2013 Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival
May 17, 2013 to May 19, 2013
Reston, Virginia
Application Dates
Aug 15 to Dec 7 '12
Application Fee
$50.00
(see prospectus for details)
Notification Date
Jan 21, 2013
Apply Now!

Prospectus

FESTIVAL DESCRIPTION:

The Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival is produced annually by the Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) and showcases the best contemporary fine art and craft from around the country. The Festival is held in the streets of Reston Town Center, an upscale elegant shopping destination located in a vibrant suburb of Washington, DC.

The mission of the Greater Reston Arts Center is to enrich community life by promoting involvement and excellence in contemporary visual arts. The purpose of the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival is to help fulfill GRACE’s mission by offering the highest quality fine art and craft to the public in an exciting, easily accessible, and well-managed venue.

The 2013 Festival will be held on May 17, 18 and 19, 2013 and marks our 22nd anniversary. Over two hundred artists will be selected on the basis of quality, originality, and craftsmanship by a panel of jurors, who are experts in their fields, and by members of GRACE’s professional staff. Among the selected artists will be ten award winners from the previous year, and a limited number of artists invited by GRACE. In addition to hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind artwork, this top-rated juried Fine Art Festival offers approximately 50,000 weekend visitors plenty to see, taste, hear and do. During the event GRACE assembles interactive contemporary art performances, artist demonstrations, diverse art-focused activities for children and families, live music and, new this year, a dynamic, curated contemporary sculpture exhibition in the pavilion.

GRACE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a professional staff, Board of Directors, and more than 400 community volunteers who assist us in making each Festival a success. The proceeds from the Festival support our exhibition, education, and outreach programs. GRACE does not charge artists sales commissions, but we do ask that participating artists give a 10% discount on one piece of art over the weekend to any of our 400 members who present an Opening Night Party coupon at the time of purchase. GRACE does not charge admission to the Festival but donations are encouraged and collected by volunteers at our Art Carts. 100% of the funds collected at the Art Carts directly support GRACE’s mission and cover our operating expenses throughout the year.

FESTIVAL DATES and HOURS :

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine, May 17, 18 and 19, 2013
5pm – 8pm Friday, May 17 with a ticketed Opening Night Party Friday for patrons
10am – 6pm Saturday, May 18
10am – 4pm Sunday, May 19

LOCATION : Reston Town Center, Reston, Virginia, 20190

HOW TO APPLY :

To apply for consideration each prospective exhibiting artist must complete an online application at www.juriedartservices.com. Each submission requires an application with images as described below; an artist statement, limited to 2,000 characters, explaining your creative process, use of materials and techniques; and a non-refundable application fee. Collaborative work must be submitted as a joint application with each artist’s name listed on the application.

APPLICATION DEADLINES and FEES :

All applications to the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival must be submitted online through www.juriedartservices.com

Open Application Period: August 15 - December 3, 2012, Midnight EST

The non-refundable application fee for all applications is $50, payable online by credit card (Visa, Master Card or American Express) or check via the USPS mail.

NOTICE: Your application is not complete until GRACE receives the application fee.

No applications will be accepted after December 3, 2012.

GRACE will accept application payment via personal check; however bank fees for any returned checks will be incurred by the artist.

If paying by check make it payable to the Greater Reston Arts Center, and mail to:

Greater Reston Arts Center
Attn: Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival
​12001 Market Street, Suite 103
​Reston, VA 20190

MULTIPLE ENTRIES: Individual artists may submit separate applications, fees, and images for each medium in which they wish to be considered. An image of the same work of art will not be accepted in more than one application. Artists may submit only one application per medium. If only one application is accepted, then only work in the media category selected may be exhibited.

ELIGIBILITY: Artists must submit applications in the appropriate media category specified below. For all applications the following conditions apply:

  • The Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival is open to all artists 18 years of age and older.
  • GRACE is committed to presenting original, well-conceived, and expertly executed works, either by hand or with appropriate tools, by the exhibiting artists.
  • GRACE encourages artists who are exploring the boundaries of their media, by incorporating the use of found objects, repurposed materials, or technology, to apply.
  • All exhibited artwork must have been created within the last five years

    Works that include the following are NOT ELIGIBLE:
  • Artwork made from or including materials or parts acquired from the killing of endangered species (exotic leathers, feathers, tusks, elephant or mammoth ivory), dried/silk flower arrangements, bonsai, or commercially made objects.
  • Artwork produced with commercial kits (e.g. molds, patterns, plans, prefabricated forms) or by other commercial or factory methods.
  • Studios producing works in volume.
  • T-shirts, commercial clothing, candles, soap, and reproductions (other than the allotted 10% of signed, numbered limited edition prints.)

CATEGORIES and DESCRIPTIONS:

All applications must be categorized according to medium. Some artists find that their works fall into multiple categories. Please choose the one (1) category that most accurately represents your artwork. Below is a list of the categories and their descriptions. If the jurors have a question about which category you have selected, GRACE will contact you for further discussion.

Ceramics – Objects created out of clay, earthenware, stoneware, porcelain, or terracotta.

Digital & Multi-Media Art – Images made with the primary assistance of a computer and/or featuring technological components. Printed works in this category must be: processed under the artist’s direct supervision, printed in limited editions of no more than 250 on archival paper, have print media identified, and be numbered and signed by the artist. Artists must disclose their creative and printing process at the time of application and have a description on display in their booths.

Drawing – Works created using dry media charcoal, crayons, chalk, graphite, pastels, pencils, or fluid media ink, pen, or markers.

Fiber/Textiles – 2D or 3D works created from fibers including batik, basketry, book making, decorative fiber, embroidery, papermaking, quilting, sewing, tapestry, wearable art (not including jewelry), and weaving.

Furniture – Functional and/or decorative furniture made from any material.

Glass – Functional and/or sculptural objects created by blowing, casting, kiln, or molding as well as all cold working processes.

Jewelry – Artwork created with the intent to be worn as ornamentation through the fabrication of various materials. All jewelry, whether produced from beads, clay, crystal, fiber, found objects, gems, glass, metal, paper, plastic, semi-precious stones, stones, or other materials should be entered in this category.

Leather – Works hand tooled from the rawhide of non-endangered species.

Metal – Artwork created through casting, forging, twisting, and fabricating various metals.

Mixed Media 2D – Flat works on paper, canvas, clay board, panel, or other flat surfaces, that incorporate more than one type of art material.

Mixed Media 3D – Three-dimensional objects created using more than one type of material.

Painting – Creation of images on a flat surface using acrylic, botanical, gouache, oil, tempera, or watercolor paint media.

Photography – Works produced with the primary use of a camera. Photographic prints must be made from the artist’s original negative and/or digital images that have been processed under the artist’s direct supervision. Printed works in this category must be: printed in limited editions of no more than 250 on archival paper, have print media identified, and be numbered and signed by the artist. Artists must disclose their creative and printing process at the time of application and have a description on display in their booths.

Printmaking – Images hand pulled from stones, plates, glass, or screened surfaces using a printing press, roller or hand brayer. All prints must be properly signed and limited to editions of no more than 250. Artists must disclose their creative and printing process at the time of application and have a description on display in their booths.

Sculpture – Three dimensional work created by the artist using any medium.

Wood – Original works made from wood that are hand tooled, machine worked, turned or carved.

IMAGES: Applicants must use Juried Art Services (JAS) to submit an application electronically. Each application requires four (4) artwork images and one (1) booth/ display image that are fully representative of the work they intend to exhibit at the 2013 Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival.

JAS requires that the images be

  • saved as a JPEG (files ending in.jpg)
  • between 2000 pixels and 4000 pixels at the longest dimension.
  • saved in the sRGB color space
  • 300 ppi (pixels per inch) or higher resolution

Artists are also strongly encouraged to:

  • Obtain professional photography of your artwork to ensure the highest quality representation possible.
  • Consider improving the quality of previously submitted images to meet these specifications.
  • Choose pieces that are unique and exciting and are consistent in their presentation.

REVIEW and EDITING of Applications

Applicants will be able to edit their applications until submissions close at Midnight EST on November 30, 2012. Artists can upload new images, revise statements, check payment status and view the application as it will be seen by the jurors until that time.

NOTIFICATIONS: The panel of three independent jurors, who are experts in the field of fine art and fine craft, will review all applications between December 3 – January 21, 2013. Each application will be scored independently by each juror, and each artist will be given a score from 1 – 7 based on quality, originality, and craftsmanship. The scores will be tallied and the top 220 artists will be invited to participate in the 2013 Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival. All scores will be confidential and artists will not be given their individual scores or feedback on their portfolios. GRACE’s professional staff and internal Festival Advisory Committee reserve the right to review the juror’s decisions at our discretion.

Jury results will be posted confidentially on the Juried Art Services website under the “Manage Application” function on Tuesday, January 22, 2013. Those whose application shows a green check mark are accepted artists, a yellow exclamation point indicates waitlisted artists, and a red indicates rejected artists.

ACCEPTANCE :

Once notified, all accepted artists will need to click on the green check mark icon to access a letter from the Greater Reston Arts Center. The letter will contain instructions on how to accept the invitation. It is important that accepted artists who plan on participating access these instructions as early as possible. GRACE will begin assigning booth spaces on February 12, 2013 to artists who have submitted completed applications and payment by that date. All Artist Acceptance forms will be honored on a first-come, first-served basis.

All acceptance information from GRACE will be provided electronically to the email address submitted in the Juried Art Services system. If you change your email, it is your responsibility to access your JAS portfolio and make sure the change is reflected.

The Greater Reston Arts Center will create an online and printed Festival Guide for 2013 as soon as artist acceptances are received. The guide will include accepted artist name(s), city, state, media category, and one of the five images submitted in the application. Information will be taken directly from the Juried Art Services website so please ensure its accuracy at the time of application.

WAITLIST POLICY: A waitlist for each media category will be developed based on the jurors’ scores. Waitlisted artists will be notified only when a space becomes available within their medium. In 2012, 13% of the participating artists were called off the waitlist.


AWARDS :

Featured Festival Artist

The Greater Reston Arts Center will select one accepted artist to be our Featured Festival Artist. An image from their portfolio that exemplifies the qualities of our Festival will be selected to be our marketing piece for the 2013 Festival. The image will be used in online and print advertisements and reproduced on materials, including but not limited to: Festival brochures, magnets, t-shirts, posters and other marketing items. All accepted artists will be considered for this prestigious honor. The Featured Festival Artist application fee will be waived for the 2014 Festival. Artists must agree to GRACE’s unlimited use of their image for marketing purposes.

Awards of Excellence
The Greater Reston Arts Center also recognizes outstanding work through ten (10) Awards of Excellence in Contemporary Art. A panel of judges knowledgeable in fine art and craft will visit each artist’s booth on Saturday, May 18, beginning at 10 am. Artists are judged on the whole body of their work not just one piece. As the judges are viewing an artist’s booth, a dot will be placed on the booth sign to indicate that the judge has viewed that particular booth. Judges will give each artist a score from 1- 7 based on quality, originality, consistency and display. The scores will be tallied and the top ten artists with the highest overall score will be selected as award winners. Awardees each receive a $ 500 cash prize, a blue ribbon to display on their booth, and are automatically juried into the following year’s festival. Award winners must still complete an application for entry for the 2014 Festival, but the application fee will be waived.

FESTIVAL POLICIES :

Before submitting an application to the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival, GRACE encourages you to read through the Festival Policies. The Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival is a highly selective, fine art and fine craft outdoor exhibition presented as an extension of our arts center. Participating artists’ booths will be visited periodically by the Greater Reston Arts Center Staff, Board, Exhibitions Committee, and the Quality Assurance Committee to ensure each artist is in compliance with our policies. It is our exclusive right and responsibility to remove work that is not in compliance. Violations of Festival Policies may result in dismissal from the Festival and forfeiture of all fees paid. Our policies are as follows.

ARTWORK:

  • All work must be original, handcrafted work which complies with the media definitions listed in this prospectus.
  • Artwork on display must be consistent with the images submitted for jurying.
  • All work must be produced by the accepted artist(s).
  • Artists may only exhibit work in the medium (media) for which they were selected.

FINE ART PRINTS and REPRODUCTIONS:

  • All artwork must be signed by the creating artist.
  • Only limited edition prints of no more than 250 from one source, hand-pulled, signed and numbered by the artist, will be permitted. Artists must disclose their creative and printing process at the time of application and have a description on display in their booths.
  • Reproductions, including giclée prints, are allowed, but must not comprise more than 10% of the art for sale, and must be signed, numbered, and matted.
  • All reproductions must be clearly marked “reproduction” on labels and display signs, and must be kept in a browse bin within the designated booth space. Notecards, stationary, calendars and any other items produced in large quantities from a reproduction are not permitted.
  • No reproductions, including giclées, are permitted to be framed or hung within or on a booth. Any hanging reproductions will be removed.
  • Photographic prints must be made from the artist’s original negative and/or image and processed under the artist’s direct supervision. Photographic art must be printed in limited editions on archival paper; have print media identified and be numbered, and signed by the artist. Artists must disclose their creative and printing process at the time of application and have a description on display in their booths.

BOOTH SPACE:

  • All booths must be secure ten-foot-square, white, covered tents.
  • All booth spaces are located on asphalt and measure 10’ x 10’
  • All tents and displays inside must be constructed to withstand crowds, wind, and inclement weather. This outdoor venue is subject to wind. All booths must be secured with appropriate weights to ensure stability in inclement weather. The use of Pro-Panels, Happy Feet and other professionally made tent equipment is advisable. The use of E-Z Up tents is not advisable.
  • Tents may not be secured to the pavement or any permanent structure by any means. In the event of this occurrence, artists are responsible for fines and the cost of repair as imposed by the property owners.
  • The use of the booth location is restricted to the assigned artist; no proxies are permitted. Two collaborating artists who produce a single body of work may exhibit together and occupy one booth if they were accepted as a duo.
  • All art displayed at the Festival must be set up within the assigned booth space.
  • No booth is to be left unattended during Festival hours. All artists, or persons affiliated with the artist, must personally attend their booth at all times. GRACE will arrange short-term booth sitting breaks for artists who request a 30 minute break. The volunteer Booth Sitters will not make any sales on your behalf.

BOOTH FEES for Accepted Artists:

Accepted artists are required to pay a $500 booth fee to secure a space.

Festival booth spaces are assigned by GRACE based on three criteria: media and type of work, date of acceptance and booth payment, and proximity to artists working in a similar media or style. Booth space will not be guaranteed for artist acceptance forms received after February 28, 2013.

GRACE will reserve a limited number of spaces per block for accepted artists who wish to select their block location. The artists who make preferred block reservation will be honored on a first-come, first-served basis dependent upon when fees and forms are received. Forms and fees will be accepted beginning January 22, 2013.

2013 Booth Fees are as follows:

  • Standard: 10’ x 10’ = $500
  • Corner: 10’ x 10’ = $750 includes 5 additional feet of display area on one exterior side Limited number available and given on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Double: 10’ x 20’ = $1,000
  • Double with a corner: 10’ x 20’ = $1,250 includes 5 additional feet of display area on one exterior side. Limited number available and given on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Double with 2 corners: 10’ x 20’ = $1,500 includes 10 additional feet of display area on both exterior sides. Limited number available and given on a first-come, first-served basis.

Preferred Block Reservation Fee (optional):

  • This opportunity closes at Midnight EST, February 11, 2013.
  • Preferred Block spaces will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis beginning January 22, 2013 for all completed, paid applications received by that date.
  • Preferred Block Reservation Fees are: $100 per 10’x10’ standard booth or $200 per 10’x20’ double booth.
  • Refer to the 2013 Map to select a first and second choice location by numbered area.
  • If GRACE cannot fulfill your request, the entire Preferred Block Reservation fee will be refunded to you via check, mailed by April 1, 2013.

POWER

  • Artists are allowed to utilize quiet battery-powered lighting systems within their booths. Artists using such a lighting system assume all liability for its potential hazards.
  • Fuel-powered generators are strictly prohibited.
  • No equipment can inhibit, block or intrude on any other booth space or impede pedestrians visiting the festival.
  • Electricity drawn from permanent external power source(s) on the Festival grounds is prohibited.

SALES TAX

  • Participating artists are responsible for collecting and paying 5% Virginia Sales Tax on all sales made during the Festival and submitting the ST-50 Form to the Virginia Department of Taxation by June 20, 2013.

SECURTY:

  • The Greater Reston Arts Center does hire Reston Town Center security personnel and Fairfax County Police officers to patrol the Festival grounds after hours. However, all exhibiting artists are solely responsible for the security of their artwork. You are strongly advised to carry appropriate insurance and remove all valuables from your booth each night. The Greater Reston Arts Center will not be held responsible for damage, theft, or loss of your work, or that of any other participating artist.

SET UP & TAKE DOWN

  • All artists and their team members must comply with set-up and take-down instructions given by GRACE Festival Staff and Fairfax County Police.
  • At take-down on Sunday, no vehicles will be permitted on site until Fairfax County Police declare the streets clear of pedestrians and safe for vehicles. 

REFUND POLICY:

  • Submission of the Artist Acceptance Form is considered a commitment to comply with these Policies and to participate in the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival.
  • In the event a registered artist cannot participate and notifies GRACE in writing prior to April 1, 2013, the Greater Reston Arts Center, at its discretion, may invite an alternate exhibitor.
  • GRACE will retain a $50 administrative fee for any cancellation.
  • No refunds will be made after Monday, April 1, 2013.
  • Violation of Festival Policies may result in dismissal from the Festival and forfeiture of all fees paid.

ARTIST AGREEMENT:

I hereby submit this application to possibly become an exhibitor at the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival. I agree to abide by the Festival Policies and regulations as established by the Greater Reston Arts Center.

I also warrant that the artworks submitted for jurying and the artworks to be shown were produced solely by myself or in collaboration with the co-artist named, in the category in which I have applied. I also authorize use of the images submitted with my application or duplicates thereof for festival publicity, documentation or archival purposes.

I agree to grant a license to the Greater Reston Arts Center to reproduce electronically, in limited resolution, my original artwork for a period of up to eighteen (18) months beginning January 22, 2013. I understand by signing this agreement, I retain full copyright of my original artwork. My images shall not be redistributed except as anticipated on the www.restonarts.org or www.northernvirginiafinaeartsfestival.org web sites, festival printed material, advertising and other festival-related media, without the express written permission of myself and the Greater Reston Arts Center.

The Greater Reston Arts Center reserves the right to make final interpretation of all rules.

CALENDAR :

August 15 – November 30, 2012
Open Application Period
$50 non-refundable application fee

November 30, 2012, Midnight EST
Application Deadline

January 22, 2013
Artist notification through Juried Art Services

January 22 – February 28, 2013
Acceptance forms and booth fees due
After February 28, open spaces will be offered to waitlisted artists

February 11, 2013, Midnight EST
Preferred Block Reservation period closes

February 12, 2013
GRACE will begin assigning booth spaces

April 1, 2013
No booth fee refunds after this date

May 17, 2013, Friday
Artist check-in 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Booth set-up Noon – 4:00 pm
Festival OPEN 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm, rain or shine

May 18, 2013, Saturday
Artist Check-in 6:00 am – 9:00 am
Booth set-up 6:00 am – 9:00 am
Festival OPEN10:00 am – 6:00 pm, rain or shine

May 19, 2013, Sunday
Booth set-up 6:00 am – 9:00 am
Festival OPEN 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, rain or shine

INQUIRIES:

​Greater Reston Arts Center
​12001 Market Street, Suite 103
​Reston, VA 20190

Email: info@restonarts.org

​Tel: 703.471.9242
​Fax: 703.471.0952

​Website: www.restonarts.org

Apply Now!