Prospectus
GUILD FINE CRAFT SHOW:
MOUNT DESERT ISLAND
AUGUST 9 - 11, 2024 • BAR HARBOR, MAINE
Application Dates: Feb 16, 2024 - March 31, 2024
Application Fee: MCA Members $30⼁Non-Members $35
Notification Date: April 16, 2024
DESCRIPTION:
Shop Maine Craft presents the 47th annual GUILD FINE CRAFT SHOW: MOUNT DESERT ISLAND on Friday, August 9th - Sunday, August 11th, 2024 on the coastal campus of College of the Atlantic at 105 Eden Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609.
Featuring lifetime Guild level members of the Maine Crafts Association and juried exhibitors from Maine and Greater New England, the Annual Guild Fine Craft Show will present 40+ exhibitors working in basketry, ceramics, wearable & decorative textiles, furniture, glass, jewelry, leather, woodworking, metal, printmaking, encaustic, and letterpress.
The Maine Crafts Association (MCA), a nonprofit organization with a 40-year history in Maine, serves craft artists statewide. Its mission is to support artists by providing craft-based educational, community-building, and outreach opportunities to its membership. Shop Maine Craft, its retail-based counterpart, creates opportunities for artists and members to showcase their products to the public. Together, they offer a remarkable service to the crafts community in Maine and beyond. In 2019, the Maine Craft Guild and MCA joined forces, creating what is now its juried Guild Level membership.
The Guild Fine Craft Shows represent a longstanding exposition of juried artists that invites the public to explore and collect fine craft objects. The showcased pieces are the result of the dedication, talent, and training of a membership of committed and skilled craftspeople living and working in Maine. In 2024, Shop Maine Craft is pleased to welcome additional juried artists from throughout Maine and the Northeast to celebrate craft on the beautiful campus of the College of the Atlantic in Mount Desert Island.
The show is a three-day, rain-or-shine, indoor/outdoor event. Exhibitors are prepared for a quick setup (5 hours) with a 5:00-8:00pm show opening the same day (Friday), and take down (3hours) after the show closes (Sunday).
SHOW GENERAL INFORMATION:
When: Friday, August 9 (5:00 - 8:00pm), Saturday, August 10 + Sunday, August 11 (10:00am -
4:00pm both days), rain or shine
Where: College of the Atlantic | 105 Eden Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
What: Fine Craft Show featuring over 40 vendors selling handmade craft indoors and outdoors
LOCATION:
105 Eden Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
The 47th annual Guild Fine Craft Show: Mount Desert Island is a longtime tradition on the island, with 2024 being the 2nd year in a brand new location: College of the Atlantic (COA).
COA is a coastal liberal college just steps away from the bustling downtown of Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park. The venue offers ample parking and great views. The show takes place both indoors and outdoors on the college campus.
EXHIBITOR AMENITIES
● Professional show production services and full-time staff support
● Listing in printed Show Program/Map
● Listing in online Show/Member Directory
● Social media promotion by Shop Maine Craft
● Press Release & dedicated emails promoting artists/show
● Show marketing promotional materials provided
● Volunteer booth sitters
● On-campus meal plan available for craft exhibitors (Thurs/Fri only)
● Ocean views & swimming!
● Promotional opportunities including tote bag sponsorship and/or bag stuffers
ACCEPTED FINE CRAFT MEDIA
● Basketry
● Ceramics
● Encaustics
● Fiber Decorative + Wearable
● Furniture
● Glass
● Jewelry
● Leather
● Letterpress
● Metal
● Mixed Media
● Paper
● Printmaking (Handmade prints made using traditional analog techniques only)
*please see the media/products not accepted for jury list below*
● Stone
● Wood
Contact the SMC staff directly if you have any questions about accepted/ not accepted media
MEDIA / PRODUCTS NOT ACCEPTED FOR JURY PROCESS
● Commercial manufactured art.
● Work assembled (wholly or in part) from commercially available kits.
● Two-dimensional art such as paintings and photographs. The only exceptions to this exclusion are original handmade prints made using traditional analog techniques. Any digital or reproduction prints such as giclee are not accepted.
● Production work by third-party printers, commercially printed items, or embellished commercially made objects such as t-shirts, note cards etc.
● Mixed media work that uses paint and canvas as its primary medium.
● Screen printed material, commercial etchings, web or sheet-fed offset printed work.
● Works that use materials acquired from the killing of endangered species, elephant/mammoth ivory, including fossilized ivory.
● Dried or silk flower arrangements.
● Soaps, personal care, candles.
● Specialty foods.
● Buy-sell items.
● CDs, DVDs, Books.
Contact the SMC staff directly if you have any questions about accepted/ not accepted media
APPLICATION:
To apply, all applicants need to submit five images of their work as a representative sample of what will be exhibited in your booth image, as well as one image of their current booth set up. Additionally, applicants will be required to submit an artist statement. The statement should include information about the artist's career, technical skill used to create the submitted artwork, or any information the applicant would like the jury to know.
2024 SHOW JURORS
TBD
ACCEPTANCE:
Email notification will be sent on April 16, 2024. There is no quota system for each category, however, the Maine Craft Association/Shop Maine Craft reserves the right to create balance for the show. Artists may be placed on a waitlist and show positions will be offered as they become available.
BOOTH FEES
Rate for 10x10 in-line booth (outdoor, no power): $420
Rate for 10x10 corner booth (outdoor, no power): $460
*Additional indoor spaces may be available (with power): $460-580
BOOTH INFORMATION + REQUIREMENTS
● Exhibitors receive their booth assignments & vendor info packet in early summer
● EZ-up (or equivalent) tents are required for outdoor spaces. If any indoor spaces are available, pipe & drape is required
● Tent weights required, 40lbs per corner
● 10 x 10ft spaces (outdoor)
● Double or triple booths, and prime/corner booths are available
● No electricity available to outdoor booths
● Campus WIFI is available
CANCELLATION / REFUND POLICY
If before Sunday, May 11th, 2024: Full Refund less $25
If before Monday, May 12th, 2024: Wednesday, July 9th, 2024 : 50% refund
On or after Thursday, July 10th, 2024: No Refunds
*No refunds for unqualifying applications. Please contact the show director if you have any questions about your application.*
CONTACT INFORMATION
Lizz Brown, Show Director
lizz@shopmainecraft.org (717)-372-1541
Whitney Gill, Shop Maine Craft, Executive Director whitney@shopmainecraft.com (207)-205-0791
Shop Maine Craft Site:
www.shopmainecraft.com
Guild Fine Craft Show Page on Site: https://shopmainecraft.com/application-details-2024-guild-fine-craft-show-mount-desert-island/
LIABILITY & INSURANCE
Shop Maine Craft will provide daytime staffing and overnight security on the grounds; however, each craft artist exhibits at their own risk and should carry appropriate insurance. The Maine Craft Association, SHOP Maine Craft and the College of The Atlantic are not responsible for damage, theft, or loss of an individual's work.
TERMS & CONDITIONS STATEMENT:
Guild Fine Craft Show: Term and Conditions Guild Fine Craft Show Exhibitors must understand and agree to the following: Application fees are non-refundable. Applicants must apply with images or work that they made by hand, or with appropriate tools, alone or with a partner or small staff. The applicant must be present at the show for all show hours. Partner applicants may be represented by one member of the partnership. To set up and take down within the allotted time frame: 12pm - 5pm set-up on August 9, 4pm - 7pm take down on August 11. To apply with a representative sample of what will be exhibited in your booth. To exhibit only work that was represented in your application. To only exhibit work in the following media categories: baskets, ceramics, encaustics, fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, leather, letterpress, metal, mixed media, paper, printmaking, stone, and wood. The following Media/Products are not accepted: Specialty Foods, Personal Care, Candles, Books, CDs/DVDs, Cards, 2D Fine Art, Photography, flower arrangements, buy-sell items or any products made from commercially available kits. Standard 10×10 Ez-up (or equivalent) tents are required for outdoor spaces and 8’ tall pipe & drape for indoor booths. The back of your neighboring booth spaces should not be visible. Artists should provide an attractive and safe booth display. No tarps are allowed, tent side flaps that came with the tent are acceptable. Tent weights are required. No electricity is available for outdoor booths.