Academy Art Museum Craft Show 2023
October 27, 2023 to October 29, 2023
Easton, MD 21601
Application Dates
Feb 17 to Jun 12 '23
Application Fee
$40.00
(see prospectus for details)
Notification Date
Jun 30, 2023

Prospectus

 

The 26th Annual
Academy Art Museum Craft Show

October 27 - 29, 2023
Preview Event Oct 27, 2023

Easton, Maryland

The Academy Art Museum’s 26th Annual Craft Show features over 60 artists from across the United States on October 28 & 29, 2023, with a special Preview Event on October 27. Located in the spaces within the Academy Art Museum as well as the historic Waterfowl Festival Building directly across the street, these two spaces are connected by South Street which is closed to vehicular traffic during the event. 

All proceeds from fees and generous community sponsorships directly support the Museum’s mission of providing meaningful art experiences and education to the Mid-Shore of Maryland. 

We strive to build larger participation in our juried show, welcoming returning artists and selecting first time exhibitors who we believe will have success at the show. With nearly a third of the participants exhibiting for the first time, we typically attract over 2,000 people to the weekend event, and we hope to introduce more patrons to our event this year. 

This is truly a show by artists for artists.  

*NEW THIS YEAR* 

We are excited to announce a one-day outdoor component to the Academy Art Museum Craft Show: The Craft Show Marketplace. Outdoor booths will be available on the street that connects the two buildings of the Craft Show. This will give more artists the opportunity to participate in a highly visible space as well as adding an extra level of interest to patrons attending the show. 

 Advertising and Market Reach: 

The Academy Art Museum Craft Show in historic Easton, Maryland draws patrons from across the Mid-Atlantic Region. Advertising in these market areas is done via all mediums – traditional and digital. Each juried artist will be featured on the Show’s social media outlets including Facebook and Instagram.   

The Academy Art Museum aggressively promotes the Craft Show in print media as well as active social media advertising early in the Fall. Last year, we reached nearly 250,000 people interested in art and craft throughout our region and we will build on last year’s efforts.  

Why is this Show Unique? 

The Academy Art Museum Craft Show’s mission is to provide exceptional hospitality to our new and returning exhibitors. To support that effort, we offer the following benefits: 

  • No commission on sales 

  • Complimentary:  

    • Housing (on a request basis and subject to availability) 

  • Porter services at both set-up and break-down 

  • Weekend parking 

  • Artist Dinner on the Saturday evening of the Show 

  • Listing in the Show program and on the Show website 

  • Featured social media spotlight at least once prior to the Show dates  

Exhibition Locations: 

There are three locations for exhibition space:  

The Academy Art Museum
106 South Street
Easton, MD 21601
1st & 2nd Floors

The Waterfowl Festival Building
40 South Harrison Street
Easton, MD 21601                                                
1
st Floor

South Street
Craft Show Marketplace – One day only: Saturday, October 28
Between Harrison Street and Talbot Lane

Easton, MD 21601 
Outdoor booth/tent spaces 

The two main event locations are connected by South Street, which is the third location for the one-day Craft Show Marketplace on Saturday, October 28. The street is closed to vehicular traffic for a series of outdoor booth spaces.  

Some exhibition space in the Academy Art Museum is located on the second floor.  This space is accessible by stairs and elevator. The elevator measures 5ft x 4ft with a 3ft wide door opening.  

The Exhibition space in the Waterfowl Festival Building is elevated and accessible by either a 12-step outside staircase or via a ground-level elevator that measures 5ft x 7ft.  

How to Apply to Become an Exhibitor: 

The Academy Art Museum Craft Show utilizes the online services of Juried Art Services . All prospective artists must complete an online, electronic application along with the required artist’s statement and images from their current portfolio. Only applications submitted through Juried Art Services will be considered for submission with the exception of special circumstances at the committee’s discretion.    

Application Period – open applications may be submitted between February 17 - June 12, 2023. No submissions after June 12, 2023 will be considered for the October 2023 show without the Show committee’s prior approval.  

Application Payment - All applicants must pay a non-refundable application fee of $40.00 payable online by clicking here or by check mailed to Academy Art Museum, Attn: 2023 Craft Show, 106 South St., Easton, MD 21601. Please include “Craft Show Application" in the memo section. Payments are due at the time of submission. 

Along with the Exhibitor Application, a total of five (5) hi-res photographic images or jpegs must be submitted, electronically, per terms of the Juried Art Services website.  These photographs must include four (4) pictures from the Applicant’s current portfolio as well as one (1) photo of a recent booth. Photographs from Applicant’s portfolio must include the retail price of each piece of work shown. Please note: the applicant’s work is judged primarily on the images included in the application and the quality of those images determine if they can be used for promotional purposes. The Academy Art Museum reserves the right to reproduce accepted entry photos for use in the Show Catalog and for publicity purposes. If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an alternative application process.  

Jury and Selection Process: 

The artistic work submitted by each artist is juried based on the criteria listed below: 

  • Body of Work: design, vision, creativity 

  • Technical Competence: technique, skill, degree of difficulty, mastery of materials used 

  • Originality 

  • Booth appearance  

Acceptance To the Show: 

All artists will be notified, in writing, of their acceptance into the show by June 30, 2023.  Artists will be juried into the Show based on the combined votes of the Academy Art Museum Craft Show jury committee. The Academy Art Museum reserves the right to balance the number of artists, per Media Category, in order to create the most effective and marketable Show. The Show committee may also deem several artists as stand-by and add them to a “Waitlist” should any juried artists cancel prior to the show.  Waitlisted artists will also be notified of their status on June 30, 2023 and appraised of their status on an ongoing basis as deemed appropriate by the Show committee.   

Upon acceptance, the artist must complete a Show Contract, which will be sent to you by the Show Committee.  The contract, including the payment of the applicable booth fee, must be remitted to the Show Committee by August 1, 2023. Contracts may be sent by email to: craftshow@academyartmuseum.org and payment can be made online (link will be provided) or checks may be mailed with the contract to Academy Art Museum, Attn: 2023 Craft Show, 106 South St., Easton MD 21601. Please include the memo on the check “Craft Show Booth Fee.”  

Eligibility: 

All exhibited work must be original – either one-of-a-kind or in limited edition from an original form – and made by hand using appropriate tools. Works manufactured commercially or through commercial kits will not be allowed. In addition, imported works, kits, items from kits, items made using commercial patterns, items assembled from pre-manufactured components, items made with endangered species, embellished items, tee shirts, sweats or arts and crafts supplies will not be allowed.  

All items exhibited must be for sale. Only items resembling the photographic images submitted as part of the Exhibitor Application may be shown. In other words, the craftwork exhibited must typify the artist's body of work.  

Each artist is restricted to exhibiting art forms within a specified Media Category. Media Categories must be chosen at the time of Application submission and may not change once the artist has been juried into the Show. Artists may not exhibit from more than one category within each booth space. If more than one type of media is requested, the artist must submit applications for separate booths, by media type. Acceptable Media Categories include: 

  • Basketry 

  • Ceramics 

  • Fiber – Decorative 

  • Fiber – Wearable 

  • Furniture 

  • Glass 

  • Jewelry 

  • Leather 

  • Metal 

  • Mixed Media 

  • Musical Instruments 

  • Paper 

  • Sculpture 

  • Toys 

  • Wood 

  • Emerging Artist*  

*Emerging Artist: AAM’s emerging artist booths allow for early-career artists to exhibit their work in an established craft marketplace. With lower-cost booths, this program gives emerging artists an opportunity to grow their clientele and careers. Applicants may apply as an emerging artist for up to three years. This category is only available for the indoor, three-day show.  

Cancellation Policy (both shows): 

Cancellations must be made in written form and submitted by mail, or email (craftshow@academyartmuseum.org.) If an artist cancels on or before August 31, 2023, they will be given a refund of 50% of the booth fee. Application fees and credit card processing fees are non-refundable. No refunds after September 1, 2023. 

Academy Art Museum Craft Show Prizes: 

Each year, the Show will award the following prizes based upon the results of the voting by the public and the Show jury committee:  

People’s Choice Award – Craft Show patrons receive a ballot upon entering the show.  Votes are tallied and the award is presented on the last day of the show.   

Featured Artist – (discretionary) given to that artist who has risen to the top of their craft in design and innovation.  This Artist will be announced prior to the show.  

Event Prospectus – Key Information 

Key Dates (both indoor and outdoor shows): 

Application Dates: February 15 – June 12, 2023 

Application Fee: $40.00 with 4-5 portfolio images and descriptions for jury 

Notification Date: June 30, 2023 

Contracts Due: August 1, 2023 (including the entire booth fee) 

Cancellation Date: August 31, 2023 (50% of booth fee refunded) 

Craft Show (Indoor show, three days) 

Craft Show Set-Up: Wednesday, October 25 - Thursday, October 26, 2023 (9 am to 5 pm) & Friday, October 27, 2023 (9 am to 5 pm) All set ups must be completed by 5 pm 

Preview Event: Friday, October 27 (5:30 to 8:30 pm) 

Indoor Show Dates: Saturday, October 28 (10 am to 5 pm), Sunday, October 29 (11 am to 4 pm)  

Break Down: October 29 beginning at 4 pm – note all booths must be set up and in working condition until the close of the Show at 4 pm on October 29. All items must be completely removed from booths by 8 pm on October 29, 2023.  

Craft Show Marketplace (Outdoor show, one day) 

Outdoor Date: Saturday, October 28 (10 am – 5 pm)  

Set-up and break down: Saturday, October 28 (set-up 7-10 am, break down 5-8 pm)  

Booth Information: 

Craft Show (indoor, three days) 

Booth Sizes: 10 x 10 ft or 6 x 10 ft (Limited availability) 
Booth Description:  Open on one side. Pipes, black drapes, and electricity is included 

Indoor Booth Fees: $750 - 10 x 10 ft booth, with two open sides (Limited availability) 

$650 - 10 x 10 ft, one open side 

$500 - 6 x 10 ft, one side open (Limited availability) 

Emerging Artists: $250 - 6 x 8 ft, one open side (Limited availability), allocated on a first come, first-request basis for four to eight emerging artists      

Please note: Special booth space and special needs requests will be accepted but are not guaranteed. Requests received after booth spaces are assigned are difficult to accommodate and not guaranteed.           

Craft Show Marketplace (outdoor, one day) 

Outdoor Booth Fees: $200 - Outdoor booth space, 10 x 10 feet – must provide own tent* 

or 

$450 - 10 x 10 feet/outdoor booth space with tent included, 10 x 9 foot white tent, with sides*   

 *Outdoor spaces are 10 ft wide X 10 ft deep and work must be contained within the assigned space. You may not infringe on another space physically or audibly. Exhibitors must have a white tent. EZ-up (or equivalent) tents are required with tent weights of 40lbs per corner. Tents may be rented for an additional fee. All tables must be skirted to the ground. Only one artist’s work or the work of two approved collaborating artists may be displayed per booth. You are responsible for maintenance and clean-up of your own space.  

Rain / Cancellation Policy (Craft Show Marketplace, one day show only): 

Weather is unpredictable; please come prepared to exhibit rain or shine.Refunds will not be given because of inclement weather if the Craft Show Marketplace is produced. Artists are responsible for proper insurance and protection of work and setup. The Academy Art Museum will not be responsible for damage to work or set-up due to weather or unrelated incidents. 

In the event that the forecasted weather poses a threat to public safety (e.g. excessive wind, flooding, lightning, etc.) the AAM Craft Show will notify all artists 24 hours prior to the event to communicate that the event has been cancelled. If the event is cancelled by the Academy Art Museum for any reason, all participating artists will have the option to receive a 100% refund of their booth fees (tent rental fees are non-refundable.) Artists will not be reimbursed for any other incurred expenses (e.g. accommodations, travel expenses, tent rentals, etc.).