Prospectus

PLEASE REVIEW THIS PAGE BEFORE ENTERING THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

Crafts at the Castle is a showcase for the finest contemporary craft and design in America, a standard established by our first show in 1986 and sustained every year since then. For over 20 years, Crafts at the Castle has retained its place as one of the top three exhibitions and sales of contemporary three-dimensional art and design in the USA. Each year, the show attracts up to 10,000 visitors, generates over $1 million in artist sales, and raises about $400,000 for Family Service of Greater Boston programs for children and their families. Since moving to the Hynes Convention Center in 2005, Crafts at the Castle has expanded to feature 150 craft artists, chosen by a new jury each year from over 600 applications annually. The show is known for its exceptional jury selection process, which discovers innovative new artists and highlights the quality workmanship of established artists, all of whom come to Boston to support the Mission of Family Service of Greater Boston. All work is original, executed by hand with appropriate tools, and created by individual artists. Each year, the show collaborates with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, for the “Director’s Choice Award,” a purchase prize chosen from among CATC artists by museum curators. Throughout 2005 and 2006, the MFA featured a display of Director’s Choice Award pieces acquired at Crafts at the Castle for the Museum’s collection.

Crafts at the Castle 2007 Artist Application
The 22nd annual Crafts at the Castle, a juried exhibition and sale, will be held at the Hynes Convention Center in the heart of downtown Boston. The jury will accept approximately 150 craft artists.

For questions regarding online application email us at support@jurying.net.

2007 Show Dates
November 28, 2007 Set-up
November 29, 2007 Partial Day of Set-up
November 29, 2007 Preview Gala, 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM
November 30, 2007 Open to the public, 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
December 1, 2007 Open to the public, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
December 2, 2007 Open to the public, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Crafts at the Castle continues as one of the longest-running and most highly regarded exhibitions in the New England area. We offer exhibition spaces to 150 artists in the following media categories: basketry, ceramics, fiber/decorative, fiber/wearable, furniture, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, paper, and wood. The Hynes Convention Center is just a few blocks from our former location at the Park Plaza Castle, but closer to the City's finest shops, restaurants, malls, and hotels. Now in our third year at the Hynes, Crafts at the Castle has found a new home in the heart of Boston!

Crafts at the Castle retains the recognition, quality, crowds, and sales which our famous name has come to stand for! We invite you to apply to Crafts at the Castle 2007.

Crafts at the Castle is the annual benefit for Family Service of Greater Boston, a social service agency dedicated to providing programs for children, youth, and families struggling with emotional, psychological, and economic effects of poverty, abuse, and neglect. Artist application fees and booth fees cover the cost of exhibition space and services, and publicity. All ticket sales, Corporate Sponsorships, individual gifts, and auction donations support Family Service of Greater Boston social service programs for children and families.

Crafts at the Castle Standards
Crafts at the Castle is a showcase for the finest contemporary craft and design in America, a standard established by our first show in 1986 and sustained every year since then.

All work must be original, executed by hand or with the use of appropriate tools, and created by individual craftspeople. Sales representatives and agents for groups of craftspeople are not eligible; each artist must be juried individually, and if selected, must be in attendance for the duration of the show. Work should be well-conceived and must show imagination, evidence of being handmade, originality and the mark of the artist’s individuality.

Artists applying to the show must apply under a specific category.

Basketry: Functional and sculptural work where the material used is woven or plaited.

Ceramics: Functional and sculptural work where the primary material is clay.

Fiber/Decorative: Wall hangings, quilts, rugs, blankets, etc. where the primary material is fiber.

Fiber/Wearable: Work where the primary intention is to be worn and where the primary material is fiber.

Furniture: Work where the primary intention is furniture. All media included.

Glass: Functional and sculptural work where the primary material is glass.

Jewelry: Work made from precious or non-precious materials with the intention of being worn as jewelry.

Leather: Work where the primary material is leather, including belts, handbags, wearables, desk accessories, etc.

Metal: Functional and sculptural work where the primary material is metal.

Mixed Media/Other Media: Functional and sculptural work where the primary intention of the work is the union of two or more media.

Paper: Functional and sculptural work created from paper.

Wood: Functional and sculptural work where the primary material is wood.

Not acceptable for jurying: dried or pressed flower arrangements, seed and pod decoration, handmade soaps or perfumes, cut bottles, embellished (decorated) furniture, handmade reproductions, objects made from commercially sold kits or molds, and art in media such as painting, photography, graphic arts, etc., except where incorporated into an otherwise accepted media category.

Crafts at the Castle Jury Process
A panel of five jurors selects participants for Crafts at the Castle. Crafts at the Castle staff rely on the expertise of artists, gallery owners, museum curators, and arts professionals from diverse media and areas of the art world for our jury. With a new panel of jurors each year, we ensure both consistent quality and freshness for the show. We look for work from new and emerging artists, and we value the friendships and relationships we have built with the experienced award-winning artists who have been part of Crafts at the Castle for many years. Every artist who participates in Crafts at the Castle must submit a new application for review by a new jury every year. This is one way in which Crafts at the Castle ensures the high quality of art exhibited and at the same time remains open to new trends and creators in the world of fine craft and design.

Crafts at the Castle Artist Recognition Awards
Each year at Crafts at the Castle, the show jury selects three artist award winners to represent superb artistry and workmanship in three categories: Excellence in Craft ($2,500), Excellence in a specific Craft Medium ($1,500), and New Face/New Work ($1,500) for a first-time exhibitor in the show. These awards, presented by Family Service of Greater Boston, comprise financial prizes totaling $5,500.

In addition, Family Service is proud to collaborate with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, to present the MFA Director’s Choice Award, a purchase prize chosen from among Crafts at the Castle Exhibitors by an MFA curator. The piece chosen for this award, and purchased by the Museum, enters the Museum’s collection.

How to Apply to Crafts at the Castle

Application and Fees
Each applicant is strongly encouraged to use the electronic application available to submit his or her information, five (5) electronic images of current work, and one (1) optional booth slide. A non-refundable fee of $40 for applying electronically is payable online by VISA, MasterCard or American Express through April 13, 2007. The fee will increase to $60 for applications submitted after April 13 through April 27, 2007. Payment is also accepted via check. Please make checks payable to: Family Service of Greater Boston.

Applicants not applying electronically may submit a mailed application and five (5) slides (a 6th slide showing booth display is optional) to:

Family Service of Greater Boston
Attn: Crafts at the Castle
31 Heath Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

A non-refundable fee of $85 for applying by regular mail is payable by check or credit card. (This fee includes the application cost and a processing fee for artists who request Crafts at the Castle to enter data, and process, digitize, and upload slides.) Mailed applications must be received by April 6, 2007.

Media category must be indicated on the form or a category will be assigned to the applicant.

To apply in two different media categories, please submit two separate and complete applications, including fees. If only one application is accepted, only work in that medium may be exhibited at Crafts at the Castle. Only work in the medium or category for which exhibitors apply may be exhibited at Crafts at the Castle.

If the work of the exhibiting artist differs greatly from images submitted, Crafts at the Castle will require the artist to remove the work from the exhibition.

Artists working together may submit one application if they collaborate on every piece. If accepted, every piece exhibited at the show must be a collaboration.

Digital Images
Applicants must submit five (5) digital images measuring 1400 pixels at the tallest or widest dimension at 300 dpi.

Slides (NOTE: extra fees apply for use of slides)
Applicants who do not have digital images must submit five (5) color 35-mm slides representing current work. Slides must be mounted in 2”x 2” cardboard or plastic mounts. Please send slides in good condition. Each slide mount must be printed on the front with the artist name, the slide number as it corresponds to the application form, and an arrow indicating the top of the slide. These slides will be scanned for inclusion in the electronic jury process.

To ensure the safe return of your slides, please include an SASE larger than a #10 business envelope and appropriate postage. It is the responsibility of the artist to ensure that slides will be returned safely by providing suitable packaging and postage.

Family Service of Greater Boston/Crafts at the Castle reserves the right to reproduce the work of accepted artists for publicity purposes.

Image Description
Please provide an accurate description of the piece shown in the slide, including materials, processes, size, and use if applicable.
Example: Hand-carved pill box of ebony depicting the Battle of Gettysburg, 2”x 2”x 2”.

Booth Images
Crafts at the Castle has gained a reputation for work of the highest quality and the beauty of the exhibition and booths of exhibiting artists. Artists applying to the show are encouraged to submit a slide or digital image of their booth. The booth image will not be included in the jury process and is not a requirement for applications in 2007. Booth images will be kept on file and used only by show staff. If you are not submitting a current booth image, please check off the appropriate box on the application form.

Booth Spaces and Fees
8' x 10' standard, $930
8' x 10' corner, $1185
9' x 10' standard, $1030
9' x 10' corner, $1290
10' x 10' standard, $1240
10' x 10' corner, $1390
10' x 15' standard, $1545
10' x 15' corner, $1600
10' x 20' standard, $1855

Requests for booth sizes will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis based on availability. No commission is taken on sales.

Acceptance Information

Notification of the jury’s decision will be by e-mail immediately following the jurying if you have included your e-mail address. Additionally, notification and contracts will be mailed out by June 1, 2007 by regular mail. Slides submitted with application will be returned if a self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage is included.

Inquiries may be directed to:

Family Service of Greater Boston
Attn: Crafts at the Castle
31 Heath Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
617-523-6400 ext. 5987
crafts@fsgb.org
www.fsgb.org

Publicity
Postcards and postcard stickers are provided by Crafts at the Castle free of charge to all exhibiting artists for outreach to individual mailing lists. Crafts at the Castle advertises extensively in print, TV, radio, and Web outlets throughout New England and around the country. A public relations and marketing process is implemented consistently to support Crafts at the Castle throughout the year. As a result, thousands of collectors, art enthusiasts and holiday shoppers attend Crafts at the Castle annually.

Liability and Insurance
Crafts at the Castle provides 24-hour security at the Hynes Convention Center beginning on set-up days and continuing through the duration of the show. However, artists exhibit at their own risk. Neither Family Service of Greater Boston, nor the Hynes Convention Center, are responsible for damage, theft, or loss of an individual’s work during Crafts at the Castle.

Deadlines and Notification
Mailed Application Deadline: RECEIVED at Family Service of Greater Boston by April 6, 2007
Electronic Application Deadline: April 13, 2007
Extended Electronic Application Deadline: April 27, 2007 (Late Fee Applies)

All applications must be received by the deadlines listed above. Offline applications received after the date listed above will be returned unopened. Please be aware of possible delays in postal areas.