WHERE: Beautiful downtown St. Joseph, Michigan
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday - July 14-15
WHAT: Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff, one of the nation's top fine art festivals (Sunshine Artist Magazine
#24 2011)
Deadline: January 12
NOTEWORTHY:
*One-half century of artistic and sales excellence.
*Limited to 216 artists.
*Average sales (2011): $1500 to $5000, (Sunshine Artist Magazine report) $3,700 (artist post-event survey).
*Jury/Booth Fees ($30/$275 or $300, depending on space size: 15x15 and 20x20); many with exposure on two sides.
*Estimated attendance: 75,000, drawn from all over the Midwest.
*Friday set-up; drive to space for load-in and load-out.
*Artist-in-Residence program; residents host artists in their homes.
*Excellent artist amenities, including artist-only parking, Saturday gourmet breakfast, booth sitters, electricity available to many booths, artists' hospitality room and much more.
*Friday night kick-off party with gourmet food, wine tasting and live music--free to artists.
*Round table artists' discussion with committee and staff.
*Jury session open to artists and public to observe.
The Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff celebrates 51 years of artistic excellence at Lake Bluff Park in 2012, overlooking Lake Michigan. The festival draws crowds from Chicago, northern Indiana, Grand Rapids and other nearby cities.
What the artists had to say:
- From a drawing/pastel artist: "So far it was my best of the year and third best overall, so thanks again. I am keeping my fingers crossed on getting in next year!"
- A painter says: "I just wanted to thank you for a well organized event, for the nice roomy, shady spot, and the large, enthusiastic crowd. It's really all that we, as exhibitors can ask for. From there, it's up to us to have the work that appeals to the public."
- A fiber artist said: "What many art fair organizers don't realize is that if you make it a show that is very artist friendly, as well as having good sales, artists will enjoy coming and the quality of the work at you show will be better."
- From a 3-D artist: "Thank you all the volunteers, staff and hot, steamy judges who made this a terrific show. I have to say that we are in the "best show ever" category and it couldn't have happened at a more needed time."
Deadline: January 12, 2012
Application through www.zapplication.org
Jury Date: February 3, 2012 (artists and public invited to observe)
Notification: February 24, 2012
Booth Fee Due: April 6, 2012
For more details and artist's prospectus, visit:
www.krasl.org/af_artist_info.php
Email inquiries to: Sara Shambarger, Director
sshambarger@krasl.org
You may also contact by telephone: 269-983-0271
Sunday morning awards meeting
Comments
I missed something, and it's a little thing, but, it may prove what I said in the above post. When you apply to the KRASL show on Zapp, they changed the artists description section from 200 words to 300 words. As I said, this is a little thing, but, it proves Sara has listened to your comments and acted on them.
I have a couple of comments about this show if you are thinking of applying:
1) This is one of the best run shows of the summer. They treat the artists with respect.
2) If you have a problem, or complaint, they go out of the way to make you happy, immediately.
3) Unlike other shows, if you get invited back, you do not have to pay a jury fee, or ahem, "processing fee."
4) The Friday night party is fun.
5) There is an artist awards meeting where the committee actually listens to the artists comments and makes changes right away or the next year.
5a) Sara spends plenty of time at AFI and reads peoples complaints and comments without prejudice and makes changes based on what she reads. (She probably doesn't know that I notice these things).
6) The show fee is reasonable compared to other shows of this size.
7) It's true about the states that this show draws from. I talk to everyone that comes by and there are many people from Illinois, Indiana, and other parts of Michigan that travel to this show. While this is no guarantee of great sales, it means the potential is there to sell to someone who is there specifically to buy something.
8) Because the committee is serious about enforcing the rules, there is no chance of any buy/sell getting in to the show.