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I wondered if anyone is doing this show, I'm not familiar with the area or the show, any suggestions? Thank you,

Hello Everyone!

I found AFI through Google and have been scouring it end to end. I have gleaned so much really useful information, for which I am deeply grateful to you all.

I am a Jeweler and have been doing shows since 2009, all Juried - mostly local (Tacoma, WA area) art fairs like Art on the Ave, Proctor Arts Fest, the Taste of Tacoma's Art a la Carte, etc.  I feel like it's time to try for some better shows, which  means - I've learned - professional jury photos and a really good booth shot.  My booth sucks - good custom-made table covers, but a hodgepodge of cobbled together display pieces, and far too many of them. Horrible, just horrible. I've designed a new booth, done a Photoshop Mockup and done my best with some new photos, using tips I picked up here. Until now, everything has been on a white background, which is good for Etsy. I had neither time nor funds to get photos taken for me before the first few deadlines.

I made an album showing the photos I did and submitted to the Bellevue Art Museum ArtsFest. I know, it's a huge longshot, the photos probably aren't good enough - heck, the work may not be either - but if it puts me on the mailing list for future shows so I can keep trying, it'll be $40 well spent.

The new booth is in the works - the display pieces on the left are designed, we just need to buy the materials and build them. Where's an affordable place to buy fabric drapes for the walls?

Do these pieces count as a 'cohesive body of work'? They are two different 'lines', but there are similarities and all are meant to represent emotions that are part of the human experience.

Let me have it, please - the good, the bad and the ugly. I want to learn.

Thank you,

Robin D.

Current Jury Photos

I just want to thank everyone who took the time to reply to my query about my booth title: Torched in the Head Glass by Susan Parry Designs. I realize I should trust my own instincts and be true to myself.

Thank you again!!!!

June 14 & 15  
Wheaton, Illinois
Cantigny Park
Saturday, 10am-5pm| Sunday, 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. 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.

Art in Bloom is always among the park's most popular events.  Quality of artwork will take precedence over quantity of artists so the show may vary in size somewhat. 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.

FESTIVAL FACTS:

• Deadline: February 1, 2014
• Jury Fee: $10
• Booth Fee: $285
• Artists: approximately 80
• Prints Allowed
• Ribbon Awards: $1,100.00
• Attendance: 8,000+  

To learn more and apply: www.emevents.com
 
Art in Bloom is one of a series of Chicago area art fairs organized by Erin Melloy of EM Events, a well-established promoter of art shows in the Chicago area. EM Events works closely with some of Chicagoland's most innovative and creative communities and organizations to produce premier art festivals of distinction. At EM Events, it's about the art.

For additional information please contact: 
Erin Melloy, 630.536.8416,  emelloy@emevents.com

July 19 & 20

Bayfield, Wisconsin 
Memorial Park
Deadline: Until full

Exhibitor Fee: $175 + $20 jury fee

Number of Exhibitors: 75

The Bayfield community will celebrate its unique connection to the arts on Saturday, July 19th from 10:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday, July 20th from 10:00am to 4:00pm, during Bayfield's 52nd annual Festival of Arts weekend.

Over 70 artists from  throughout the Midwest gather for this juried arts & crafts show which is held in Memorial Park on the shores of Lake Superior.

Visitors will find a wide selection of pottery, painting, jewelry, sculpture, and glass among the mediums exhibited. Events will include a live art auction, fine art vendors, and local gallery tours and demonstrations. 5 "Best in Show" awards are given, including $100 cash and free admission to the next year's festival. Free admission.

Learn more and apply:

        


Bayfield Chamber & Visitor Bureau
P.O. Box 138
Bayfield, WI  54814
(715)779-3335 (800)447-4094
Email: debi@bayfield.org

Hello, All:

I have pondered about this show for a couple of years and I have heard good and bad things about this event (just like any other, right?)  Can anyone offer info:  attendance, buying energy, etc.?  Is it worth a 7 hour drive?  Any input will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Congratulations to long-time member and frequent contributor, Pat Sorbini, whose post "Re-Calculating" was voted "Post of the Month" for December 2013. Well worth a read for all of us in January as we plan for the year ahead.

Try as I might, scouring the Internet as hard as I could there are no images of Pat to be found. So here is a simple thank you, job well done to you Pat for not only this thoughtful contribution but for all of your heartfelt posts. Read more of them here.

The members also voted special recognition for their help and contributions to the site to Larry Berman, Geoff Coe and Nels Johnson. Thanks, guys, for everything.

June 6, 7 & 8
Omaha, Nebraska
Downtown Omaha alongside a beautiful and scenic park
135 Fine Art Exhibitors
Deadline:  February 1

The Best in the Midwest:
Attracting more than 80,000 patrons from throughout the region, the Omaha Summer Arts Festival is consistently ranked in the top 100 art fairs in the country and enjoys an established tradition of excellence.

This popular show features 135 juried artists from across the country selling their fine art and contemporary crafts in 14 media categories.  An experienced staff of dedicated, event professionals produces the Omaha Summer Arts Festival.

Members of the Festival's Board of Directors visit each artist individually providing an opportunity for one-on-one feedback and evaluation.  We care about the artists, listen to their input and react to their concerns.

Each artist is provided an 11'x11' space with an additional 2'x11' storage area at the back. An exceptional show layout allows every artist to pull his or her vehicle in front of their booth for easy set-up and tear down.

Outstanding Artist Amenities:

• $2,500 in Cash Merit Awards
• A variety of options for discounted lodging within one mile of the show
• Complimentary lunch delivered to each artists' booth on Friday
• Artist Awards Brunch on Saturday & Continental Breakfast and Artists' Meeting on Sunday
• Artist Concierge Dest, centrally located, with dedicated cell phone number for Artist requests
• Private, air-conditioned Artists' Lounge with complimentary snacks and beverages, private, indoor restrooms, artist-only computers, free WiFi and chair massages by appointment
• Artwork Delivery Program picking up from your booth and delivering to your customers' vehicles
• Experienced booth sitters & water delivery to Artists' booths throughout the weekend
• Assistance with load-in and tear-down
• Complimentary sand tubes delivered to your booth and removed at the end of the show
• 24 hour security provided by off-duty Omaha Police Officers 

Application:  www.Zapplication.org 

The Omaha Summer Arts Festival is a magnet that draws people together to celebrate art in all of its forms and varied expressions. Its mission is to present culturally diverse, high-quality arts programs, performances and exhibits in downtown Omaha for the general public to appreciate and enjoy. 

Apply today to be a part of the tradition as the Omaha Summer Arts Festival

For more information:

Emily Peklo, Visual Arts Coordinator

epeklo@vgagroup.com - www.summerarts.org 

(402)345-5401 Ext: 106 

Fellow Artists, I need your opinion, please.

I am a glass artist who primarily works over the torch. Most of what I make is wearable, some not. A few years ago, I applied for and received a registered trademark for "Torch in the Head" and have that on my booth sign, web site, and business cards. I meant this to be used as a pun as I was an English major in my former life who loved and still loves word play.

 This sign attracts a lot of attention from walker-bys, many who become customers because they first think they're reading "touched in the head" and want to hear more about it. I then somewhat jokingly explain that I work over the head of a torch and that you've got to be a little "touched" to want to work with 2,000-3,000 degrees of heat--plus, I have red hair, which admittedly comes from a bottle these days.

A few months ago, I did a show and was visited by the promoter who thought that was a terrible name asking me why I wanted to demean myself. He thinks I should use my name alone. I then asked a well-known marketing guru who thought I should change it because it could connote a painful image of someone's head on fire.

I did ornaments for the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Washington DC (2010) and no-one said anything negative about the moniker then, but perhaps that should be handled as a  different critter.

I am now slowly getting into some higher end shows and wonder if I should change my name--or only use the more somber name for them. Hope I make sense--And Thank you in advance <3

After looking back at 2013, I have decided to concentrate on applying to shows that are sponsored and run by local non-profit arts organizations. Those are the shows where I had the best sales. And after a solid crushing defeat at each of the 3 Amdur shows I did in the Chicago suburbs, I am hesitant to try for a professional promoter again. 

I am curious if anyone else has noticed a difference between the type of crowd attracted by local arts centers and the crowds that attend the for-profit promoter shows?

I certainly have. The arts centers seem to draw from their member base and their respect in the community. I see avid collectors and shoppers on a mission. Many will visit every booth before they make their purchasing decisions. Even if they don't buy from me, I'm happy to see them, because I know I at least have a chance to succeed at that show. And overall last year, my sales were best at the shows run by local arts centers.

At the suburban Chicago shows, I saw very few collectors. The crowds were just walking by and looking. Few artists seemed happy. I'm not sure if it was because of the location of the shows,  the way people perceive a professional promoter, or something else entirely, like the people just didn't like my work. Hey, it happens. I chose the Amdur shows because they are run so well. But that isn't much help if they don't attract people who will buy my work. 

Perhaps, during the recession, art buyers are reserving their dollars for their community arts centers, to keep them going. Is the buy local movement supporting this?

Has anyone else been considering these points in their 2014 applications?

Geneva, Illinois
Downtown, 8 S. Third Street

Saturday 10-5 | Sunday 10-5

presented by the Geneva Chamber of Commerce

Geneva, a chic and charming historic town located on the Fox River, will celebrate its 13th annual Fine Arts Fair in 2014. Its prestigious reputation of offering a superb selection of fine art by renowned artists and cutting edge newcomers attracts beginning and avid collectors. 

The show is tucked among 100+ specialty shops located in Victorian-style homes and century-old buildings. Awards for emerging and seasoned artists along with warm small-town hospitality, offer a picture-postcard setting for this juried art celebration.FESTIVAL FACTS:

• Sunshine Artist's Top 200 for 2013
• Jury Fee: $20
• Booth Fee: $300
• Ribbon Awards: $4,000
• Attendance: 20,000+

To learn more and apply, visit:  http://www.emevents.com/ 

PLEASE NOTE: Prints, photography, digital art and computer generated art: Prints must be produced by traditional printmaking techniques. Giclee prints are allowed only in digital photography. Photography may be wet darkroom (chemicals) or digital darkroom. We define computer generated art as an art form created entirely with a computer.

Emerging Artists: Emerging Artists are required to abide by the same rules as professional artists. The jury fee is waived for emerging artists. If accepted the space fee is $100. Note: emerging artists are considered those who have never paid for a booth space at a fine art or craft fair. Accepted emerging artists will receive one "wall" to display artwork on that is approximately 6' high by 8' long. Artists need to supply their own chair, umbrella and pedestals. Limited photography spaces are available.

The Geneva Fine Arts Fair is one of a series of Chicago area art fairs managed by Erin Melloy of EM Events, a well-established promoter of art shows in the Chicago area. EM Events works closely with some of Chicagoland's most innovative and

creative communities and organizations to produce premiere art festivals of distinction.

This is my first post and inquiry.  I was so looking forward to doing this show at the Callanwolde Mansion in Atlanta, GA.  I applied and was accepted by the jury.  I went to pay my single booth fee (a week before the deadline) through ZAPP and received the message that it was "SOLD OUT".  Confused, I clicked on the double booth (which I did not need or want) and it was available.  Again, I tried to click on the single booth with the same message.  After sending two emails and not getting a response about the "sold out" question, I finally got this e-mail:

2014 Callanwolde Arts Festival: January 25-26, 2014
STATUS NOTIFICATION
Dear Amy,

Thank you for your interest in participating in the 2014 Callanwolde Arts Festival.

When the jury made its selections, you were either Invited or placed on the Wait List.  

The response to this event was immediate and very strong.  Those who received the invitation to participate secured their space quickly, many with double spaces.

Although we set the deadline to confirm your participation (make payment) and open the Wait List on January 13, we are now completely SOLD OUT.

How did this happen?

The jury invited 90 artists to participate.  This venue will hold a maximum of 86 artists.  There is no room to "expand" to include more space.  We were quite surprised that no one declined, and many purchased a double space. It is very unusual for our events to sell out so quickly and it really put us in a bind, because we hate to lose you!   

We regret that we are unable to invite you to join us for this event, however if we receive any cancellations, you will be the first to know!    

Don't forget, we have many more events in 2014!  Click HERE to see them all.
If you have questions, please send us an email and we will do our best to reply to you quickly.
 
Sincerely,
Patrick, Randall, Lisa and Sarah
Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces
info@affps.com 

After going back and forth, insulted by one of the staff (saying I shouldn't have waited until the last minute to pay, which I didn't), I finally just gave up on them... they were selling double booths (and then not single) before everyone who had been juried in had a chance to get a single booth.

I was very frustrated and miffed...

Has anyone else have this happen to them?  Should the people in charge of this made some of the double boothers, give up half their booths to accomodate the four of us that just were plain out of luck...

I would just like to say I will never enter another Paragon sponsored show again.

I am new to the Art Show business and have had only three shows to date. Paragon put on a show in Sarasota last November that I was invited to attend. I found the show producers rude and not at all accommodating for the Artists.

We were supposed to have a free breakfast, coffee and bagels, fresh fruit etc. The vendor didn't show up until the show began at 10 am, no time for coffee and even those who were lucky enough to have someone watch their booth, the coffee was ok, but the bagels and fresh fruit turned out to be packaged cinnamon rolls, that was it, yuck. The only "pay for" offerings were beverages, no other food at all. The only restaurants were blocks away.

Parking was blocks away and a lot of the other artists parked in spots considered "for patron only" even though they were behind a building close to the tents but not being used. If you got caught you were rudely asked to move, even when the spots were clearly not being used by anyone else.

The portable potties were in one location only, at the opposite end of the street.

I saw al least two buy and re-sell vendors, one across from me that used a blow torch to "melt" wax off stone, a ploy to attract attention. This vendor receives stone statues in bulk from African workshops then re-sells them as his own. He even got into the "Fort Myers" show, how does that happen?

I was at the show by myself, no one to help set up or take down, I am a 58 year old female. When we started break down Sunday evening about an hour into it the show producer, on bicycle smoking a cigarette, rode up to me and asked " Why is it taking you so long to pack up?" I was the last to leave and even though there were plenty of show people around no one offered to help. The producer and his crew watched me load the last piece into my trailer and drive away.

I heard the producer bad mouthing Howard Allen shows, my second show in Venice was produced by Howard Allen and I will say it was much better organized and the people were 100% more friendly. Never again Paragon!

May 17 & 18
East Lansing, Michigan
Downtown East Lansing
Produced by Art Festival Board of Directors under the auspices of the East Lansing Arts Commission/City of East Lansing
220 Artists
Deadline: January 31

#56 Sunshine Artist ranking  

Established in 1964, the East Lansing Art Festival kicks off the festival season each Spring on the weekend prior to the Memorial Day holiday weekend in the beautiful streets of downtown East Lansing.  The popular Festival attracts 70,000-80,000 attendees from across the region.  In addition to the 200-220 juried exhibitors the ELAF encourages future artists through emerging artist programs.

East Lansing is a charming University town with a wide variety of shops, restaurants, galleries and the beautiful Michigan State University campus across the street.

This long-standing, non-profit event is beloved by the community of Greater Lansing and   attracts devoted art buyers from across the state.  Informally known as the "City of the Arts" the City of East Lansing welcomes the finest artists in North America to exhibit at this highly promoted event.

Having exhibited in this art fair ourselves here is what else you will like:

• well-educated visitors, including professional people from State government and the University
• dedicated and friendly volunteers who welcome artists with friendly smiles facilitating a smooth load in and out
• booth sitting services
• well-planned eclectic live music entertainment that enhances the art rather than distracts from it
• international flavors in a unique food court
• a festive mood as this is the kickoff of the art fair season
• affiliation with the Public TV and radio stations, bringing the right people to you

Apply today: www.Zapplication.org   

Michelle Carlson

Art Festival Director

East Lansing Art Festival

(517)319-6804

mcarlson@cityofeastlansing.com 

More info: www.elartfest.com  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Find more art fairs looking for artists: callsforartists.com

June 16-22 
Detroit, Michigan
Along the Detroit River Walk
15 Artists
Deadline: March 1

I live in Fort Lauderdale and did the show for 3- 4 years but stopped doing it last year  because of the buy/sell and cheap crafts.  If you are selling fine art forget about this show.  The locals shop this show for Christmas gifts and want to haggle over prices.  I hope this helps.