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I am hoping to start a art fair, show and sale at my retail gardenshop in maryland. we have been in business 20 years at this location and i was hopeing to gather artist that would attract more attention to this countryside location. I am a stone sculpture and would like more exposure for my work .Any suggestions on how to begin this process would be helpfull. how do i find artist to attend and how do i promote it?
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My thanks to Michael Solomon who forwarded me this thoughtful article from the Christian Science Monitor: "It used to be that we made a lot of stuff: televisions, clothes, washing machines, radios, typewriters, shoes, telephones, and furniture. And we also used to make the stuff out of which stuff was made: steel, aluminum, plastic, rubber, glass, and electrical components. Today that's largely made overseas. They send us their stuff and we send them our money. It also used to be that Americans liked to make stuff. Think of all the things Thomas Edison invented. Or consider Henry Ford, who made the car affordable, perfected the assembly line, and paid workers a decent wage. Countless others, such as my grandfather, worked as toolmakers and machinists because they liked to work with their hands. Today we rely on people around the world to do that innovation for us." What's up with this? Aren't you making "stuff?" Yes, I know YOU are, but one of the reasons art fairs are so popular with the public is because they all have stopped doing things with their hands. How many times has someone stood in your booth and envied you your creativity and wished to be standing in your shoes? Lots. How are you feeling about creativity? In what other country would you have this opportunity to stand in the streets on weekends and have people tell you how wonderful your work is? "Today's schools must help teach our young people the value of manual labor and help us take advantage of the greatest place to be for innovation. A Japanese neighbor visiting a US factory told me once that he envied Americans because they did not accept cultural limitations in improving the way something is made. He said that you could never go against the grain like that in Japan." Need some food for thought? (I know you had enough food over the last week) Read the rest of the article at the Christian Science Monitor.
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Right, none of you have enough to do already. But, this one might work. Maybe you have your own customer base, maybe some friends and you keep talking about putting together your own event. Several times I have hosted an Open House and it worked! We sold art and people had a good time. But it is a LOT of work. To help you out today I'm linking to this article by Risa Marks I just came across, just in case you have been thinking about doing this. And/or you might save it for the day when you do take on this activity. Things You’ll Need: * TIME * Patience * List of possible locations * Local newspaper/radio station contact info * Home computer with printer paper, ink, etc.. * Outgoing personality! Risa has it boiled down to these eight basic steps: 1. If you are planning on taking on this task alone, be prepared to put in A LOT of personal time, work, and possibly money. If you are working on an art show that will have more than one participant, you need to give yourself and the other participants at least three months, unless of course, everyone is ready and you can organize the venue sooner. 2. Start off by choosing your locale... Read the rest: How To Organize Your Own Local Art Show
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Shary Brown, director for eleven years of the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair (the original) announced in January that she would be retiring after the 2009 art fair. I know many of my readers are artists and have thought they might be interested in running an art fair or wondered why one event is so much better than another. Well, the folks in Ann Arbor on the Street Fair's board take their event very seriously and have now posted the requirements for Shary's successor. Could this be you? EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair is seeking an Executive Director to lead one of the nation’s top art fairs, a nationally known art organization that increases public knowledge and appreciation for contemporary fine arts and fine crafts by creating opportunities that connect artists, the Ann Arbor community and the general public to their mutual benefit, culminating in a top quality juried street art fair. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors, and is responsible for the organization’s achievement of its mission, financial objectives, program development and administration. Interested candidates should send a cover letter including salary requirements and resume to: Executive Director Search Or email to: aasaf_search@comcast.net Ann Arbor Street Art Fair P.O. Box 7673 Ann Arbor, MI 48107 Competitive salary and benefits commensurate with experience. Review of Applications starts April 1, 2009 Anticipated start date of October 1, 2009 IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE: - Commitment to the AASAF’s mission, vision and values. - Demonstrated leadership and management in the non-profit art sector with years of experience as a leader, manager, or senior professional position(s). - Outstanding oral and written communication skills. - Demonstrated experience and effectiveness in multiple methods of revenue generation. - Experience in leading and working with a Board of Directors, volunteers and paid staff. - Proven experience developing and delivering high quality programming. - Experience in working with artists and art organizations. - Special event experience. - Demonstrated ability to establish network of contacts, locally and nationally. - An understanding of non-profit financial management information requirements. - Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
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Houston - Don't you just love to hear some good news? Our congratulations to the organizers of the Bayou City Art Festival for the success of their October event, hard on the heels of Hurricane Ike. Who would have thought? From the Houston Press: "The folks over at the 2008 Bayou City Art Festival Downtown have finished counting up their earnings and figuring out who gets what, so tonight they're handing out checks to the non-profits organizations they support. A whopping $106,303 is going out to sixteen organizations, ranging from the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston to the Spay-Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP), Lawndale Art Center to Houston Parks and Recreation." Read the story at their website: http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2008/12/bayou_city_art_festival_making.php Then think about heading to Houston to take part in a festival that is making record profits in the dismal fall of 2008.
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Here's a message I picked up from photographer Walt Pinkus: Quincy Jones has started a petition to ask President-Elect Obama to appoint a Secretary of the Arts. While many other countries have had Ministers of Art or Culture for centuries, the United States has never created such a position. We in the arts need this and the country needs the arts--now more than ever. Please take a moment to sign this important petition and then pass it on to your friends and colleagues. Sign me up! www.petitiononline.com/esnyc/petition.html
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Delray Affair and Avalon Gallery

Barbara Sucherman will be exhibiting her jewelry at: Avalon Gallery 425 East Atlantic Ave. Delray Beach, FL www.avalononatlantic.com April 18, 19 & 20 during Delray Beach Delray Affair along Atlantic Avenue 10 am to 6 pm 580 Exhibitors "This is the greatest Arts, Crafts, Food and Entertainment Festival under the Sun." Barbara's web: www.silverdesignjewelry.com her Blog: http://bsucherman.blogspot.com
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The jury for the Great Lakes Art Fair (April 17-19 in Novi, MI) is meeting on Friday morning. The official deadline was 2/2, but they have received so many calls from people (you know, "the application is in the mail" thing) whose applications are on the way that they will continue to accept applications until Thursday night 2/6. That is one of the wonderful things about digital jurying - it is fast and the bookkeeping aspects virtually disappear, you can sit down at the last minute and it is in the art show's computer virtually instantly. Please send yours in or call the office (Erin-248-348-5600 ext. 236) to make arrangements for delivery. They have some terrific applicants, artists you want to be in shows with. It feels like we have the momentum to turn this into a jewel of an event. Join us. Let's put some excitement back into this business! Visit zapplication.org now!
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artwork-tomhuck.jpg

etching by Tom Huck A couple of years I attended an ArtServe conference in Lansing, MI, where I heard Tom Tressor, the "Creativity Champion", exhort us to Art the Vote. Tom's mission is standing up for creativity, and encouraging creative people to seek public office. We've just been through this tremendous political activity. I know many of you were inspired by it and aren't quite ready to go back to things as they were. Are you ready to run for public office? You know someone who is? When asked what qualities people wanted to see in a leader, the responses included: - Vision - Accountability - Real leadership - Interest and knowledge of the arts - Inspiration - Problem solver - Someone who can create and share new resources - Creativity and resourcefulness - Compassion - Intelligence This post is a "heads-up" to explore this concept. Intriguing, isn't it? Visit Tom's website and see what a difference you can make, America Needs You, Really! www.tresser.com
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Here are several news stories from the local press about the art fairs taking place in Florida this weekend. You can catch a glimpse of the ambiance surrounding them. Meanwhile, here in Michigan, the snow is piling higher and higher but we're still heading out and driving around. A little snow does not stop us! Beaux Arts Festival, Coral Gables - probably one of the loveliest settings for an art fair, the University of Miami campus, from the Miami Herald: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/gables_smiami/story/840800.html Cape Coral Festival of the Arts, Cape Coral - read all about it in the Fort Myers News-Press: "In tough times, art continues to bloom in Cape Coral" Here's a little more about the Cape Coral Festival: http://www.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com Bonita Springs National Art Festival at the Promenade in Bonita Springs, details can be found at the Naples News. This is one of the big art fairs where generally artists do pretty well selling to the well-heeled folks of the Naples area who mostly are second homeowners there. I look forward to reports from all of you participating on how it went. And, here is a bit of an update on Bonita: http://www.news-press.com/article/20090110/NEWS0102/90110006/1075
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I came across this article today and thought you might be interested. It is from the Belleville, IL, paper: Answer man: Do Art on the Square sales figures add up? Q. Art on the Square is a wonderful show and very successful. Last year, Belleville reported that the artists sold $1.2 million in merchandise. How exactly is this determined? My calculations show that each artist would have needed to sell $600 an hour every hour. Whew! -- Rosemarie Edwards, of Swansea A. You think those figures are being airbrushed a little like a Playboy centerfold? Not so, according to AOTS founder and co-chair Patty Gregory. The totals really are as pretty as the picture of results organizers have painted afterward, she says. Here's how it works: Each artist is given three audit cards to record his sales. One is given back to the show's directors while the others are sent directly to two major art show magazines that keep track of how well shows do. They all mesh. "We have been right on target the last several years with reports given to us and also to the magazines, which are finalized in December," she said. "The last three years, Art on the Square has been ranked in the top five in the nation based on sales (rankings are based on total average artist sales). By the way, all names and information are given to the IRS office in Fairview Heights before the show for sales tax reports." Now she's hoping the economy won't keep Belleville from having another million-dollar baby when the show returns for its eighth go-round May 15-17. Here's the link: http://www.bnd.com/schlueter/story/698604.html My question to you...do you think this is legit? How much does that add up to per artist to reach those totals for a two day show?
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Two Florida events with only a few spaces left in Sarasota and on Marco Island, need only a few more artists to fill them out before they are presented to the public. The are organized by Richard Sullivan whose Boulderbrook Productions festivals are consistently ranked among the top art shows in the country. March 21st & 22nd Sarasota Masters Art Festival Payne Park Sarasota, FL 110 Artists only a few spaces left! Here is a special message from Richard Sullivan: Artists, we have selected and secured a great location; the new Payne Park in downtown Sarasota. A truly great location with easy set up, loads of convenient artist and patron parking. We are as excited about the caliber of this event and the great success we have had already with this show. We think it is going to be the most successful event that has ever been held in Sarasota. It's time that Sarasota gets to see the finest artists in the nation. There are still a handful of spaces available for the show. Link for Festival Info and Application This event will have a total of no more than 110 artists, each booth is a corner booth and there is a Friday afternoon set up where you can drive up and unload and set up. We have an extensive media campaign that includes advertising in the local newspapers and magazines. We have purchased ads on two local radio stations including the local NPR station. We have television commercials scheduled for Comcast Spotlight and we have partnered with a local media company on a sponsorship level. We have been extremely fortunate to have associated the festival with one of the most worthy not-for-profits that we have ever met. The Forty Carrots Family Center. Forty Carrots is one of the most well respected local Sarasota organizations. Their ties to the community have given us great exposure to the art-buying patrons of Sarasota. Call for Artists: The Marco Island Festival of the Arts April 4th & 5th Marco Island, FL Elkcam Circle east, across from the new Esplanade Mixed-Use Shopping and Residences 70 artists A few spaces left From director Richard Sullivan: We know the Naples area better than any other festival organization and, as a result, have decided to establish a new kind of event in Marco Island for the 2009 season. This event will feature the finest artists in the nation in a wonderful new location in an untapped area of Naples (no, really there is one, I swear). Come and join us for the right sized show in the right section of the city. This location offers premium exposure. Marco Island is a perfect location for a nice small high quality event. We believe that a small high caliber event on Marco Island is appropriate for this area. You'll appreciate this wonderful location in central downtown Marco's shopping district. The area of the festival is a beautiful waterfront location with plenty of adjacent parking for artists and patrons. Boulderbrook Productions is renowned for running the Naples National Art Festival in Naples Florida. We were very fortunate to be able to be associated with this wonderful show for a very long time. Our event in 2007 was just rated #5 Best Festival in the nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine in the September 2008 Issue. We know our market and how to promote the event for your full benefit. Our goal is to reach local art buyers and enthusiasts through: *# Advertising - island newspapers, Naples Newspapers *Sponsorship involvement on advertising level *Regional television and radio coverage via purchased advertisements We currently have a handful of spaces available for this show: LINK for Application and more info Looking for more art fairs for your 2009 season? Visit ArtFairCalendar.com/call for entries.
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I know some of you are very scared about the near future. If you continue to listen to the news it doesn't help much. I am here to tell you that you can make it through this. You are brave and resourceful, otherwise what in the heck are you doing in the art fair business? You have vision and creativity and lots of guts. Who else in this country stands on a street corner on the weekends showing the world the products of their imaginations and standing beside it for all to see? You don't think that takes guts? You are going to love this article. Here are the four reasons: 1. You are self reliant. "Back when we moved from farms to factories (and later, to cubicles), once we got a few things like child labor and worker safety straightened out, a lot of us got into the habit of letting a company take care of us." That is not you. 2. You have a great imagination. "... in the emerging economy, the means of production are between your ears." 3. The village is your customer. "...if you make something handmade (even if it’s delivered in pixels), personal, and/or magnificently useful, your village can and will find you." 4. It’s in your DNA. "The human being is an inherently creative, flexible, resilient creature. You are an inherently creative, flexible, resilient creature. The times may well get worse before they get better. But compared with a lot of history’s darker moments, this one’s pretty comfortable." Read the whole article, then print it out and read it again when you get discouraged: http://www.copyblogger.com/recession/ Thanks to Sonia Simone, Senior Editor of Copyblogger for this revealing article.
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American Craft Council Cuts Back

I recently received the following letter, forwarded from a member -- Feb. 5, 2009 Dear Artist: We look forward to working with you to showcase some of the nation’s best craft at the 2009 American Craft Show in St. Paul. This year, we face a unique challenge given the state of the economy. With falling revenue due to a decline in publishing proceeds, a decline in the number of craftspeople who are able to do shows, as well as a decline in philanthropy across the board, we face challenges on all fronts. Like every well-managed nonprofit in tough economic times, the Council is looking at all ways to reduce expenses so that we can continue programs without increasing your costs. This year, we are removing aisle carpeting at the shows with the exception of the lounge area. Decorative plants will also be removed. These changes are primarily cosmetic and are designed to minimize impact on the public’s experience as they shop and draw inspiration from your work. Benches and seating will remain throughout the show floor to ensure customers have a place to rest. Thank you again for your contribution to this year’s show. We appreciate your support and understanding as we work through this extraordinary economic time. Melanie Bender Shows Director As I understand it the exhibitors at the ACC show in Baltimore received a similar one. Artists are wondering if they will get a discount on the fees that they paid that should be paying for the carpeting and plants. What do you think?
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The Avon, CT, Farmington Valley Arts Center needed a new idea to draw patrons to the art center for a fundraiser. "The idea for the Bad Art Show came when the two dozen artists and the board of directors that make up the arts center wanted a new approach to attracting visitors to their studios. Every year, the arts center hosts a series of events during the holiday season, and members were determined to do something extra creative this year," reports the Hartford Courant. This sounds like fun, exposing the undistinguishable, the plain ugly, velvet paintings, paint by number and the pottery your loved one gave you before they realized they really weren't such a great potter after all. I do believe the prize winner was "The Nose Picker." "During the event, visitors get to vote on their favorites (actually, their least favorites). Then, taking visitors' votes into consideration, the four artists who organized the event will vote on which one is best (worst). The donor of the work that shows the least artistic merit will receive a $100 gift certificate to the arts center. Those who attend the art show will have until 5 p.m. to buy the bad art, selling at $5 each. Proceeds are to benefit an arts scholarship fund." Doesn't this sound like a good idea for your group? It reminds me of an art exchange hosted by Laurie Fowler and Bill Thelen in Northville, MI, at Christmas several years ago. We all brought a piece of strange art. The best painter in the group received a paint by numbers kit. Yep, there is plenty of bad art out there. Read the rest of the story at: For Perusal And Purchase, Some Really Bad Art
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Great Lakes Art Fair, April 17-19 - Part II

As you may have read in Part I of this series I have signed on as a consultant for this new (revamped) event to be held in Novi, MI, April 17-19. The goal: to bring some fun and excitement to an area of the country that has been depressed for some time. The idea is that many people still have good jobs and all of us need something exciting to look forward to. Michiganders have always loved art fairs, having cut their teeth attending the Ann Arbor fairs and the others in lovely settings around all the lake shores and in small towns. Many fine artists have set up their businesses nearby and continue to thrive even in a challenging atmosphere. So here's the latest news: The application is posted on zapplication.org, but inadvertently the Zapplication folks left the event off their newsletters and we really wanted to reach their audience. So the original deadline has been changed from January 26 to February 2. We are definitely jurying on February 6 and here is our jury panel: Bonnie Blandford - Michigan jeweler, www.bblandford.com, specializing in mixed metals, veteran art fair juror who volunteers many hours in artist organizations, Michigan Guild and NAIA Tom Hale - Michigan painter, www.TomHaleGallery.com, whose automotive paintings are widely collected, Gold Medal of Honor award winner from the A.W.S. and organizer of automotive art events around the country Chris Roberts-Antieau - Michigan fiber artist, www.chrisrobertsantieau.com, specializes in textile applique, poster artist Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, new book "Sew Far" featured in O, the Oprah magazine Lisa Konikow, former owner of Birmingham's Xochipilli Gallery and art director of Pontiac's Arts Beats & Eats Here's the rest of the news: *WDET the local public televison station and the NPR affilliate has signed on as a partner *talks going on with BMW as the luxury auto sponsor *a landscaper is almost signed to design the entry way to the event *a call for entries is going out for a small student art area to encourage emerging artists from the nearby colleges and universities *partnerships are in the works with the Detroit Institute of Arts, Cranbrook and others *the Friday night charity opening party is moving along, with talks going on with several organizations Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? Stay tuned for more details... and in the meantime, apply to be part of this cool event: www.zapplication.org, and more find info at: www.greatlakesartfair.com
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