We did not enter into this show but went there as a visitor. Needless to say we know quite a few Artists who did participate in this show.
In reviewing the entries there we found about 25 photographers out of about 114 Artists listed on their website.. We also found aqbout 20 other vendors. Ok, we were told that these people were "sponsors".
Sponsors for an art show? Like Andersen Windows, a chiropractor, no clog gutter system, a raffle booth, Siding for your house, WBBM radio. I would like to hear from others what you think of these people being "Sponsors"
I am not aware of other promotors having sponsors for their shows.
Bill Kruser
Images by David Kay, Ltd.
Replies
Actually, a fair number do. Not just for-profit promotors like Amdur. Some non-profit arts organizations do too, as a way of subsidizing show expenses. I think it is a distraction from the main purpose of the show, but I can see using it as a means of keeping booth fees down. As long as it is segrated from the artist exhibition areas. I think the for-profit promotor has less of an excuse, though, considering the high booth fees they have anyway.
I certainly can agree with you in some respects. Although your comment that they keep booth fees down do not apply in the case of Amdur. They are one of the highest for booth fees in the area.
I fully agree that they should be segregated. What happens and what I saw at promenade was the "sponsors" were hawking the crowd. So the crowd tries to ignore them soliciting people and go past their booths and the crowd goes past them by one or two booths. Then the artists, next to the sponsors dont get people stopping in their booths.