Prospectus
Overview
The American Craft Council’s four annual, juried craft shows convene a vibrant community of more than 1,500 of the country’s most talented craft artists – ranging from those just beginning their careers to masters in the field – and reach nearly 50,000 attendees each year. Exhibiting artists represent the broad aesthetic, technical, and material diversity of the craft field, from age-old traditions to cutting edge technologies.
We hope you will join us for what promises to be a spectacular season showcasing the highest quality craft in the country.
Attendance and sales
American Craft Shows collectively reach nearly 50,000 craft enthusiasts and collectors in Baltimore, Atlanta, St. Paul, and San Francisco. Our attendees tend to be a well-educated and design-savvy audience that appreciates and invests in craft. Annual sales total more than $12.5 million.
Marketing support
ACC is dedicated to reaching broad and diverse audiences for our shows. Our public relations firms have a pulse on the local marketplace in each of our show cities and annually obtain 206 million media impressions (valued at more than $2.5 million annually) in national, regional, and local media.
We also feature our artists’ work on the ACC website, in digital and print ads, via social media, in special show preview sections of American Craft magazine, and on-site via comprehensive show directories, street and bus banners, billboards, and more.
Our special show programs, Make Room and Style Slam, connect artists with professionals in the interior design and fashion industries while helping show attendees better understand how to incorporate craft into their homes and wardrobes. Our Let’s Make Inspiration Stations bring the process of making right onto the show floor, giving attendees a glimpse of how the handcrafted objects at the show are created. Participation in these programs has also garnered media coverage, wholesale orders, and commissioning opportunities for our artists.
ACC also provides social media toolkits and tutorials to make it easy for our artists to help promote their own businesses and the shows as a whole. Free and discounted passes are provided so you can welcome new and returning customers.
Questions?
For questions about the show or application process, please email our staff at shows@craftcouncil.org.
Applications and Eligibility
We encourage you to apply if you produce original work in any of the following categories: basketry, ceramics, clothing and accessories, decorative fiber, furniture and lighting, glass, jewelry, kaleidoscopes, leather, metal, mixed media, musical instruments, paper, stone, toys and puzzles, and wood.
Deadline: August 11, 2017
Late deadline: August 18, 2017. A $25 fee will apply.
Jury results will be emailed to applicants in late September 2017.
New and emerging artists
ACC encourages new and emerging artists to apply. An artist may choose to check this box on the application if he/she has not exhibited in any Council show. These exhibitors, if accepted, receive special signage and are promoted through marketing efforts as “New Artist.”
Emerging artists may also consider applying to our Hip Pop program – now in its fourth year – which provides lower booth fees, smaller spaces, and more extensive exhibitor support. Visit craftcouncil.org/hippop to learn more. NOTE: The application process for Hip Pop is separate from that for traditional booths and runs on a different timeline.
What is eligible?
â— Three-dimensional, handmade craft that meets these standard statements: 3D printed work is eligible; however, all work, printing, and design must be executed by the artist or printed under the direct supervision of the artist. No production work by third-party printers will be allowed.
â— Small-studio production work made under the direct supervision of the applicant. Direct supervision requires that the artist oversees production work as it occurs and provides constant direction, feedback, and assistance. All work must be produced in the United States or Canada. ACC reserves the right to require authentication of the production process at any time during the application and exhibition process.
What is not eligible?
â— Commercially manufactured art
â— Work assembled (wholly or in part) from commercially available kits. Such items, exhibits, and/or exhibitors may be removed from the show without prior notification and/or refund of booth fee.
â— Two-dimensional art such as paintings, prints, or photographs
â— Mixed media work that uses paint and canvas as its primary medium
â— Screen-printed material
â— Etchings or web- or sheet-fed offset printed work
â— Works that incorporates materials acquired from the killing of endangered species
â— Elephant/mammoth ivory (this includes fossilized ivory)
â— Dried or silk flower arrangements
â— Soaps
â— Bonsai
â— Embellished commercially-made objects (such as T-shirts, note cards, etc.)
The Council’s decision is final with regard to acceptability of exhibitors’ work.
Standards
To ensure a high level of quality in the work exhibited in American Craft Council shows, each jury is instructed to adhere to these guidelines in making decisions:
â— Work is handmade and reflects excellence and the unique vision of its maker
â— Work is well-conceived and skillfully executed without technical faults
â— All work must be the design of the applicant and made in the United States or Canada by the applicant or under his/her direct supervision.
Collaboration
â— Administrative requirements dictate that there is one primary artist listed on each application, as the shows are organized by artist names. Artists may also add secondary collaborative partners. This means they will be listed side-by-side in the directory, booth signs, etc. unless the primary artist directs us otherwise. The primary artist or collaborative partners must be present at the show.
â— Artists working together may apply as one if they collaborate on every piece. If accepted, they may exhibit only pieces that are part of the collaboration.
â— Secondary collaborative artists are defined as being an integral part of the design and making of the work.
â— If two artists have unrelated work, operate separate businesses, and wish to share a booth space, both artists must submit images in their respective medium categories and be accepted individually. The minimum shared booth size for two artists is 10 x 15 ft. For three artists, it’s 10 x 20 ft.
General policies
The Council reserves the right to:
â— Invite up to 20 percent of the artists at each of our shows, to ensure balance in the show
â— Refuse submissions that fail to meet the high level of quality as stated in the standards statement
â— Require removal of objects at a show that are inconsistent with the application submission. Exhibitors must display work consistent with the type and quality represented in their submission.
â— Remove an artist from the show if all work is not the design of the applicant and made in the United States or Canada by the applicant or under his/her direct supervision
â— Cancel any show that does not receive sufficient, appropriate applications
â— Retain all fees for image submissions, show applications, space reservations, and booths as these fees are non-refundable. Exceptions to this policy may be considered in extraordinary circumstances. Cancellation by the exhibitor will result in forfeiture of all fees paid up to the date of cancellation.
How to apply
â— Submit five digital images to the annual jury by midnight (PST) August 11, 2017, via Juried Art Services, the online application system (juriedartservices.com) Each application will be given one jury score for all 2018 shows.
â— We encourage returning applicants to submit at least two to three images of new work. Marketing and promotional efforts focus on new pieces.
â— Mark the checkbox for each show you would like to apply your 2018 score to
Image requirements and specifications
The image that is submitted must be an accurate representation of the object as it was originally photographed. Acceptable manipulations include: size of the file, background, lighting, shadows, contrast, color correction, and/or adjustments that do not affect the object itself.
Professional photography is highly recommended as it best highlights the quality of your work for jurying and allows us to use your images for show marketing purposes. We suggest using a white background in your images. ACC retains the right to use application images in show marketing materials, including social media.
Submitted images should be high resolution (a minimum of 300 dpi at 5 x 7 in.). Juried Art Services requires that images be be between 1400 and 2000 pixels on the longest side. Refer to the help menu on the Juried Art Services website and review the application checklist. Contact Juried Art Services directly for technical assistance.
Artist information
All information collected in the application is used in show directories and online artist listings (name, secondary artist name(s), company name, city, state, website URL, and/or email address). Please review this information carefully for accuracy before submitting your application. Your information will be published as entered.
Acceptance criteria
Applicants are asked to classify their work by identifying the principal material in which they work (ceramic, fiber, glass, metal, etc.) or the primary type of work they create (furniture and lighting, jewelry, etc.). This is how work will be scored and listed in the show directories, etc. ACC retains the right to reclassify applications if the category selected on the application does not fit the type of work pictured.
Jewelry applications - IMPORTANT
â— Jewelry images must all be submitted under jewelry. Do not include jewelry images in any other category submission, or it will be removed.
â— Any artist who wishes to exhibit jewelry, as well as other types of work, must submit separate applications in the appropriate categories.
Multiple bodies of work
â— If an artist makes two distinct bodies of work in the same material, he/she may wish to submit a separate application for each. Applicants may not submit the same image more than once in the same category.
â— A single application representing multiple bodies of work in the same material must proportionately reflect what the artist intends to exhibit at the show. For example, if one type of work predominates in the artist’s display, it must predominate in the files submitted. The Council reserves the right to enforce the same proportion in your display.
â— If an artist wishes to apply with more than one application, he/she must apply with separate online user IDs, digital images, and application fees.
â— If there are multiple applications and only one is accepted, only work represented in that application may be exhibited. If both are accepted, the work may be exhibited in any proportion.
Invited vs. waitlisted
If one application is accepted and another is waitlisted, the waitlisted work may not represent more than one-third of the entire booth. Once the artist’s number on the waitlist is reached, the artist may include the waitlisted work in his/her booth in any proportion.
Jury categories
Each application will be grouped into one of four jury categories. A separate jury of seven people will score each of those four categories. Each jury will consist of four current exhibitors and three art professionals. Jurors will review and score applicants remotely for one week in August.
â— Clothing and wearable accessories
â— Jewelry
â— Glass and ceramics – functional or sculptural work for interiors/exteriors
â— All other media – functional or sculptural work for interiors/exteriors
Jury process
â— When scoring applications, jurors consider the images and their descriptions. All other application information is used for administrative purposes only.
â— Average jury scores are tabulated by the digital jury system to produce a single score, which is applied to each show.
â— Invitations to exhibit are issued to artists in each material classification with the highest scores.
â— A waitlist in each media is created from the scores immediately following those invited to exhibit. The Council reserves the right to balance its shows through artists on the waitlist.
â— Individual scores are not released, and the Council does not provide an explanation of why an artist’s submission was or was not accepted.
Deadlines
â— Application deadline for 2018 shows is August 11, 2017 at midnight (PST)
â— The late application deadline for 2018 shows is August 18, 2017 at midnight (PST). A $25 late fee will apply for all applications received August 12 – 18.
â— Jury results for all shows will be emailed to show applicants in late September 2017.
Application fees
â— $15 processing and handling fee for each set of images.
â— $30 application fee for each show you would like those images to be applied to.
â— All application fees are non-refundable and are not transferable. The Council assumes no responsibility for the receipt of incomplete applications.
â— $25 late fee will apply for all applications received between August 12 – 18.
Booth fees
Booth fees vary by show location and cover the following:
â— Space rental
â— Booth sign
â— Exhibitor badge plus one assistant badge
â— Stock storage and empty crate removal and storage
â— Listing in print show directory
â— Listing on show website
â— Five free guest passes
â— Discounted guest passes for public days
â— National, regional, and local advertising campaigns
â— Social media kit for artists
â— Social media campaigns
Booth fees DO NOT cover:
â— Ancillary decorator services such as pipe and drape, carpet, shipping, etc.
â— Electricity (exception: San Francisco show)
â— Exhibitors are responsible for having the outside and back of their booths visually presentable, as these are visible from the adjoining booths. Exhibitors must provide their own booth or rent a booth from the show decorator.
Exhibitor Terms & Conditions
Accepted exhibitors must agree to abide by the general terms and conditions of the American Craft Shows below.
â— Exhibitors must be full-time residents of the United States or Canada.
â— Exhibitors must be professional, capable of producing work of consistent quality, and responsible for fulfilling orders obtained at a Council show.
â— All work in Council shows must be original and created by the exhibitor or under the exhibitor’s direct supervision. Exhibitors must display only their own work, not work made by others.
â— All work must be original and handmade in the United States or Canada. Small studio production work under the direct supervision of the applicant is acceptable.
â— Exhibitors must present work consistent with the type and quality represented in the application submission. In addition, work of inferior quality or inordinate proportions of work not represented in the image submission are not permitted.
â— Exhibitors must attend their work in person for the duration of the show. Exhibitors’ employees may not substitute for the exhibitor. Sales representatives are never permitted.
â— Booth displays must remain intact until the show ends.
â— Exhibitors must be current members of the American Craft Council at the time they exhibit in a Council show.
â— Exhibitors must have a valid state sales tax permit from each state in which they are participating in a Council show. Exhibitors are responsible for collecting and reporting sales tax where applicable.
Awards of Excellence
The Awards of Excellence recognize as many as 18 participating artists every year at the American Craft Shows in Baltimore, Atlanta, St. Paul, and San Francisco. Awarded by the ACC board of trustees, the Awards of Excellence are given in recognition of excellence in quality of work or for individual booth design. Awardees receive $500 and automatic eligibility to exhibit at that show in the following show season.
The ACC trustees present an additional Award of Excellence to a participating Hip Pop artist at each show. Recipients receive automatic eligibility to exhibit at that show in the following show season and a discount of up to $550 on their booth.
In addition to the awards for individual work and booth design, ACC is proud to partner with the Collectors of Wood Art, the James Renwick Alliance, and the Society of North American Goldsmiths. In Baltimore, the Award of Excellence in Wood Art is presented by the Collectors of Wood Art in recognition of an artist working in wood; the James Renwick Alliance Award of Excellence in Innovation is presented by the James Renwick Alliance in recognition of innovative work; and the SNAG Award of Excellence in Metals is presented by the Society of North American Goldsmiths in recognition of an artist working in jewelry or metals. Recipients of each award receive a prize of $500 and automatic eligibility to exhibit at that show in the following show season.
American Craft Show, Baltimore
The Baltimore Convention Center in Maryland is home to the Council’s flagship show, now in its 42nd year. This highly competitive and prestigious show is a must-attend event for wholesale buyers and the public, attracting artists, buyers, and craft appreciators from across the United States.
Jury notifications will be emailed in late September of 2017.
Please note: There are three separate sections in the Baltimore show: wholesale-only, wholesale/retail, and retail-only. Each is considered to be a separate portion of the show and should be applied to separately. Artists may apply to any or all sections of the show and are eligible to exhibit only in the sections to which they apply and are accepted. Note how many booths are available in each section of the show when considering your application choices.
Show dates
February 21 – 22, 2018 (wholesale)
February 23 – 25, 2018 (retail)
Move-in dates
Wholesale and wholesale/retail sections: February 19 – 20, 2018
Retail section: February 21 – 22, 2018
Show size
Wholesale-only section: 150 exhibitors
Wholesale/retail section: 350 exhibitors
Retail-only section: 300 exhibitors
Booths and fees
Wholesale-only (two days)
10 x 10 ft. $1,200
15 x 10 ft. $1,800
Corner booths: $300 additional
Perimeter corner (corner booth on wall): $150 additional
Wholesale/retail (two days wholesale/three days retail)
10 x 10 ft. $2,040
15 x 10 ft. $3,060
20 x 10 ft. $4,080
20 x 5 ft. $2,840 (includes two corner fees)
Corner booths: $400 additional
Perimeter corner (corner booth on wall): $200 additional
Retail-only (three days)
10 x 10 ft. $1,425
15 x 10 ft. $2,140
20 x 10 ft. $2,850
20 x 5 ft. $2,225 (includes two corner fees)
Corner booths: $400 additional
Perimeter corner (corner booth on wall): $200 additional
A $65 facility service fee will be added to each booth contract. (This is charged as a separate fee in order for all artists to pay an equal amount regardless of booth size; for facility services such as custodial and in-house building security.)
American Craft Show, Atlanta
Now in its 29th year, the Atlanta show is held at Cobb Galleria Centre, a beautiful venue situated near the affluent suburbs of Cobb County, Georgia, with easy highway access and ample parking. It’s a very competitive show that draws a sophisticated audience.
Jury notifications will be emailed in late September of 2017.
Note: Wholesale opportunities are offered for artists at our retail shows. ACC reaches out to buyers and invites them to attend anytime during the show. Artists will be asked to check a box on their space reservation form if they are interested in conducting wholesale business.
Show dates
March 16 – 18, 2018
Move-in dates
March 14 – 15, 2018
Show size
250 exhibitors
Booths and fees
10 x 10 ft. $940
15 x 10 ft. $1,410
20 x 10 ft. $1,880
20 x 5 ft. $1,540 (includes two corner fees)
Corner booths: $300 additional
Perimeter corner (corner booth on wall): $150 additional
American Craft Show, St. Paul
Now in its 32nd year, this established show attracts a loyal regional audience, many of whom are collectors, and draws attendees from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, as well as western Wisconsin. It’s held at St. Paul Rivercentre, a superb facility in the heart of downtown.
Jury notifications will be emailed in late September of 2017.
Note: Wholesale opportunities are offered for artists at our retail shows. ACC reaches out to buyers and invites them to attend anytime during the show. Artists will be asked to check a box on their space reservation form if they are interested in conducting wholesale business.
Show dates
April 19, 2018 (Preview Party)
April 20 – 22, 2018
Move-in dates
April 18 – 19, 2018
Show size
250 exhibitors
Booths and fees
10 x 8 ft. $755
10 x 10 ft. $940
15 x 10 ft. $1,410
20 x 10 ft. $1,880
20 x 5 ft. $1,540 (includes two corner fees)
Corner booths: $300 additional
Perimeter corner (corner booth on wall): $150 additional
American Craft Show, San Francisco
Now in its 43rd year, our San Francisco show is held at Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, which is located on the waterfront between Fisherman's Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge. This show serves a well-established audience of Bay Area craft enthusiasts, including a growing younger demographic of admirers of handmade goods.
Jury notifications will be emailed in late September of 2017.
Note: Wholesale opportunities are offered for artists at our retail shows. ACC reaches out to buyers and invites them to attend anytime during the show. Artists will be asked to check a box on their space reservation form if they are interested in conducting wholesale business.
Show dates
August 3 – 5, 2018
Move-in dates
August 1 – 2, 2018
Show size
225 exhibitors
Booths and fees*
10 x 5 ft. $620
10 x 8 ft. $995
10 x 10 ft. $1,240
15 x 10 ft. $1,860
20 x 5 ft. $1,240
Corner booths: $400 additional
Perimeter corner (corner booth on wall): $200 additional
*Booth fee includes electricity.