My apologies for forgetting to post my final wrap up of the Wichita's Autumn and Art. My biggest complaints about this first year show were -
1. Not all of the exhibitors had electrical hookup for lights and electricity was not included in the booth fee, but rather $100 extra. With the preview party held on Friday night from 6-9, and these being the only evening hours, $100 was a hefty amount. However, it was most welcome, in the hot weather, for running fans!
2. Longer evening hours both on Friday and Saturday and electricity all artists , I felt could have increased sales for many of the artists.
3. Artists needed to be set up and present beginning a 5 for judging. With no public in attendance (patron preview didn't begin until 6), this felt like a waste of time and there was no food available for the artists until after 8. Most of us were starving and thirsty by then. So, basically we were twiddling our fingers, while a couple of judges were strolling through, judging our work. With the patron's attendance that evening, there was no reason that the judging couldn't have taken place at the same time.
4. The artist food on Friday, was not even mediocre and there were no food booths open for artist to purchase from.
5. There were some artist judges and they should have been exempt from winning an award.
6. A few booths had excessive reproductions and notecards. The notecards were not allowed but the rule was not enforced.
7. Show should end at 5 on Sunday, not 6. Many of us were taking down in the dark.
Now, for the GOOD NEWS!!!
The artist hospitality (except for Friday night) was wonderful. Artist rates on the Hilton Garden Inn, only a block away. Lunches delivered to our booths, a wonderful artist award breakfast. There was $10K in award money for the 65 artists. There were plenty of wonderful volunteers to relieve us for breaks, they had a/c in the luxurious porta pottys. There are wonderful restaurants in the area and plenty of artist parking nearby. Two shifts for load in and setup and you can drive up to your booth. The booths backed up to the curb of a boulevard, so we all had plenty of room behind our booth for storage or sitting. As for sales, I heard of only one artist who did not sell anything. Lower priced work sold best. I do mixed media paintings and my average sale was $600. Most of my customers were buying in pairs.
The show is well positioned, schedule-wise. It is the week after the STL Art Fair and the weekend before Plaza or Peoria. It is the ONLY fine art festival in Wichita, whose collectors have been going to Plaza for years!
This new show, is certainly one that is listening to the artists and are eager to make changes to make it a better show for all. I just received an email from the director, thanking us for our participation and indicating changes for next year. Some of the changes are:
1. Hours for Patron's Preview on Friday changed from 6-9 to 6-10. Artists, apparently, don't need to be there for judging at 5.
2. Booth fees remain the same price as last year with electricity INCLUDED!
3. All returning artists from this first year show will have $100 discounted from their booth fee next year.
I was one of the lucky ones to snag an award so I plan to take advantage of my jury free invite to return next year. This show certainly has the demographics to support some nice sales. It is easy to do and is in an unsaturated market. It would be a good show to sandwich between two other major shows within less than a day's drive.
The application will be posted on Zapp in early January.
This is a first year show. The director emailed me with a jury-free invitation after seeing my work at several other top shows - Cherry Creek, Des Moines and Main St. FW. They are modeling this show after the other top shows and also positioned it well on the calendar between STL and Plaza. The show is being held on the boulevard next to Bradley Fair shopping plaza in a very upscale neighborhood. There are about 65 artists, most with very good work. Last night they held a preview party @ $100 per ticket, with approximately 500 attendees that were well qualified buyers who spent a good amount of time visiting the booths and appreciating the work. Many said they would come back over the weekend. The show has not been without first year glitches but the committee is very responsive and are listening to the artists' feedback. More later....
Comments
1. Not all of the exhibitors had electrical hookup for lights and electricity was not included in the booth fee, but rather $100 extra. With the preview party held on Friday night from 6-9, and these being the only evening hours, $100 was a hefty amount. However, it was most welcome, in the hot weather, for running fans!
2. Longer evening hours both on Friday and Saturday and electricity all artists , I felt could have increased sales for many of the artists.
3. Artists needed to be set up and present beginning a 5 for judging. With no public in attendance (patron preview didn't begin until 6), this felt like a waste of time and there was no food available for the artists until after 8. Most of us were starving and thirsty by then. So, basically we were twiddling our fingers, while a couple of judges were strolling through, judging our work. With the patron's attendance that evening, there was no reason that the judging couldn't have taken place at the same time.
4. The artist food on Friday, was not even mediocre and there were no food booths open for artist to purchase from.
5. There were some artist judges and they should have been exempt from winning an award.
6. A few booths had excessive reproductions and notecards. The notecards were not allowed but the rule was not enforced.
7. Show should end at 5 on Sunday, not 6. Many of us were taking down in the dark.
Now, for the GOOD NEWS!!!
The artist hospitality (except for Friday night) was wonderful. Artist rates on the Hilton Garden Inn, only a block away. Lunches delivered to our booths, a wonderful artist award breakfast. There was $10K in award money for the 65 artists. There were plenty of wonderful volunteers to relieve us for breaks, they had a/c in the luxurious porta pottys. There are wonderful restaurants in the area and plenty of artist parking nearby. Two shifts for load in and setup and you can drive up to your booth. The booths backed up to the curb of a boulevard, so we all had plenty of room behind our booth for storage or sitting. As for sales, I heard of only one artist who did not sell anything. Lower priced work sold best. I do mixed media paintings and my average sale was $600. Most of my customers were buying in pairs.
The show is well positioned, schedule-wise. It is the week after the STL Art Fair and the weekend before Plaza or Peoria. It is the ONLY fine art festival in Wichita, whose collectors have been going to Plaza for years!
This new show, is certainly one that is listening to the artists and are eager to make changes to make it a better show for all. I just received an email from the director, thanking us for our participation and indicating changes for next year. Some of the changes are:
1. Hours for Patron's Preview on Friday changed from 6-9 to 6-10. Artists, apparently, don't need to be there for judging at 5.
2. Booth fees remain the same price as last year with electricity INCLUDED!
3. All returning artists from this first year show will have $100 discounted from their booth fee next year.
I was one of the lucky ones to snag an award so I plan to take advantage of my jury free invite to return next year. This show certainly has the demographics to support some nice sales. It is easy to do and is in an unsaturated market. It would be a good show to sandwich between two other major shows within less than a day's drive.
The application will be posted on Zapp in early January.