Arts and Crafts Fair Shriners Jacksonville

This affair took place in Jacksonville, Florida weekend of Sept. 11-12. With a great deal of excitement, I set up my display on Friday afternoon since I live so close. I've heard of this show for years and finally decided to try it to start the fall season. There is very little going on here in Florida in September. The surroundings were great and the A/C was a welcome change along with the snacks both morning. Nicer people runnning the show couldn't be found. What I thought was a big crowd decended Sat. a.m., but I was told this was not up to the usual number of attendees. Disappointment settled in about 1 p.m. I saw that this was not my crowd for my finer jewelry, but was hoping to get something out of the less expensive things I make. I realized that several of the booths had Buy/Sell- One right behind me! There were numerous complaints from artists and crafters to the show officials about the Buy/Sell booths. Most of the artists I talked to managed to make their booth fee by Sunday p.m. and that is all!!! An official came by late Sunday and apologized about the Buy/Sell vendors and explained that they didn't know even though photographs of the work had to be send in with the application. The official was marking the booths that were Buy/Sell so this wouldn't happen again and the application was being re-worded for the future. Needless to say, I won't be back for the November show or next year! The new committee seems to have been taken unawares and I hope new policies are in place in the future for their sake. Let me add that this is not a traditional juried event, but a description of your work and photos are to accompany the application. Met some neat new artists and we connected on the supplies and shows that we do - so all was not lost. Hope to have better luck in Amelia Island and Hallifax which have always been good to me.
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  • Well, well being from Jville this has always been a notorious Buy/ Sell ; It is a pitty that there are No real good ART FESTIVALS that support any local museum or cause; Howard Allen does his best in Jax but it is not in his top shows/ the crowd has never been educated to a high Quality /Juried/Awards($????,)Art Festival. Jon and I participate in 25t shows a year with only one near Jax. -Fernandina Shrimp Festival- By the way I think you will be on the streets of Fernandina/ NOT Amelia/ there are no streets in Amelia,except the Plantation, and I think this is a 1st year shoow run by the Association. Last years was run by a promoter.. Halifax has been good to me for many years/ each year is different- just continue the flow; Fair Winds
  • Thanks for this report...sounds like maybe this was an inexperienced committee who didn't know what they were getting in for. Right?
  • I will also be on Amelia Island in Oct. Hope to see you there. Saint
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