Prospectus
The Visual Arts Center of Richmond Will Host its Contemporary Craft Show
OCTOBER 14 - 16, 2022 Craft + Design at Main Street Station, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
Now in its 58th year, CRAFT + DESIGN is a juried, museum-quality contemporary craft show that takes place in Richmond, Virginia. Ranked in the Top 25 Events for Sales of Fine Craft in 2018 (ArtFairSourceBook), artists also compliment our hosted housing program, artist dinner and easy load in and load out, not to mention the scores of patrons who come prepared to shop. Artists are invited to apply in the following categories: basketry, ceramics, decorative fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media, paper and wood.
In 2019, nearly 10,000 people attended CRAFT + DESIGN at Main Street Station’s renovated train shed. The 100,000-square-foot train shed, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1901 and has been renovated as part of a $90 million effort to restore Main Street Station. Glass walls offer visitors panoramic views of Church Hill, Shockoe Bottom and downtown Richmond. Craft + Design is typically held in November, however, this year, the Visual Arts Center of Richmond has made the decision to move the event earlier in October. With the health and safety of exhibitors and guests in mind, this decision was made to get ahead of the cold and flu season and ensure an in-person event can take place safely.
The venue, which sits squarely in the middle of the Shockoe Design District, is highly visible from Richmond’s I-95 corridor and accessible via train. Amtrak passengers from Washington, D.C. and beyond are able to debark and walk directly into CRAFT + DESIGN.
Over 150 artists gathered at CRAFT + DESIGN to showcase their work — an overwhelming majority say they plan to apply again. Here’s what our exhibitors said about the show:
“Everyone at VisArts was exceptionally kind and generous.
The space is really one of the best I have shown in. The quality of work was nicely varied and well crafted. A great show for us!”
“The venue is beautiful and very well attended.
Show staff and volunteers were amazing! Thank you for a spectacular dinner on Saturday night. Load in was fast and easy.”
Judges present cash awards in ceramics, contemporary design, fiber, glass, innovative use of traditional craft materials, precious metals, as well as wood and recycled materials. VisArts also recognizes a new artist, the artist with the best booth design and presents the Elisabeth Scott Bocock Best in Show Award.
ABOUT THE VISUAL ARTS CENTER OF RICHMOND
CRAFT + DESIGN is the signature event of the Visual Arts Center of Richmond, a non-profit community arts center in the heart of the city’s historic Fan District. For more than five decades,​ VisArts has helped adults and children explore their creativity and make great art. Each year, VisArts offers more than 1,000 visual and creative arts classes and touches the lives of more than 40,000 people through its classes, community outreach programs, camps, workshops and special events.
ABOUT RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
Richmond gets regular shoutouts from top travel publications for its riverfront, bike trails and restaurants, but the city’s real draw is its arts scene. A world-class art museum, the best public art college in the country, more than 45 galleries and an internationally recognized street art festival contribute to the vibe. One thing’s for sure—Richmonders know art.
CRAFT + DESIGN 2022 will be held for the fourth year at Main Street Station’s renovated train shed. This 100,000-square-foot space, built in 1901 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has been renovated as part of a $90 million effort to restore Main Street Station. Glass walls offer visitors panoramic views of Church Hill, Shockoe Bottom and downtown.
The venue, which sits squarely in the middle of the Shockoe Design District, is highly visible from Richmond’s I-95 corridor and accessible via train. Amtrak passengers from Washington, D.C. and beyond are able to debark and walk directly into CRAFT + DESIGN.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE
Craft + Design at Main Street Station:
Friday, October 14, 2022
6 a.m. - 3 p.m. Exhibitor Set up
3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Judging
5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Patrons' Preview Party
Saturday, October 15, 2022
9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. Rise + Shine Brunch
11 a.m. – 5 p.m. General admission shopping hours
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Artists’ Dinner at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond. Free to exhibitors, their families and housing hosts.
Sunday, October 16, 2022
11 a.m. – 5 p.m. General admission shopping hours
6 p.m.– 10 p.m. Exhibitor load out
APPLICATION + NOTIFICATION
Applications are due May 31, 2022. The application fee is $50 and is non-refundable.
Artists who wish to apply in multiple media must submit multiple applications. No individual artist may reserve more than one booth at the event.
The CRAFT + DESIGN jury meets in June, and artists can expect to receive notification by June 30. Exhibitor contracts and booth reservation deposits of $250 are due by July 31, 2022. Final booth payment is due August 30, 2022.
WAITLIST POLICY
Applicants will be rank ordered such that a waitlist is generated based on jury scores. Applicants on the waitlist will be contacted if space becomes available.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Should an exhibitor need to cancel for any reason, notices of cancellation must be made in writing to the event manager. If a booth reservation is cancelled prior to September 1, 2022, 50 percent of the booth fee will be refunded to the artist. No refunds will be made if the notice of cancellation is received on or after September 1, 2022.
COVID-19 POLICY
In the event of show cancellation by the Visual Arts Center of Richmond due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all exhibitors are eligible to receive a full refund of deposit and booth fees minus the appropriate Juried Art Services processing expenses.
All artists exhibiting at Craft + Design will be required to show proof of vaccination or negative test results. Additional COVID-19 mitigation protocols will be announced within 30 days of the event.
JURY
The CRAFT + DESIGN jury consists of art professionals, artists and collectors and turns over each year. Members of the jury judge all entries on technical and artistic skill, as well as originality. To improve applicants’ chances of being selected, organizers highly recommend artists submit images that are of professional quality.
SECURITY
Artists exhibit work at their own risk. The venue provides overnight security but neither the venue, the Visual Arts Center of Richmond nor the event’s sponsors are responsible for damage, theft or loss of artists’ work.
PARKING
There is ample free parking available for exhibitors in designated lots. During load in on Friday morning, exhibitors may park in the designated loading zone, but they are expected to move their cars promptly so that others may unload. Exhibitors should display their parking pass on their car’s dashboard at all times throughout the weekend.
PUBLICITY
CRAFT + DESIGN is promoted across a variety of communications platforms. Highlights include outdoor advertising, a public radio partnership, extensive social media campaigns, print advertising and special promotions with corporate partners and luxury brands in Richmond.
Organizers select one, high-quality image to use as the primary image on all CRAFT + DESIGN marketing materials. Other images are used to promote the show in a variety of different ways. CRAFT + DESIGN's marketing materials traditionally include a black background, so artists who wish to have their work considered for the primary marketing image should consider submitting at least one piece that looks great against a black background..
The Visual Arts Center of Richmond retains the right to use all images submitted with your application to promote the show—both in 2022 and in future years, as needed.
HOUSING HOSTS
VisArts remains committed to providing Hosted Housing for a number of out-of-town artists. We have several staff and board members who have graciously offered to open their homes for the nights of Friday, October 14, and Saturday, October 15th. Artists will receive more information upon admission. Please note that Hosted Housing availability is limited and cannot be guaranteed. Artists will be paired on a first-come first-served basis. Special needs will be taken into consideration.
EXHIBITORS + THEIR DESIGNEES
All work exhibited at the show must be designed and created by hand (or with the use of appropriate tools) by the artist accompanying it to the show.
Sales representatives or agents who are not directly involved in production may not participate in CRAFT + DESIGN.
Up to two exhibitor assistants are permitted. Each exhibitor receives two exhibitor assistant badges free of charge. All other assistants must purchase tickets to the event. Exhibitor assistant badges are not to be used as guest passes to the show. Please return all badges to the information desk at the conclusion of the event.
Exhibitors and exhibitor assistants must wear their badges at all times while in the exhibition hall.
BOOTH FEES
All booths are located indoors in one large room at Main Street Station.
Three booth sizes are available: 7' x 10', 10' x 10' and 14' x 10'’.
All booths are 10' deep and 8' high.
Booths cost between $975 and $1,225.
An electrical hook-up is included in the booth fee, as is pipe and white drape. No front crossbars are included, however, they may be rented directly from Hollins Exposition Services at the show. No overhead canopies are allowed, by order of the fire marshal. Flooring is polished concrete.
All exhibitors will be provided with additional storage. Please contact the event manager with any unusual storage requirements in advance.
Exhibitors must contain their display, work and storage boxes to the interior of their booths. Exhibitors are not permitted to display work on the outer walls of their booths. No artwork, walls, or other booth additions may extend past the specific boundaries provided. Booths must be of sound construction.
The Visual Arts Center of Richmond offers select sponsors the opportunity to endorse the artist of their choice. If an artist is selected for this honor, a sign that indicates the endorsement will be placed in the artist’s booth during the event. It’s customary for the artist to offer the sponsor a 10 percent discount on the purchase of one item, but the event manager will confirm this arrangement with the artist prior to making any commitments.