Blog

June 8 & 9

The  58th annual Talbot Street Art Fair is sponsored by Talbot Street Art  Fair, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts  and philanthropic endeavors; program grants, scholarship endowments and  awards.

270 fine art and fine craft artists from across the nation will participate in the oldest juried fair in Central Indiana.  The fair remains free to the public.

Media  categories are two dimension, two and three dimension mixed media,  clay, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, photography, sculpture and wood.  Merit  Awards of $250 are given for each category and also a $500 Best of Show  Award. In addition to the Merit Awards, we also sponsor Purchase  Awards.

All of the fair's focus is on the artists.

• We do not have   commercial booths or performing musicians.
• We do extensive advertising to bring you the customers that buy.
• The fair has a dedicated following of patrons who show up rain or shine.
• Our  local and regional media coverage includes billboards, newspapers,  magazines, online ads and radio and television interviews.
• We provide 24 hour security with our Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers
• Free parking for both artists and RV's and cold water.  We also offer the option of Friday afternoon set-up.  Our Block Captains help us create an organized fair that runs smoothly.

The booth space sizes vary from the standard of 10'x12' to 10'x22'.  Fees: $25 Application Fee; Booth Fee of $295-$545.

Well, a show director suggested that to me recently.

Interesting statistics:

• the NRA has 100,000 new members since the Newtown, CT, school shootings*
• ArtFairInsiders.com had 67 new members join in the first 10 days of the New Year

Which headline do you like the best?

Welcome to Susanne Snyder, Karen Cress, Kelly Tygert, Linda Hann, Jill Ellen Chambers, Bernard Zalon, James Veenstra, Cheryl Beverly, John Smith, Sarah Powell, Andelina D'Arcy, Liane Crigler, Tiffany Nolan, Susan Bertino, Sara, Cheryl, Jan, James, Barbara, Helen, Lynda, Suzanne, Karen, Hope, Francisco, Sharon, Ann, Bruce, Suzette, Jeri, Amy, Christopher, Katherine, Ronald, Cindy and everyone else!

The main principles: Share, help others, invite your friends

All of us welcome you and look forward to hearing from you. This site only thrives when its members participate and not only do the "old" members have a lot of information they really appreciate it when you weigh in also and share your stories, adventures, questions, answers and reviews. It's all about helping one another.

Tell your friends about AFI and invite them to join.

You are new but that doesn't mean you can't welcome the other new members. Join in with a welcoming message and see if you can make a friend. This site has grown because of the interconnectivity of its members. Make a friend here and be next to them next weekend at an art fair.

A few other ways to participate:

• share interesting stories from shows you've participated in
• tell us about products that have made your art fair life easier
• share your best advice
• bring us the news about the latest relevant info in the business
• interview an artist you admire and post it here

Still getting your feet on the ground and overwhelmed with all the available information? Check out the Get Started Guide at the top of this page.

The "deans" of the site are the people who have Red Dots on their profile photos. These folks have been around a long time and are really helpful.

Now, tell us why you joined and what AFI can do for you and what you can do for us in the comments below.

Each person who comments receives our famous Red Dot bumper sticker.

Great to have you here!

P.S. Want to keep us in business without spending a penny? Check out the ads on the right hand side and in the supplier section at the top. You'll find even more helpful info.

I read this essay by Munks on another site and it really gave me something to think about.  I am posting this link with the permission of Munks.  Read it and see if it applies to your experiences with art fair attendees and the apathy we see toward art in general.  Enjoy!

http://wp.me/pSIUh-b7

This is the year I go full-time as a art festival vendor and I'm looking for used equipment, most importantly Display panels or pro panels.....New pro panels are just outrageously expensive imo. So if anyone knows of good inexpensive display panels that are durable and look professional I'm all ears? I wouldn't be apposed to building my own if anyone has good advice.

Thanks Erik

www.leiferikjohansen.com

I'm a painter who occasionally does large format paintings (i.e. 40X40, 60x20 etc..) and I'm looking for the most economical and practical vehicle for traveling to art festivals. I am admittedly a foreign car lover; Honda, Toyota and Nissan and I like a vehicle that is reliable and gas friendly. 

I'm looking for used vehicles in the price range of $8K - $12K... but would like to spend less than $10k.

My thoughts are the Honda Element, a minivan, or a car which can pull a trailer. If I get the Element or a minivan I plan to build a platform so I can store stuff on top and on bottom, then the platform could double as a bed so I can sleep in my car during two or three day festivals. If I get a car with a trailer I'll just plan to camp out or stay with friends, family or a hostel I suppose.

Any packing tips would be helpful as well. this will be my first year doing festivals full-time. I still trying to figure out the best way to package my paintings for minimal wear and tear...and prints for that matter.

Thanks

Erik

www.leiferikjohansen.com

June 7-9  
Columbus, Ohio

Riverfront
250 Artists
Deadline: January 18
Patron Attendance 400,000+

The Columbus Arts Festival presented by Time Warner Cable and produced by the Greater Columbus Arts Council, is the city's welcome-to-summer event, pairing the finest artists and craftspeople with continuous entertainment including hands-on art activities, musical performances and food from the area's finest restaurants.  

Join us on the Scioto Mile June 7, 8 & 9, 2013, for great art, music, food and fun!

I'll be travelling down to Florida from Michigan in March to do Gasparilla, then Winter Park in the middle of the month. I've just been invited to do Mainsail in St. Pete in April. And I might consider Melbourne the following week-end. I'd have to park my car and trailer for a month between Winter Park and Mainsail. I'd fly back to Michigan for the month. I'm wondering if its worth it. I've never done Mainsail and I'm curious about what others think of this long-running show. It has big prize money and seems to attract local St. Pete and Tampa clientele instead of snowbirds. I've done well at Winter Park and I could use another strong show like that. Any opinions?

Why is it so hard every year to apply to art shows?  I feel so nervous about it, I find myself doubting everything... my work, my display, my show choices, the money.  My whole career!  Wouldn't it be easier just to go back to the corporate world and get a steady income? 

If any Chicago artists want to compare show choices with me (or tell me what to do!) I'd be so grateful.  It feels like such a crap shoot and facing all that cash out the door panics me.

I'll bet your applications for this year are already figured out.  If so, you can feel smug and read my first blog entry of this year:

http://pencilenvy.blogspot.com/2013/01/id-rather-be-procrasti-snuggling.html

Happy applying!

Wendy

June 7-9
Omaha, Nebraska
Downtown Omaha
135 Artists
Deadline: February 1

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.

Highlights:

• High quality juried show
• Organized and Experienced Show Management
• Discounted hotel partners
• Extensive marketing & advertising on TV, radio, print and social media
• Excellent Show layout with easy set up and load out-pull up to your booth
• Reasonable booth fees and jury fees

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.

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.

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

Exceptional artist amenities including:

• $2,500 in Cash Merit Awards
• Complimentary lunch delivered to each artists' booth on Friday
• Artist Awards Brunch on Saturday
• Continental Breakfast and Artists' Meeting on Sunday
• Artist Concierge Desk, centrally located, with dedicated cell phone number for Artist requests
• Private, air-conditioned Artist' Lounge with complimentary snacks and beverages, private, indoor restrooms, artist-only computers, free WiFi and chair massages by appointment
• Artwork Delivery Program providing pick-up from your booth and delivery 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 during set-up and removed at the end of the show
• 24-hour security provided by off-duty Omaha Police Officers

Learn more: SummerArts.org

Applications: www.zapplication.org

Jury fee: $30
Booth fees: $325 or $400 for a guaranteed corner.

Limited electrical service is available in some locations for a one-time fee of $75

For more info:

Ashley McNabney, Visual Arts Coordinator

amcnabney@vgagroup.com, (402)345-5401

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

celebrates 39 years of  

artistic excellence in the streets of Omaha!

Here is me, sending jury fees for shows that I don't even know I'm going to get in, so why not? Let's apply sometimes for two shows on the same weekend in case I get rejected in one, or if I am lucky to get accepted in both then I can chose, it's only a jury fee, or two, times 12. Oh! But wait! Getting invited as returning artist to couple and guess what...We need your booth fee for a show that is in 4 to 6 months. Oh! But I forgot...It's January, just after Holiday season, which means I went over board with dinners, parties, presents so my wallet is empty. Another detail...I am in Chicago. I don't travel to FL shows because I have 3 little kids that I can't leave so I have to stay local. So not too many shows during winter season. Oh! Yes, my materials that I just ordered online, just 1,000.00 and I will still need couple more things. So I have more expenses than $$$ in my bank. Ha!!! I will cross my fingers and will send booth fees when I start making $$ in my shows. And the question is...Am I going to make money enough to cover all my booth fees. That my friends...IS THE QUESTION!

Hello out there!

The deadline for the Broad Ripple Art Fair is coming up, and I'm very curious about the show. I've read some good things about it on this site, but have noticed that the show's site does not offer a list of past exhibitors. We like to know what jewelers have exhibited in the past to get an idea of the "flavor" of the show. Our work is fairly high end and we like to be on a par with the other jewelry exhibitors.

Does anyone have any input? If so, I'd be very appreciative! Thanks!

~Emily

April 12-14
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock Memorial Civic Center
110 spaces
Deadline: January 25

Why should you bring your artwork to Lubbock?

• Because we are the home of Buddy Holly, Mac Davis, Waylon Jennings, Joe Ely, Glenna Goodacre, Eddie Dixon, Barry Corbin, Susan Graham, and Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks! Pretty cool, huh?
• Lubbock has a population of 230,000 and serves as the regional education and medical 'hub' for West Texas.  
• In fact, we have three major universities in Lubbock; the largest of which, Texas Tech University, has undergraduate/graduate programs, a law school AND medical school.  
• We have also been selected as "100 Best Communities for Young People" by ING.

You can "Tour Texas." There are plenty of other great shows after the Lubbock Arts Festival including Main Street Ft. Worth (April 18-21, 2013) or Fiesta Arts Fair, San Antonio (April 20-21, 2013); Art on the Square in South Lake, Dallas/Ft.Worth (April 26-28, 2013) and Cottonwood Arts Festival, Richardson (May 4-5, 2013). So spend some time in the Lone Star state and enjoy the bluebonnets of the Hill Country along the way and include us in your tour!

You can "BEAT THE HEAT." The Lubbock Arts Festival is 100% indoors. YEP, you read that right ... our event is held in the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center which has AIR CONDITIONING and NO porta potties (only indoor plumbing for our artists)!! We also let you pull up and unload right at the back door of the Civic Center - heck, we will even let you park right next to the Civic Center in a reserved lot for the duration of the show.
 
Artists like us. Why? Aside from our witty prose, we bring 30,000 people through the doors and provide artist perks such as lunch on Friday and Saturday; overnight event security; discounted rates at our host hotel; and $50,000 worth of advertising (we have even won a marketing award from the Texas Festivals and Events Association for our event program). Most of all, and most importantly, we are just really nice people who want you to be successful!

Check out what this artist said about us:  
 

I'm glad Connie thinks my two blogs about Jury Fees were notable last month.  But I'm still waiting for her answer to my direct question.

If you'll recall, Maureen Riley the Director of The Ann Arbor Original show chimed in on my blog "Jury Fee Revisited" with this statement:

"If the work is going to get into the show....it's going to get into the show regardless of the medium it's juried under.  3D mixed media and sculpture are two other mediums where the line is very blurry.  Artists often call and ask where they should apply for better odds of getting in.  My answer is always the same....it doesn't matter...if the work is going to be accepted, it's going to be accepted in either category."

And:

"My intent was to assuage artist's concerns about the category designation, as I believe that it has little bearing on the outcome."

I asked Connie if she believed that, and I'm still waiting for an answer.

As yet, I haven't found anyone who believes the category you apply under has little to do with your chances of being accepted.  Several years ago some very "straight" photography circumnavigated the category rules for Cherry Creek and some other premium shows and sneaked in under "Digital".  Well I can tell you, the $--t hit the fan and they all rewrote the category definitions for the next year.

If it really doesn't matter, why the fuss?

UPDATE:  After paying him $25 and sending 4 emails, I still haven't gotten a reply from Mr. King, the director of The Des Moines Art Show.

Congrats to R.C. Fulwiler and Richard Sherer for their amazing virtuosity and

R. C. for winning of the best December post for "Jury Fees, What's it For?" and to Richard Sherer for his three part discussion "How do You Research Shows?"

All right you people (and you know who you are.) Connie made me do this, I thought it was self-explanatory but as usual...dumb ass me.  

Warhol was a brand. Yes, I know to invoke that name is BS, but let it sink in. He was the first artist to establish himself in fine art/publishing/film production/etc. How did a humble shoe illustrator from "Redbook" do such a thing?  How does Coca Cola (brown sugar water) own a whole isle in the grocery store? Duh...Branding. 

As practicing artists in the 21st century, this stuff is as important as acrylic paint, silver or whatever your media is. If you are reading this, you got this far. Now is time to click a couple more buttons and begin to mine what is essentially a "free" medium...the cyber art festival circuit. 

Connie gets it. And, we need to get it. Top of mind is Facebook, Twitter and this blog. What about Tumblr, Pinterest, Flickr, YouTube, LinkedIn, Google+ and your own personal blog?  

This my friends is the stuff that dreams are made of? Push a few buttons and take a chhha chhha chance. All it takes is time and the results can be the equivalent of producing a magazine ad or television commercial. This link will get you started...thinking that is.www.newyorkartists.net/blog

I've reviewed this show extensively in the past.  For more background, see my blogpost from 2011.)

Hot, humid weather and white tents make for an unsavory sales environment.  Artists get cranky; customers go brain-dead.   And the high temps and humidity, under mostly sunny blue skies, drove the buyers indoors and scuttled sales at the Estero Fine Art Show in Miromar Outlets, Estero FL this weekend.

Which was a real shame, as Patty Narozny and her Hot Works staff delivered a reliably high quality show, in the face of competition from the Naples show on Fifth Avenue south.  But the attendance and buying energy, which showed a bit of promise on Saturday, disappeared entirely on Sunday as the temperatures and humidity both rose into the mid-80s. By Sunday afternoon my row had only a couple of dozen browsers, and I could see that customers were resisting coming into my south-facing tent, even though I had two portable fans running in an attempt to lure them in. 

For the second straight week, I didn't even hit four figures in sales.  Sold one canvas at a fairly deep discount, a smattering of 16x20 mats on Saturday, and nothing but 11x14 mats on Sunday.  No be-backs, no cash sales, and not many of what Nels calls "good shoes people" walking around.  As a result, I'm several thousand dollars behind my year-over-year pace--the first time in five years I've hit a downturn.  I didn't talk to a single artist who had a good show, although some said they did "okay", without enthusiasm. 

The artist across from me, who makes charming containers from recycled materials, came back for a return visit after she wowed the crowd at HotWorks' October 2012 Miromar show.  She won an award this weekend, and deservingly so, but could count her customers on one hand.  Like everyone else in my vicinity, she was shaking her head in wonder.  Load-out was the quietest I can ever remember, as everyone worked with grim efficiency to clear out and put this one behind them.

I have had a few conversations since Christmastime with folks I know from New Jersey, New York, Pa., and Delaware, and we're all wondering if our customer base from the Sandy-ravaged Northeast will be making the trip down to FL this year.  As a decidedly unscientific experiment, I swapped my usual wide brimmed straw "show hat" for a Phillies cap on Sunday--lots of folks from the Northeast  can't resist making a comment.  Only one customer all day said anything. 

It's early yet, of course, but this is two lackluster shows in a row, at a time of year when that's never happened.  Luckily, I opened up a solo show at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound, clear across the state, on Friday night before heading back to Estero, and my work sold briskly over there on opening night.  Maybe I should charter a shuttle and bring 'em to Cape Coral next weekend. 

Onward. 

Anyone here fluent in "art speak"?

I saw this call for entry, and while my head hurt just reading it, I'm, pretty sure our Bubble Tower fits their needs.  Anyone care to look it over and tell me if I'm crazy to think we've a shot at this?
Scottsdale Arts Festival 2013 Temporary Public Artwork call for entry

https://www.callforentry.org/festivals_unique_info.php?ID=1207&...

If the  solar powered BubbleYou® Bubble Tower -the world's biggest bubble toy® is a good fit for this call for entry, I'll need major help translating my marketing material into art speak. I lack ANY training either in art or art speak.   Audacious, I agree, but I've got to start somewhere and this one seems to be a fit.  ???? or am I nuts ?  Feel free to pile on, don't hold back! 

Cheers and a HUGE THANK YOU!!
Bill Coleman

http://www.bubbletower.com/

http://www.stiltwalker.com/

This art fair business is full of fun, frustration, financial challenge, friends, and fascinating questions about where it is going next. I am sure you remember when you started in the business the helpfulness of other artists and the great tips you picked up "behind the booth". This was invaluable information that has built your business. Any chance you can "pay it forward?"

Can you post a 2012 show review or two on ArtShowReviews.com? The reviews are coming in steadily but yours would be so appreciated.

It's easy:

    1.    Click this link: www.ArtShowReviews.com
    2.    Answer the questions - about 10 of them
    3.    Sit back and receive the good karma. You've done your good deed for the day and your reward is on its way.

You guys are great -- love to all the art fair community in the New Year.

Greetings from the 21st Annual Marion Arts Festival, in Marion, Iowa (adjacent to Cedar Rapids, in Eastern Iowa).  Consistently  ranked among the top tier of juried art events nationwide, the MAF  presents 50 artists, offering both fine art and fine craft to an  audience of 16,000.  There are no bands, there is no beer-the MAF is about the art.

The MAF is one of the most artist-profitable festivals nationwide!  The Art Fair SourceBook ranks the MAF as:

• Among the Top 25 festivals in the country for 2012!
• #17 in fine art
• #24  in fine craft
• #1 show in the country among events featuring 100 artists or fewer
• #1 one-day show nationwide

Marion is a "vintage uptown" type of community, and a part of   the Cedar Rapids metro area.  Our show is intimate and purposeful, with the mission to be an event through which you will thrive.  (Here,  we're obligated to insert that we're volunteer-driven, hokey and maybe  more than a little mom-and-pop...in good ways, mostly.)  Our exhibitors enjoy a sincere welcome and an easy-to-do- show.

Visit our website: www.marionartsfestival.com to see the range and quality of our 20th annual lineup-you'll find fifty of your most respected artists pals.

Artist amenities:

• Friday check-in and set-up
• Friday evening artists' party
• Convenient free parking for artists
• 24-hour security
• Booth sitters and energetic volunteers
• Continental breakfast; water & snacks all day
• Separate indoor restrooms
• Cash awards
• Extensive event marketing, including billboards, websites, newspapers, TV, and radio (including statewide venues)

We invite artist entries through ZAPPlication: www.zapplication.org

You have our best wishes as you plan your spring and summer season!

For further information, email director Deb Bailey: mafdirector@marioncc.org

More info about our application in this video:

Marion Arts Festival 2013: Please Share Your Mojo

Greg Lawler's Art Fair Sourcebook ratings of the top shows in the country are out and shows are sharing the information on their websites and local press.

#1 - La Quinta Arts Festival - "Last year’s festival did more than $2.5 million sales and attendance increased more than 30 percent." There are 200 artists in the show, so you do the math! Sounds pretty good. The rest of the story: http://www.mydesert.com/article/20130103/NEWS01/301030001/La-Quinta-Arts-Festival-ranked-No-1-nation

Any other shows out there who want to share their rankings?