Blog

Hello everybody,

this is my first review in this forum,please excuse all my typos,english is only my third language.

Last weekend (Labor Day) I did for the 10th consecutive year the 3 day show on the Santa Fe Plaza run by the Fiesta Council of Santa Fe,NM.

Set up is always the day before, so on Friday.

Every artist gets 15 Minutes to unload,very convinient close to the booth spot.

Also you can park after the show close to your spot to load again, just a little

waiting time until it was my turn.

This year a new managment took over just days before the show, but everybody was very nice and helpful, better than ever before.

I always have the same booth spot for years and know my neighbors well over the years and it's always nice meeting those 3 Texas couples every year again.

Unforunatly since 2008 year after year the show gets worse what sales is concerned.

When I startde doing the show in 2004 the booth fee was $300 or $350, not sure any more and I went home with 6k or so, so very, very good.

A good show for me is when the booth fee was 10% of my sales.

Well this year my sales were down to under 2k but the booth fee was up to $450.

So I consider this show not a good show anymore.

There are more and more buy-sell "artists" in the show who sell cheap neck-coolers etc.

and people spend their little money with them and not with us artists anymore.

I do abstract paintings in oils and acrylis, ORIGINALS ONLY ! and sold just one painting.

Thanks heaven I also do bead work (like a gazillion others too) and jewelry always sells, as you all know.

So I will hold off on this show even so I live in Santa Fe just 2 miles away from the Plaza,

until the economy gets better.

Thanks for reading my review,

greetings from Santa Fe to all of you and have a great remaining summer

Heike

Second art fair review, here we go...

This was my second juried art fair.  Two years ago, when I was in the beginning phases of learning everything I could from the Art Fair Insiders forums, my family & I were in Flagstaff and checked out the Flagstaff Art in the Park 4th of July event.  At the time, I was taking lots of mental notes and thought to myself, maybe next year?  Maybe by then I'll have a display put together and enough art and get into this art fair.

So, two years and a couple of months later, it was pretty cool to be juried into their Labor Day event.  

I'm still new at the art fair review thing, so I'll try to do my best here. 

Application process: they are not on Zapp, so you mail in your application along with three photos of individual art pieces and a photo of your booth.  Two checks go with the application, one for the jury fee and one for the booth fee, which is cashed when you are juried in or returned if you are not.

Communication: the organizer, Stu, returned emails quickly and was good to deal with.  At the art fair, I saw him pretty often, although I actually wasn't introduced to him... I just knew who he was from having seen the Facebook page.  He was personable and easy to talk to.

Location: the art fair is in Wheeler Park, a block off Route 66 and visible from it.  The park is right on the road heading up to the ski hill, which is a well-used thoroughfare, so the location is highly visible.  Pretty hard to miss if you're doing more than just driving by on the freeway.  Flagstaff is a very popular location for people to escape the heat of the Phoenix area, being only about 2 1/2 hours away.  All weekend, it was fun to ask people where they were from.  Quite a variety of answers.

Load in: it was busy, but I guess that's pretty expected when everybody is trying to set up all at the same time.  We arrived about an hour and a half after the time when you could start setting up, so things were well under way when we got there.  They allow you to park in the parking lot by the park during load in, and lots of people had their vehicles on the side road by the park.  We were even double-parked on that side road for a time, but it was pretty quick and nobody seemed to mind while the set up was going on.

Parking: it's about a block away at the Catholic school, although I actually never saw it, because my husband dropped me off at the curb by my booth each day and went to park the van.

The fair itself: the art fair is advertised as a fine arts & crafts fair, which is what it is.  I wasn't sure going in how I'd do, being more on the "fine art" end of things.  It seemed that the lower-priced items were more popular with the patrons of this event.  We had a major downpour on Saturday, which definitely hampered things.  It was amazing to see how many people came out after the heaviest rains were over, carrying umbrellas and wearing raincoats.  These people didn't seem fazed by rain.

On Sunday & Monday, we had beautiful weather and lots of crowds.  On Sunday, there was a farmers market nearby, so a lot of the folks going there came through the art fair on their way to and from the farmers market. 

As for how I did?  Well... I sold some smaller prints but didn't come anywhere near to making my booth fee, let alone meeting my total expenses.  But it was still a lovely weekend, fun to visit with the other artists and talk with a lot of really interesting people who came by, a nice getaway for my family from the heat.  And, it was pretty cool being a part of the event that I had hoped to get into, back at the beginning before I had a display or even enough paintings to really contemplate getting into a juried event.

I'm still trying to find my niche for my art, whether the art fair market is even the right place to try to sell my work.  So, if I were another artist, I wouldn't necessarily decide whether or not to try this event based on my results.  But my gut feeling is that if you are more on the "fine art" side of things, it might not be the best venue.  It seemed that most of what was being bought were the smaller, less pricey items.

I'm not giving up on this art fair thing yet.  I've got a juried art festival coming up in a couple of months, and we'll see how I do there.  I just have to pace myself on applying for more art fairs, because paying booth fees without selling enough to cover the fees adds up pretty quickly. 

I have learned pretty much everything I know about art fairs from AFI, and I have to say it really helped a lot at my first out-of-town, first major downpour, art fair.  Thanks, Art Fair Insiders! :)

Yep, that's me. Can't leave anything alone. But let's start with the good stuff.

This is the best show in Western New York. Hyperbole aside, just a joy to do. I have done this show since the first one 14 years ago when an artist friend called me and said "wanna do a show"? It is in a trendy urban neighborhood (where I just happen to live), about 4-5 blocks long. They have a dance tent and a kids area and a music stage and I normally avoid shows that have all that but this one just works. I made my best sales number of the year. Everyone loves this show. I mean everyone: artists, visitors, kids, dogs. It is a consensus that the people spend because of the happy atmosphere. I agree.

The show was established by local artists and is run by energizer bunny volunteers. Kudos to them all. The food court is run on solar energy and all the plastic utensils are comostable. It's stuff like that that tickles people.

Now, about that molehill. I was schmoozing with a friend who does amazing work with fabric. She prints and dyes nature designs on fabric and then creates wall hangings and bags and quilts. Her booth has jute blinds on the walls and understated, uncluttered display pedestals. It's like entering a Zen zone. Beautiful. I tell you this so that you can feel the horror of what set up beside her" Dye your own scarf!! Yahoo! Step right up, squirt ink into these troughs, drag this cheap square of silk in it, lookie you made something. That will be 25 bucks. Next!

Seriously. It was awful. The guy would step into the middle of the street and do his carnival barker thing to draw a crowd (an activity strictly prohibited) and then do his routine. He made a poop load of money.

So, of course, I "facebooked" a picture of this junk booth with the sarcastic comment "wonder what his jury pix looked like" because I know lots of really talented folks who cannot get into this show. I got like 50 comments. The artists were incensed, the "civilians" told us to have a drink, those with knowledge of the workings defended the committee and advised we take it up with them.

I think a lot of us mentioned it in the post show comment forms, but on the 2nd day the head of the committee stopped by the guy's booth to stop him from carnival barking and was overheard telling him he misrepresented what he was going to be showing. Should he have been tossed? Sure. But the show was so crowded and the vibe was so good I think he probably decided to ride it out.

It dawned on me later that our jury pix are on line for this show so I looked up the guy. Yep. He submitted pretty pictures of hand dyed silk scarves. Lovely. I would have accepted him.

Turns out he has been infecting shows all over the NorthEast with his tacky booth. Some shows are not as tightly juried as this one, but he apparently always presents himself as a fabric artist and then shows up with an EZ Up, 2 troughs and a bunch of red plastic buckets.

Oh, and guess who the Buffalo News showed a photo of in their coverage of the event? Yep. Sigh.

Still the best show, still the best crew, still my best sales. Molehills aside.

ArtFest Fort Myers works all year to produce the best fine art festival in Southwest Florida and many artists agree that this fine art festival puts all the right components together to create a very successful weekend for their artists!

ArtFest Fort Myers staff joins forces with a great volunteer
Steering Committee of  community "movers and shakers" who oversee the weekend, insuring that artist needs come first.

Expect:

• drive up access for staggered Friday set up
• great artist breakfast including eggs, yogurt, fresh fruit & juice, muffins
• reserved artist parking
• discounted hotel rates
• weekend  booth sitters and indoor restrooms, your every comfort is considered so you can concentrate on sales.

These wonderful amenities are one of the reasons so many great artists want to be a part of this event and isn't it fitting to be surrounded by artists with the caliber of work that you want to be associated with?

"I have participated in your show three times and each time my sales have been better than prior years.  Your promotional efforts are fantastic-there were always big crowds!  ArtFest Fort Myers is one of the top shows in Florida for sales," Michael Brown, a digital artist from the 2013 festival.

ArtFest Fort Myers understands that bringing a buying crowd to your booth is their main objective.  The art festival's comprehensive advertising plan includes TV, radio, newspapers, glossy magazines, billboards, direct mail, theatre & symphony programs and all social media outlets.  Ten million advertising impressions mean that the buying crowd from a    tri-county area and beyond are informed about the great artwork coming to ArtFest Fort Myers the first weekend in February! For 13 years, our community has supported the art festival and they are waiting for you to arrive!

          What is special about Fort Myers?

• An international airport, perfect weather and good business environment has enticed powerhouse corporations such as Hertz, Chico's, Sony and Gartner Group to call Fort Myers their home.
• Ever increasing residential and commercial construction, lots of new jobs
• and another season of record-breaking domestic and international tourism are spurring exciting population and job growth.
• AND our commitment to the arts is evident everywhere you look.

Pastel by Katie Wilson, 2D MM Winner

Apply now, through ZAPPlication, to make ArtFest Fort Myers a key part of your successful winter season in Florida!

A true community event, ArtFest Fort Myers is free to the public and includes art related activities to attract the best audience in a wide age range.  This non-profit supports art in the schools and community all year long.  Plan now to be a part of this fabulous Fort Myers art experience!

Well, first off, your bad-boy got flagged again (must be a career trait) by the anal fire department at Uppper arlington, that is NW of downtown Columbus,OH.

God forbid!

They tell us how we must set up our booths with anchors in zee ground.  All stakes must be at precisely 45-degrees into the ground--perpetrators will be shot at dawn.

The Fire guy came along to me and yanked my tent-peg out of the soggy ground.  I said, "I could put my 45-pound John Deere weight on it."  He did not want that. Wind could make the weight dance around on the ground.  I was flagged.  I put a dog-thether on it.

  An hour later the Committee came by and said, "the Fire Dept. Failed you."  Oh no!  I replied.

They checked my dog-ties and found them adequate.  No flies on my stakes.

Geez!  Don't these guys have better things to do, like putting out fires on over-zealous gas grilles that do wings too long.

This show used to be one of the best one-day shows in the midwest.

No longer.

Too much beads and non-descript jewelry. Not much original art there, let alone any of the many good regulars I used to see on the circuit.

They mostly bought little precious pieces of paper.  Real low, real slow--sales-wise,  not worth the eight hour drive to and from.

Don't do this show unless you live close enough not to have to stay at a hotel--it is a shadow of its former self.

And, that is me being nice about it.

Recognized among the top art events in the United States, the fair has received a four-star rating from Sunshine Artist, America’s premier art and craft show magazine and has consistently hosted some of the best touring artists in the country.

Photographer Michael Bryant and Golden Dolly winner, Christine Green at ABE

Best of Show: Luis Enrique Guitierrez, Raleigh, NC      (Ceramics)

1st Place: Emilie Pritchard, Panama City, FL  (Jewelry)

2nd Place:  Ella Isaac, Philadelphia, PA                     (Fabric/Fiber/Leather)

3rd Place:  Mikel Robinson, Asheville, NC (Photography)

Awards of Excellence:

1.  Ralph Rankin, Orlando, FL   (Ceramics)

2.  Xiao Jiang, Scarborough, Ontario    (Painting)

3.  Tim Gralewski, Royal Oak, MI   (Graphics and Printmaking)

4.  Andrew Costine, Tyrone, NC   (Wood)

5.  Brian Shope, Hendersonville, NC  (Wood)

Spirit of the City: Athlone Clarke, Douglasville, GA  (MM 2-D)

Golden Dolly Award: Christine Green, Micanopy, FL  (For many year's hauling boxes, setting up the booth, working at the art fairs and then hauling it all away again, assisting her husband, Bruce Green - Ceramics

Yes nearly two hours, but a lifetime of wisdom is shared.  Hans Meijer from Georgia expounds on every aspect of Vending. In Displaying items to pricing, and everything in between. So Before you click start make a bathroom run, get a beverage pen and paper and you can hit pause if need be. 

At the star of this year I was lucky to into Lakefront Arts festival in Milwaukee. I figure that doing the Third Ward by Amy will be a good choice. Start looking for hotels April for both shows but only can get for the lakefront. A couple friends advice to drive back and forward for the Third Ward show since I could not find anything closed to the area. Gurnee was the closed hotel with opening and for that distance it did not make sense to paid for hotel since my home is 35 to 45 minutes from there.

A week before the show things just went _____________. Amy found by the city of Milwaukee that we could not set in Saturday morning as she plan. The parade for Harley Davidson will start at 10am and will running one street east from the show. The parade will block the entrance to main parking lot for the artists. I do not think she pass this info to the artists. Also this also mean that all local people wont be attending the show or just skip town. It also mean that we need to check at 3am and start to set up at 4am. Considering that closet place you can stay was 45 minutes away you can figure the reaction. I send email asking to reconsider the set up time as well some other artist. We got a email back that what the city put us in that schedule. The set up was great set for the cars that need to tow. That did not help me.

The attendance was great but the people was there for the parade not for us. Some people got lucky but most walk out of there super _____________. I think that the show has potential. There are rumors that she may change the date but that will mean we starting again from ground zero.

Because of the lack of sales and reading other forums here some things that start looking at this show with her. I knew that people cancel. That was artist that was showing that should not be there. She has reduce her standards and that is very disappointing. Instead of letting people that may look buy and sale or candle people what about give people more room to display like (12 feet deep and 15 wide). Yes that is a corner display and that will prevent or justify not reducing her booth fee. This what keep people are complaining. I know she does a great job of advertising and she make effort to promote her shows. I do not think is her fault the shows do not get more buyers. She has lost some of best art shows artists and could because what had become her reputation but instead of sending "hate mail" or telling she has lost touch what about we send ideas to improve our living hood, she may try some those ideas. Also take a look how many shows you are doing in the area and how many years showing the same stuff. Do not blame the promoter are all the failure some blame falls on us.

Do not think that if she is not promoter of the show that fee is will go down neither. I saw Fountain Square taken by Chicago Special Events and the fee stay the same and it got worst (Wells Street part 2). Now the Lakeview East fee stay the same but the sale may not break the bank but wow this how all shows should be run.

I will tell you if you trying any of her show try Port Clinton (another rumor is that the sales was not there and artist will be dropping if that is true that will be good for me) and Third Ward. Everything if you are not local stay away until you start getting good reports now the draw back is that she needs x amount of artist must of the new blood can not afford her shows so guess that who take those spots.

Only time we tell and yes I like her and some her staff (Lisa and Omar) but this how a make a living and money talks and how feel about you wont change that.

April 10-13 - Show days
National Building Museum
Washington, DC

120 exhibitors
Deadline: September 15, 2013

"As options for craft artists to show work diminish, it becomes more important for them to seek venues whose audiences are national, international and sophisticated. I would highly recommend The Smithsonian Craft Show's Quest for the Best as a stellar example for them to gain exposure and to advance their careers."

Lloyd E. Herman, Founding Director Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum

Jewelry by Ann Marie Cianciolo

In a Quest for the Best the Smithsonian Craft Show encourages artists to apply in any of 12 media - basketry, ceramics, decorative fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, paper, wearable art, and wood for its annual Show in Washington, DC, April, 2014.

This is an opportunity to have your work seen and juried by our nationally recognized experts Jason Busch, Curator of Decorative Arts, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Joanne Cooper, owner of Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, Massachusetts and Michael Monroe, former Curator-in-Charge at the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Renwick Gallery and Director Emeritus of the Bellevue Arts Museum, Bellevue, Washington.

Learn more & apply: www.SmithsonianCraftShow.org

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 - 4 PM ET

Art publishing is a big business. Have you explored licensing your images for print and other products? This podcast will help you sort out the basics and get you thinking about another source of income from your art.

What you will learn:

1.  What it means to license your art (how it works, contractual permission, etc - a broad overview)

2.  How to create art that works for licensing

3.  How long it takes to make money

4.  Basic expectations manufacturers have of artists who license their art (digital files, website, etc)

5.  Some day-to-day realities of life in the art licensing industry (lots of competition, art changes, deadlines, quick turnaround requests, often no response to submissions...)

Our guest is  artist Tara Reed who founded her art licensing business in 2004. She creates art that helps sell products, teaches artists about the business side of licensing and blogs about licensing at www.ArtLicensingBlog.com. She serves on the Advisor Board of SURTEX, a premier trade show for the art licensing industry.

Do you have questions you'd like me to ask Tara? Please put them in the comments below.

You can also call into speak with her: 805-243-1338 

October 4-6, 2013  
Bayfield, Wisconsin
Downtown Bayfield
10am-5pm
150 Artists
Exhibitor Fee: $325 $275
Jury Fee: $20
Deadline: until full-still accepting

Bayfield's Apple Festival has been hailed as the "Best Festival in Wisconsin" by Wisconsin Trails Magazine and one of the "Top Ten Autumn Festivals in North America" by the Society of American Travel Writers.  Is it because of the charming small town atmosphere?  The famous Grand Parade featuring a "Mass Band"?  The countless booths of fresh apple pies, tarts, caramel apples, ciders and other fall treats?  Well, YES!

Located on the pristine shores of Lake Superior, this event features over 60 orchard and food booths selling Bayfield's apples, apple desserts & delicacies, nearly 150 arts and crafts booths, carnival rides and games, live entertainment by Bayfield's own Big Top Chautauqua performers, contests and a grand parade. Average attendance 50,000.

Artists, fyi: We have already accepted applications at the higher rate of $325, so we'll be extending $50 vouchers for next year to those artists who paid the higher rate, plus the 2014 booth fee will stay at $275.  Take advantage of these newly reduced rates!

For more information:

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

Perhaps you have seen our notices about the new list we are building, "America's Best Art Fairs", which we are developing as an aid to people who love to attend art fairs to collect art. We've been working on this idea for a couple of years and we are getting near the time to roll out the survey.

Here are four logos we have developed for the survey. Which one do you like the best?

We are also open to suggestions.

Deadline: September 1.

P.S. We have had an amazing # of nominating submissions for the survey. Many thanks to you. If you haven't filled it out yet. Here it is: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TPRSSYS

If you know people who love to buy art at art fairs will you also please forward it to them?

When my jury results for Art in the High Desert came I expected to file it away with my rejections. I had juried for this show for 4 or 5 years, always with the same results... no joy. I was close to giving it up and not apply this year. I was shocked to be wait-listed. And then I was almost immediately called off the wait-list. I’m really glad I didn’t give up! It was a wonderful show in all respects... except for the weather, but more on that later.

Art in the High Desert is located in central Oregon in the resort area of Bend. The area is known for the Mt. Bachelor ski resort, the Deschutes river, and other various outdoor activities and its numerous brew pubs. As the name implies it is in the high desert. This is an artist run 3 day show running Friday thru Sunday. It’s always the weekend before Labor Day. It has been set up to attract artists heading to either Art in the Pearl in Portland or Sausalito near San Francisco the following weekend. Because of its timing and proximity it is able to draw from a field of excellent artists. The show is set along the banks of the Deschutes River, right across a footbridge from the Old Mill district shops.

This show promotes original art. There is no music and no stilt walkers. There is a list of rules, which I did see enforced. All work hanging on walls needed to be originals, which I liked. I never hang reproductions. It makes it easier for the customers to know what is what. No B/S that I could tell. The show directors are present and communicative. Carla came to my booth to welcome me and talk a bit, she spent time running around with weather updates when her text message system failed to work.

Here's a short video someone made of the festival on Sunday, some of it in the rain.

booth fee $375

amenities

artist hosting
Thursday night artist dinner
food, drinks and coffee all mornings
awards breakfast on Sunday
wide booth spaces with storage behind
booth sitters
jury feedback (what a concept!)
gifts for the artist (this year a wine stopper and a AHD sketchbook with the logo embossed on the cover)

Thursday

I drove the 160 miles from Portland and checked in with my host. Yes, this show offers artist hosting. The woman I stayed with was wonderful and I hope I have made a new friend. Her home was only about a mile from the festival site.

Setup

Setup is by time. There were volunteers a plenty and carts for artist’s use during setup. Spaces were wide enough to walk between to access the storage behind the booths. It was windy and threatening rain so we were instructed to set up and secure our canopies first before finishing unloading. There was a little rain but it didn’t last long. I unloaded everything and hung most of my work and went to the artist dinner. This was hosted with beer and wine. There was a talk about selling at art festivals before the dinner.

Friday and Saturday

Ran from 10am-6pm. Friday was mostly browsers but Saturday the real buyers came out. I had one very good customer who had come to the Old Mill to see a movie and ended up buying 3 paintings from me! I saw other original work walking by all day on Saturday.

Sunday

When I think of Bend I think of sunny, hot (and maybe windy) summer days. The last thing I expected was rain, but after threatening all weekend, the skies finally opened up Sunday afternoon. We were told we could close an hour early at 3pm if the weather didn’t break. Some artists started closing around 2:30 because rain was blowing into their booths. There were still a few hardy shoppers. I took down my price tags but otherwise waited until after 3 to seriously start packing up amist the cracks of lightning and sounds of thunder. It crossed my mind that a metal canopy might not be the safest place to be in a thunder storm :/. Fortunately, by the time I was ready to load my vehicle the rain had stopped.

Yes, I would do this show again in a heartbeat. My sales were good and the cost of doing this show is relatively low. I think the weather on Sunday may have affected my sales somewhat.

As I approach the ripe young age of 50 there are times I ask myself how long my body can take the grind and physical toll on my body from all the long drives, setups, breakdowns, standing on my feet for hours etc. that are part of the job description for art shows.

Recently I threw out my back (not from doing a show, but from all things, exercising!)  and although I am recovering quickly (hopefully in time for my next show next week) I am really starting to think what would happen if something more serious happened. Luckily I had no shows scheduled for two weeks, so this gives me time to recoup. But the thought of missing a couple shows would be costly. Unlikely I would get my booth fee refunded in addition to non refundable Priceline fees.  I do shows on my own and God forbid I am on the road when my back gives out...what to do then? Cant set up ,break down, drive....that's another blog though.

I don't have a history of back problems so hopefully this is a one time thing,  and Im in pretty good health and shape, BUT life has a way of changing quickly. So my question for you is how many of you artist carry disability Insurance and any advice on what to look for or good reputable companies that carry it for artist and did you have issues with getting insurance because of the line of work were in? Thanks.

I am new in participating in art fairs. Two weeks ago, on August 17, I had a booth at the Agora Art Fair in Fitchburg, WI, near Madison. I was reasonably successful with slightly over $1000 in sales. One of the pieces I displayed was a 30x40 picture of a restaurant on a bridge in a small town in Provence. Many people admired it, but no bought it. That is, no one bought it until yesterday, when I received a phone call from someone who had taken my card. She told me she wanted to purchase it and could I bring it over and help her hang it. I agreed, and my sales from that show just went up about 30 percent. You never know.

Please join us for the Wilmington Art & Craft Show, Thanksgiving weekend in WilmingtonNC.  This is a carefully juried, fine art and fine craft celebration of the arts.

100 talented artists and craftsmen in varying mediums such as; fiber arts, jewelry, glass, mixed media, painting, pottery, photography, sculpture, and wood will be invited to become exhibitors.

We are excited to offer you this premier event which takes place in the heart of downtown Wilmington during the festive holiday season.

Show Highlights:

• Reasonable booth fees
• Overnight security
• Easy drive up load and unload
• Free artist parking nearby
• Extensive marketing campaign
• Artist friendly, knowledgeable staff
• Free postcards for your customers
• Friday set-up
• By artists for artists

Holiday Art Shows offers three options for sub-
mitting your application; please choose whichever is most convenient and comfortable for you.

1. Holiday Art Shows Online Application:
2. www.holidayartshows.com/online-application.html
3. Zapplication: www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=2457
4. Print and mail application: www.holidayartshows.com/support-files/wm-application-2013.pdf

Media campaign includes: television, cable, regional newspapers and specialty publications, billboards, NPR radio, posters, flyers, banners, postcards and social networking.

Sponsored by: WECT-TV, Encore Magazine, The Penguin_98.3 fm

We look forward to receiving your application!

The 2nd Annual Affordable Arts Show in Littleton, CO came off without a hitch this past Sunday, Aug, 25.

Crowds line up in anticipation of entering the 2nd Annual Affordable Arts Show in Littleton, CO

I reviewed the inaugural event last year and it can be read at: http://www.artfairinsiders.com/profiles/blogs/affordable-arts-show-in-arrears

Things were still very well organized by Jim DeLutes and his crew and I was glad to be able to set-up on Sat. this year. With temps in the low 90's on both Sat and Sun lots 'o water was a necessity.
Load-in was still easy as you could drive right up to the ample spaces on the college campus lawn and as artists arrived on their own time schedule, staggered throughout the day, it seemed like no toes got stepped on.

By nine o'clock an impressive crowd was lining up outside the gates. Jim was working for greater attendance this year with his aggressive ad campaign. Well, word must have gotten out as they were stretched out way past the parking lot and out towards the college buildings a good way off as well. There was a good mix of ages and unlike the older second home crowd in AZ (that has no wall space) the older crowd was buying as well!
The show is built around the theme that everything is affordable at or below $100. Most of what I sold was at this higher price point with large framed images. It was my experience that people were not just buying one item but were looking for multiple items to put together, at this price point they weren't scratching their heads and considering it as much, they bought! I could see the same was true for other artists as there were a lot of large pieces with legs and a lot of bags full of items walking by. There is never a dull moment at art shows and this one was no exception when a patron, who had been eyeing a 16 x 20 framed image that I had priced at $100 down from $195, asked if there would be any additional discounts! I paused a second without response, took a slow breath, and calmly replied "No".

No amenities such as water were available to the artists however a group of volunteers did come around and check on the "by yourself" artists if they needed a break. Food and drinks were available from a couple of nice catering trucks parked near the event.
By the afternoon the crowd thinned but there were still plenty of deals available and people were still looking to buy. The show ended an hour earlier this year at 4 which was a good thing as there weren't enough patrons to support the extra hour. The clouds rolled in at 5 or so with a sprinkle but by then most artists were packed and gone.
Jim is very optimistic about this show and is working hard to get attendance to rise. I'm curious to know how many came this year but haven't heard yet. It certainly seemed as if there were a lot more this year as-well-as good buying energy. Jim did a great job with advertising and based on the addresses of those that showed up it must be working as they came from all over the metro area not just the local residents.

I've looked for reviews on this show in Pensacola, can't find any. Any of our members know anything about it? The usual info, attendance, quality of art the usual.

Thanks for any info