June 9 (Rain Date - June 16)Metuchen, New Jersey
Presented By: Metuchen Arts Council & Metuchen Chamber of Commerce
150 Artists
Deadline: May 1
Application Fee: $5.00; Booth Fee: $50.00
Noon - 10:00 pm. Outdoor festival featuring open air exhibits, live art performances and interactive events throughout downtown historic Metuchen NJ. Streets closed to car traffic. Two stages with live music performances all day long. Draws thousands of visitors from the tri-state area.
The METFEST is seeking highly qualified local, regional and national artists with expertise in all visual media - oil, acrylics, ink, watercolor, clay, glass, precious stones, textiles, photography, fiber, etc. - to participate in its one-day art extravaganza. Now in its 11th year, don't miss out on this opportunity to share your work with a sophisticated, art-conscious audience!
New in 2018: A one-day, 10-hour event format that gives visitors and artists more time for interaction; new public plaza featuring main stage performances and art installations; more art "live" demonstrations; expanded "junior bug zone" for kids art activities; beer and wine gardens; food court; free parking. A must see, must attend event!
Metuchen NJ has been a mecca for artists of every discipline for more than a century. The METFEST reflects the Borough's commitment to nurturing all forms of creativity and is just one of the ways Metuchen is the "Gateway to the Arts" of central New Jersey.
Marketing: We engage in a full-year promotional effort that includes regular press release announcements, social media postings, radio advertisements, flyers and postcards distributed to art schools/studios/artists in the tri state area.
APPLY: Go to ZAPP at: https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=6475; if you don't already have a profile, it takes 5 minutes to set one up; search for "METFEST"
More Information: www.metfest.org
More Information: www.metfest.org
Contact: Robert Diken rmdiken@yahoo.com (732) 762-5224
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Comments
Been there, done that.
I would avoid this show like the plague.
This event goes on all month. They bill it as "Junebug".
You can display works in windows for the month and also do street displays, each Saturday night.
As well as their one "big night"
A) Large Jewish population. Therefore, if they are devout, they are not purchasing anything on Saturday (Shabbos) due to religious laws. So, they may walk and look, but no purchase. (More very bad planning on the organizers part).
B) Booths are not 10'x10'. They are limited to 4'.
C) Not great foot traffic and extremely low "buying" traffic.
D) Although a higher income area, customers are seeking very low cost work.
E) Plenty of buy/sell.
F) People are there to look, be entertained, not buy.
G) Harassment and inappropriate treatment from some of the police directed at the artists, they have their own agenda. BEWARE (Have NEVER experienced this at ANY other show.)
H) VERY political. Funny when you see the rewards.
I) Even when the organizers are made aware of the issue, they will not do anything to support or correct the problems.
J) Good at marketing themselves as a great event... to the artists. But fail to deliver.
I have communicated and experienced with other artists, there.
Example, an artist was selling works ridiculously cheap. Not high end work of course. Artist told me they were not looking to make any profit. It was for a charity so whatever they got was going to a cause. Even though selling might be below cost of materials.
How does one compete with that?
Could not talk to customers over loud music.
You can get the idea when artists pay, in advance for the entire show period, then don't setup the remaining days.
It is about marketing their town. Not creating an environment to support artists and the arts.
Even look at the picture... notice how many artist booths are set up? Can you even find 3?
I would think there is not a jury fee, as they accept almost everybody. Last year listed 75 applications. Accepted 60 plus 5 exempt. So I guess only 5 people were not accepted.