Prospectus

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.  

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 
1^st & 2^nd Floors                                         

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

South Street
between Harrison Street and Talbot Lane
Easton, MD 21601
Outdoor booth/tent spaces 

The two main event locations are separated by South Street, which is the third location. 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 www.juriedartservices.com 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 15 - June 12, 2024. No submissions after June 12, 2024 will be considered for the October 2024 show without the Show committee’s prior approval.

All applicants must pay a non-refundable application fee of $40.00 payable online or by check mailed to Academy Art Museum, Attn: 2024 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, 2024.  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, 2024 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, 2024. 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: 2024 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.

Cancellation Policy

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, 2024, 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, 2024.

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.

Best Emerging Artist 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.

Academy Art Museum Craft Show

Event Prospectus – Key Information

Key Dates:

Application Dates:                  February 15 – June 12, 2024

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

Notification Date:                   June 30, 2024

Contracts Due:                        August 1, 2024 (including the entire booth fee)

Cancellation Date:                  August 31, 2024 (50% of booth fee refunded)

Show Set Up:                          Wednesday, October 23 (noon to 5 pm), Thursday, October 24 (9 am to 5 pm) & Friday, October 25, 2024 (9 am to 5 pm) All set ups must be completed by 5 pm

Preview Event:                        Friday, October 25, 2024 (5:30 to 9 pm)

Show Dates:                            Saturday, October 26 (10 am to 5 pm), Sunday, October 27, 2024 (10 am to 4 pm)

Outdoor Show Timeline: The Craft Show Marketplace is open on October 26, 2024 from 10 am to 5 pm. Set up is October 26 beginning at 7 am. All tents and items must be off the street by 8 pm on October 26.

Break Down:                           October 27 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 27. All items must be completely removed from booths by 8 pm on October 27, 2024.

Booth Information:

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)

Outdoor Booth Fees:             

$500 - 10 x 10 feet/outdoor booth space with tent included, 10 x 9 foot white tent, with sides*

$250 - Outdoor booth space, 10 x 10 feet – must provide own tent*

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

*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.

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.