around.

The best part of the trip was meeting people at Dolton GA where my broke down for second time and got stock in there for three days because the first winter storm in Atlanta. Second best part driving through the second winter storm in Atlanta. After these trips I love my car. I discover Hostel. Motel 6 was a big surprise but is better to get a weekly rate or rent a house for the season. I paid 435 to 465 per week at Motel 6.

What I conclude for 2015 season is that I know what shows I want to apply and be part of them are:Beaux, Boca with Patty (filler), Fort Meyers, Boca Raton Museum, Coconut Grove, Naples, Gasparrilla and Winter Park. Everything else if not worth the time or the trip.

If you want to know more ask.

Well, Barry Bernstein, you were there, are you not going to do a report on the Grove?

Just wondering.

So the results are starting to roll in for the better mid-atlantic juried events. I know that accepted artists at events do not ask for their scores. Accepted is accepted and you're happy.

But what about those shows where your work is on par with what you see at the event, but you applied early; thought your images were good and your booth image was strong... but still didn't make the cut?

The jury process is not transparent. Most show directors I have requested scores from will not, as a matter of policy discuss jury scoring. Their events are black boxes... You pay a fee to submit your images and get back only a yes, no, or maybe for the event.

If an event has a scoring system for their jurors, why is it a problem to provide something besides an accept/reject/wait list response to artist applications?

If there's a scoring system, please provide the artists scores as a meager form of feedback. We may not like them, may disagree with them, but at least it is something. If you are scoring the booth images, provide your standards and give this as a separate score.

Is there anything wrong with an expectation of feedback given that you are paying a fee to an event to judge your work

I just received two rejections from a prominent Philadelphia event. I wrote the show director (not for the first time) and asked for my scores. The reply back was the same - we do not provide scores, and in time past they have cited other events of their caliber not providing scores either as part of why they do not provide scores.

Word was that ZAPP was going to add a scoring module to their software.... Anybody know the current state of this initiative?

Is anyone getting numeric or otherwise scores from their jury entries?

I applied for my states artist fellowship program this past year. I didn't get the fellowship and they did not provide scores. However, they did provide written comments from the juror.

So, I have to ask my juried brethren: if I can get written feedback from that level of juried competition and do not have to pay a fee, why should I expect any less from a for-profit/non-profit event jury, who is charging me for the privilege of asking to participate in their event?

Yes, scoring disclosure requires explaining what things are being scored in a given event. They may require showing (in example of a booth image) what top-level, middle of the road, and booth-fail booth images look like...

I am uncertain how one would establish criteria for scoring paintings.. Would Jackson Pollack jury into your better quality events these days? (I don't think so) How about Rothko? (well his stuff would match the couch and wall color schemes... Both of them made couch sized pieces... Warhol would probably get into some events, unless they thought his art factory approach meant that the all original aspects by the artist were being betrayed...well actually this might work in his favor - he'd never run out of products to sell...

But, if you are going to be a subjective jury, say so, say what the criteria are; and then disclose how the artists stacked up to those criteria.... If I am paying a fee for the privilege of applying for admission to pay more $ to maybe sell some products, I think it's the least a juried event should provide to those who didn't make the cut... I may not agree with the decision, but I at least know what the jury is looking for and will be able to perhaps craft an entry which will make me more likely to be competitive the next time I apply...or know that I need to improve my display.

Despite not being accepted for the Philadelphia shows (judged by "highly qualified 2D and 3D fine artists" and stated criteria, "Decisions of the jury are based on the quality, uniqueness, consistency and professionalism of the artwork")., I have been accepted for at least one Howard Alan event and waitlisted for the Rockville A-RTS event in 2014. So, I must be doing something right..

What are others experiencing this year on jury score disclosures. I know several artists on this board made a point of asking for scores. Are we making a difference? I note with interest that jury fees seem to be a little bit less aggressive this year....

Final Deadline is March 10

Ours is a truly unique gallery - a massive Civil War-era warehouse on the Red Hook waterfront in Brooklyn, NY. Its enormous space affords us the opportunity to exhibit really huge work, and we welcome it. 

Learn more & apply:  www.wideopenartshow.com       Questions: info@wideopenartshow.com

FEBRUARY 21 - 5 PM ET

Don't miss this one if you are "closing your books" or struggling with what to do about your bookkeeping! 

Did you ever see such a business for high overhead as the art fair business? Travel expenses, booth fees, employees, tents, studio space, art supplies, credit card fees, etc. 

We talk to two artists with bookkeeping experience and we'll learn how they adapted this information for art fair bookkeeping. Our experts are:

• Alison Thomas worked with her husband in his HVAC business and did the bookkeeping with Quickbooks. The business was a corporation with employees so she knows payroll  and payroll taxes and the forms. We'll talk about Quickbooks and how she uses them for her art fair business.
• Leo Charette has been a data manager using computers since the 1980's, so when he started participating in art fairs he developed a system that could manage the interrelated relationships between creating art, selling art and staying in touch with the art fair patrons.

We'll start with the nuts and bolts of how you begin keeping the books and doing your first tax return and then answer your questions. 

Your options:

--Listen live here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/artfairs/2014/02/21/taxes-artists-keep-their-books

--Download it for later at that same link

--Call in with questions: (805) 243-1338

--If you can't call in post your question in the comments below and we'll talk about it. 

Has anyone out there actually done the Annapolis show once or more who can provide the skinny on it?  Thanks bunches!

This past weekend there were many shows to choose from, the Grove, Artigras, St. Stephens, and according to several posts that I read from many artists the most profitable by far was Howard Alan's downtown Sarasota art show. I've exhibited at this show for several years and even with the recent encroachment of another promoter oversaturating this area with more shows this remains in my opinion the best of all shows in downtown Sarasota.

The weather this weekend could not have been more perfect both days and it really brought out massive crowds of affluent residents and tourists alike looking to buy art. I saw multiple purchases of large scale 2d art that found new homes as well as 3d and wearables. Many comments I heard were "best Sarasota show ever" "just like the good old days" "best show so far this year". Every artist that I spoke with was very happy with their sales.

There is a section of this show set in the park that has a Friday setup, but the majority of the show is on Main St. and has a Saturday morning setup. Because this can be a tricky setup they have instituted a new procedure that works very well. From 4 to 6:15 your allowed to unload then move your vehicle off show site, at 6:15 all cars must be removed and you're allowed to setup. This is the second year they've done this setup and it works very well. I received two emails outlining the procedures. Breakdown goes smoothly as well as you're not allowed to come in until completely torn down, and there was plenty of staff on hand to be sure everyone followed directions. A continental breakfast was provided both days and there was artist parking arranged for both rvs and other vehicles close to show site.

Debbie, Howard and their staff were on hand and very visible all weekend making sure things ran smoothly.

The members have chosen Carol Knox's blog post, Mock Jury - St. Louis 2014, as the best January contribution to this site. Congratulations and thanks to Carol, a true Olympian, for sharing this information. 

August 1-3
Crested Butte, Colorado
Downtown streets
175 Artists
Deadline: February 28

The Crested Butte Arts Festival celebrates its 42^nd year August 1, 2 and 3, 2014. Approximately 175 artists will line Historic Elk Avenue - nestled in the majestic Rocky Mountains.

Sales at this show continue to increase as word spreads about the quality of artists exhibiting after a very competitive jury process. The Crested Butte Arts Festival is gaining national attention and sponsorship and draws a savvy, sophisticated art buying clientele.

The charming and eclectic town of Crested Butte, a National Historic District, is the venue for this outdoor show. Crested Butte is a tourist town, bringing in an affluent, educated crowd of 12,500 for Arts Festival weekend. 

Artist Amenities:

• free snacks and water, booth sitting, 24 hour security, reserved parking
• an artist's VIP area with indoor bathrooms 
• a Saturday night cocktail party
• color thumbnail and links in artist gallery on our website

Admission and parking are free and entertainment, children's programs, culinary demonstrations and hands-on workshops are scheduled throughout the weekend. Truly one of the industry's best kept secrets, the Crested Butte Arts Festival must be experienced to be believed!

Jury fee: $30

Booth fee: $350

Doubles are available

Learn more:  www.crestedbutteartsfestival.com
Apply: www. Zapplication.org

Email questions to Juliette@crestedbutteartsfestival.com or call 970-349-1184 to speak to Juliette Eymere, executive director.

MacJac Artist Studio

(Recently MacJac has been advertising their services for artists on our websites. Here is the story of what exactly they can do for you.)

MacJac Artist Studio, a fast expanding online art studio with a difference, is now making life easier for the independent artists from different parts of the world. This emerging online studio travels to all parts of England, Canada, and America to organize Touring Art Exhibitions displaying their astounding range of products.

Selling art images online has always been a difficult job, particularly for the independent artists. Now they can create their own page with MacJac Artist Studio and display their collection of Art & Photography. In addition MacJac Artist Studio will deliver artwork to buyers in a wide array of substrates such as Metal, Acrylic, Canvas Fine Art Paper, Metallic Photo Paper, Lustre Photo Paper, Rolled Canvas, and much more.


Many online platforms now offer services similar to MacJac Artist Studio. However, the standard of service available at this online studio is unparalleled in terms of speed, ease, and simplicity of use. Art enthusiasts looking to buy artworks online, as well as artists offering to sell artwork, now prefer MacJac Artist Studio because they have the freedom to choose from hundreds of different and unique size combinations. Therefore, they are guaranteed to find exactly what they are looking for. The unique cropping tool makes buying and selling artwork online a breeze.

Emerging artists looking for an online platform to sell their work and build an independent identity can get started simply by creating a new artist account. After the artwork is set up online, it is ready for printing and sale as soon as an order is received.

Artists can generate revenue from their artwork without any further hassles as the production part is completely looked after by MacJac Artist Studio. Members of the studio are also given discount codes and royalties by cheque on orders they place for their own products.

About us:

1. Historically we are a Touring Exhibition Company operating at Major Events across Canada, the USA and England.  Initially we sold only our own home-spun range of Art. Building on that we  expanded to sell thousands of art images at these events to thousands of clients who then form our database of qualified buyers.  In the past on Tour we have met dozens of Artists.  Some of the work we liked, so we began to promote their work both on Tour and Online.  This has been hugely successful.
2. In the past 5 years we have taken on Tour some work from these new but established Artists who form our stable.  The thing they have in common is that their work sells strongly online.
3. In the past two years we have been inundated with a large amount of Artists who want us to take their work on Tour.  It is not possible to take everyone on Tour so therefore we offer the Online Platform where artists can show and sell their work to our ever growing database of qualified buyers and enormous amount of online buyers.  We, nowadays, select our On Tour range from some of our most successful online Artists

Currently we have a proud statistic that shows that 93% of all our new Artists joining our online platform successfully sell their work within the first three months.

We offer three opportunities to artists:

• A online studio where you can upload images, using state of the art tools that enable you to print on a wide variety of 9 different substrates - from canvas to metal and everything in between, for your own use or to sell to clients
• Your own online gallery where clients come to shop
• An opportunity for your work to be exhibited at first class venues throughout North America

To start selling artwork online right away, please join MacJac Artist Studio by visiting http://www.macjacartiststudio.com/.

About MacJac Artist Studio: MacJac Artist Studio is the Artist Membership entity of MacJac Consultants Corp dba MacJac "The gift of Art". To date the MacJac exhibition has travelled to well over 500 first class venues across Canada, the USA and Europe, offering shoppers "a fine-quality gallery without conventional walls." Exhibitions typically last from one to ten weeks. They also market and sell the work of individual artists via MacJac Art website.

June 26-28 
Columbus, OH
Easton Town Center
105 Exhibitors
Deadline: March 1

The 15^th Annual Easton Art Affair is one of Ohio's premier Fine Art/Fine Craft shows. In 2010 Artfair Source Book ranked this outstanding show at #79 in Fine Art sales and #104 for sales in Fine Craft of United States shows. The show also has a fabulous review in the 2012 Sunshine Artist.

The show is held on the streets of the "Entertainment Forum" of Columbus, Easton Town Center, which is visited by over 48,000 patrons per weekend, (by car count).  Take a virtual tour at www.eastontowncenter.com.

Huff-Burch Promotions, developer and organizer of Easton Art Affair, has 40 years of experience in the Art show industry. It is the only show we produce, so extensive attention is given to all details, ensuring the exhibitor a very hassle free successful event! Our location, marketing and advertising are aimed specifically at your customers. 

This is a must for your 2014 schedule.  To make it even more convenient, this year all application will be accepted through ZAPP.  Go to www.zapplication.org  to apply now.

SHOW DATES/HOURS:

June 26-28

Friday: 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Saturday: 11am - 9:00pm

Sunday: 11:00 am - 5:00pm

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Application deadline for jury: March 1, 2014. Exhibitors will be accepted after jury date according to category openings.

All applicants must use ZAPP, www.zapplication.org to apply. There is a $25 administration fee.
 

Jury Notification: will be emailed between March 8

Booth fee due date: April 20 paid thru ZAPP, money order or check to Huff-Pomotions. Payment by check is preferred.

SET-UP:

Thursday night 9:00pm-11:30pm, check in at 8pm

Friday 9:00am - 3:00pm, check in at 9:00am

All oversized vehicles must set up Thursday night, or may have to dolly on Friday.

AMENITIES:

• $2,000 cash awards
• RV parking available (free) sorry, no hook ups
• Easy booth-side set-up and tear down.
• Electric provided at no charge for demonstration (ie., water fountains, lamps)
• Full-color promotional mailers and handouts provided upon request
• Free admission for show patrons
• Free parking

Annapolis, Maryland
200 Artists
Deadline: March 4

It is with great enthusiasm that we invite you to apply to exhibit at the Fifth Annual Annapolis Arts, Crafts and Wine Festival. This premier event showcases the prized works of over 200 artists employing a variety of medium: painting, sculpture, ceramics, digital art, mixed media, printmaking, jewelry, fiber art, glass, wood, leather, metal and photography.

About the region:

• a population of over a half-million
• the Annapolis area has a median household income 30% higher than the national average.
• It is the destination of more than 4 million visitors each year, accounting for $1.8 billion in revenue.
• Maryland is the wealthiest state in the nation and the Annapolis jurisdiction is the fourth most affluent in the state.
• Annapolis is also conveniently located approximately 35 miles from both Baltimore and Washington, D.C. and its affluent Maryland and Northern Virginia suburbs.

Well-known for its maritime culture, colonial heritage and charming downtown shopping district, Annapolis was named one of the nation's Top 25 Arts Destinations in American Style magazine's 12th Annual Arts Designation Poll.

To ensure widespread awareness of the festival, the event is being aggressively marketed throughout the region with a multimedia advertising and publicity campaign via TV, cable, print, radio and online, as well as through posters, postcards and brochures. Formerly called The Annapolis Arts and Crafts Festival, the event has added a new dimension of a large selection of Maryland wines and will now be known as "The Annapolis Arts, Crafts and Wine Festival."

The event is produced by City Dock Productions, an event management company with over 36 years of experience presenting arts and crafts festivals, music festivals, wine and craft beer festivals and other consumer product shows and public events. The festival is endorsed by the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts and the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Visitors and Convention Bureau.

The Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium is an ideal venue, easy to reach, just off Rt. 50, and with ample parking for both exhibitors and the public, the site is available for setup on Friday, June 6.

Artists can drive up and offload right at their booths. Plenty of nearby hotel accommodations in every price range, continuous shuttle bus service to downtown and all of the many shops, restaurants and attractions of historic Annapolis are just some of the amenities exhibitors will enjoy.

The Annapolis Arts, Crafts and Wine Festival staff takes great pride in our event--and in you and  your work. We look forward to having you as part of our fifth annual event.

Apply today: www.JuriedArtServices.com

Learn more: www.annapolisartscraftsandwinefestival.com

Contact: James Barthold, General Manager
Email: info@annapolisshows@gmail.com

Try this on for size.  Last year, we had a Fantastic Valentines weekend at a show that had folks lined up for our stuff.  For whatever reason, did not even get wait listed this year, so found another well attended event closer to home.  Friday/Saturday.  Arrived at 7am to 33degrees (Lake City, Fl), unloaded our truck that we had for 22 hours at that time.  I then took the truck to park like a good vendor.  Crossing the road in the truck I was involved in a collision that totalled my F250 Diesel that took months to find.  No one died, but it was horrible.  I was not injured, thank God.  My daughter brought us our Van (which we have not sold yet).  Spent the day in a moderate amount of pain, sold enough to cover our expenses and a bit more!  

I stayed home on Saturday to nurse my wounds, Wife and Daughter went to the show.  They arrived to find dozens of tent upended, destroyed and shredded.  Even a Light Dome 2 spaces down.  Our King Canopy Goliath was unfazed, but the wind under the sides did make a mess (no loss!).  The organizers moved us to consolidate the vendors that remained.  Someone counted 32 tents in the dumpster!  Stayed very windy all day, but still had a few sales.

End result - all show expenses paid, including the deductible on the wreck and the ticket I got for failure to yield.  I had diligently insured the truck so no big financial loss there.  Feeling pretty good today, and feeling very blessed.

I think it all boils down to perspective sometimes.

May 17

Fifteen years ago, the Oak Park Arts District launched "What's Blooming on Harrison" as a celebration of the arts within our community.

Over the years, this popular cultural event has highlighted the district through artist demonstrations, live music, dance performances and a juried art fair.  Not only is it looked forward to by the district's neighbors within Oak Park but by the surrounding suburbs and the city of Chicago as well.

Submit your application fee through our Paypal link or send a check to: OPADBA, PO Box 4441, Oak Park, IL 60304

I have had a roller coaster day with acceptances and rejections. I just was accepted to Columbus I am looking for some wisdom on booth request location....any advice would be appreciated. Thanks- sharon