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I know our focus here is on insuring that the artists who are participating in the events earn a living. That is my mission.

But some art festivals do that and more. The Anacortes Arts Festival in Anacortes, WA, has a mission of giving back to the arts in its community, a Giving Back Program. In 2016, the festival handed out $42,350 in grants. That number was $39,974 in 2015 and $49,000 in 2014 (which includes cultural education support).

Each year, the Arts Festival uses its net profit to award grant money to several area groups. This year, it will hand out about $33,000. It is also anticipating donating $9,000 to the Cultural Education Program, $12,000 to public art purchases and $6,000 to the Local Artists in the Schools program, bringing giving for the year up to about $55,000.

The $$ go to the schools, public arts programs, artists in schools -- just what you would hope an arts festival would foster. Learn more about what is happening in Anacortes: http://www.goanacortes.com/arts_and_community/article_350753b0-dd04-11e6-820d-eb79c72b76cf.html

Does anyone know of programs like this at other shows?

Next podcast: January 31, 5 pm ET

The premise: As a "new" artist attempting to earn a living at the nation's art fairs I often think about the business side of things. People are surprised that I even attempt the notion of doing it full time... without a pension! 

We speak with art fair artists who actually pay the bills and make a living, BUT they do so without a pension or some other significant source of income. In other words, these are people who figured out how to be profitable at art fairs! Are there people like that? This is a very practical nuts and bolts discussion of entrepreneurship. Creating art and earning a living with it are two separate endeavors.

Our guests will be long timers and new people just starting to hit the road.

If you would like to be on the panel please let me know. If you have questions you'd like discussed add them in the comments below. 

May 13 & 14

Birmingham, Michigan

Art Birmingham, originally known as the Birmingham Fine Art Festival, takes place Mother's Day Weekend in the streets surrounding Shain Park, in downtown Birmingham. The park is conveniently located in the center of this favorite suburban downtown and features welcoming pathways and beautiful landscaping.

Hi Friends,

I am a military wife and jewelry artist. I moved for my husbands job from Virginia to Florida a few months ago. As I have been making attempts to re-establish myself here in Florida [New Smyrna Beach/Volusia County] I am hitting some crazy road blocks and I was wondering if any FL artists could share their perspective with me.

I know every state is different, but FL seems to have a lot of extra hoops to jump through. I am being told that I need to pay & have a city inspector 'inspect' my work space. It's just a little studio/work space in my garage. No sales or customers will be occurring there. I sell online and at shows. Is this really necessary? It seems like overkill.  Perhaps I am approaching this in the wrong manner. I had listed my self as a 'home based' business [the other alternatives were 'business in a commercial building' or 'flea market' :-( ]

I would be so grateful if someone would share their experience with me.

Thank you in advance.

May 20 & 21
Indianapolis, Indiana
Presented by: Indianapolis Art Center
225 Artists
Deadline: January 22

Application fee: $35; Booth fee: $370 

The Broad Ripple Art Fair is a gated event ($13 resale and $15 day of) that serves as the Indianapolis Art Center's largest fundraiser of the year.  It is held on the grounds of the Indianapolis Art Center and its 9-acre ArtsPark, plus the adjacent North Side Optimists Opti-Park.

What you will like about us:

• Second day pass-back for patrons
• gated fair average of over 15,000 attendees
• Heavy item pick up service
• Staff and volunteer supported load-in and load-out
• Over 400 volunteers.

The Talbot Street Art Fair is the longest running juried Art show in Indiana. This year will be its 62nd anniversary
It is still held in the picturesque Herron Morton neighborhood on Talbot Street from 16th-20th Street. The committee who created this granddaddy of a show is still involved and now joined by working artists to insure this is a successful event for all participating artists. They are striving to keep the show fresh and current. The fair is very well supported by its neighborhood host and by the surrounding communities.
2016 brought temperatures of 96 degrees and record setting attendance reported by police. I spoke with several artists last year - they all reported strong sales, even with the oppressive heat! History shows that “come rain, shine or heat” people flock to this event to find unique, original art.
Talbot Street still remains free to the public, encouraging people to come enjoy the event, which averages around 60,000 in attendance. The committee has an aggressive marketing campaign to ensure success for all.
For artists, they allow Friday set up with the ability to drive to the booth to unload and load. There are close artist parking and RV areas provided. Most booths have ample storage behind them. Although this is a very safe area of Indianapolis they do provide 24 hour security from Friday evening through tear-down on Sunday. The committee passes out water throughout the day and the neighborhood provides coffee and donuts each morning.
And the best is that there are air-conditioned restrooms for when the heat is just too much!!!
This fair is a long standing jewel – well known and attended by buying customers.

Application deadline is 1/15/2017.

Fees are $30 APF and $310 Booth.
Application is available on Zapplication: https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=5145
For more info, go to www.talbotstreet.org.

July 8 & 9
St. Joseph, Michigan
56th Annual Art Fair

Presented by the Krasl Art Center
200 Artists
Deadline: January 20

Application fee: $35; Booth fee: $300-$375

This nationally-recognized event is a mainstay of summer in southwest Michigan, the community's largest celebration of the arts. 200 artists will bring their fine art and fine craft for approximately 50,000 attendees to admire and purchase.

The Krasl Art Fair is an outdoor event located in St Joseph, Michigan along the bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. St. Joseph is 1 1/2 hour drive from Chicago and Grand Rapids. This established art fair attracts fine art and fine craft artists from all over the US and Canada.

Congratulations to Patty Gregory and her amazing team of volunteers. This small event held in late May in tiny Belleville, IL, has bragging rights to having the top sales of any show in the country according to the Art Fair Sourcebook. It is also an economic boon to the community what Patty reported to the show's sponsors last week:

...during the fair's 15-year history on the Public Square in Belleville, it has generated $30.3 million in economic impact, which does not include the artists' sales.

Read more here: http://www.bnd.com/news/local/community/belleville/article124359384.html#storylink=cpy

May 20
Marion, Iowa (Cedar Rapids area)

Presented by:  Marion Arts Festival
50 Artists
Deadline:  January 17

Application fee: $25; Booth fee: $250

Marion is a "vintage uptown" type of community, and a part of the Cedar Rapids metro area.  Our show is one-day, 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, kind of hokey and maybe more than a little mom-and-pop...in good ways, mostly.)

For you:

• Cash awards totaling $5000
• Friday set up
• Amenities include an artists' reception, convenient/free parking
• overnight security
• Block-rate hotel options & energetic volunteers

2017 marks the 25th anniversary of the Marion Arts Festival!  Further, folded into our festival day will be the unveiling of 20 pieces of public art in the alleys adjacent to the park, a project funded by ArtPlace America.  (With ArtPlace America's executive director Jamie Bennett as our honored guest.)

Marketing:

Named by ArtFairCalendar.com as among "America's 50 Best Art Fairs" and " America's smaller Fairs" in 2015, 2014 and 2013!  Among Art Fair SourceBook's "Elite 100" since 2009!

Apply:  www.zapplication.org

Learn more: www.marionartsfestival.com

For more than thirty-eight years the Greater St. Louis Art Association has been providing opportunities for the public to see and purchase original works of fine art and fine craft directly from the artists who create them.

• Our 40th Annual Spring Art fair
• Limited to approximately 130 artists
• An air-conditioned indoor art fair, no worry about the weather, tents or security
• Jury/Booth fees ($25/$200); free electricity 
• Cash awards totaling $4,500
• Booth sitters, 24-hour security. Rest easy knowing your booth is locked up safely at night.
• Excellent marketing campaign, expanded to television, newspaper, magazine and radio advertising, internet and e-mail promotion
• Promotional postcards, business cards and coupons provided free to exhibiting artists
• Live music throughout the art fair
• Wine tasting Friday & Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoon

• Artist's entry deadline:  January 15
• You may enter after January 15, but no later than January 25th; the late fee is $50
• February 3 Artist notification via e-mail. 
• No booth fees will be refunded after February 17
• April 10  Booth set up starting at 9am, must be finished by 4pm   

June 9 & 10
Columbus, Ohio
produced by the Greater Columbus Arts Council
300 Artists
Deadline: January 13

Application fee: $40; Booth fee: $595 

Join us on June 9, 10 & 11 for great art, performances, food and fun!

Learn more: http://www.columbusartsfestival.org

August 19-20
Perrysburg, Ohio

The Town Center at Levis Commons hosts the 13th Annual Levis Commons Fine Art Fair produced and created by The Guild of Artists & Artisans. 

May 6 & 7
Elmhurst, Illinois
Wilder Park
RGL Marketing for the Arts, Inc.
125 Artists

Application fee: $25; Booth fee: $360

	mixed media by Carla Bank

• there are over 10 food vendors including gourmet food vendors
• One of the best kid's interactive court in Illinois 
• Wilder Mansion is opened for pastries, coffee, and lunch for sale.
• Complimentary artist breakfast (which has been noted by artists) as the best one in the U.S.
• Indoor bathrooms inside Wilder Mansion and Elmhurst Art Museum

FYI: Application for the Estes Park Labor Day show is up on their website. Applications for the Estes Park Memorial Day show and Steamboat Springs are up on Zapp. Nothing yet from Golden. The cycle begins anew.