April 24 and 25, 2010 Downtown - Little Italy San Diego, California 300 Artists Deadline for Applications: January 8, 2010 We invite fine artists to apply for the
2010 Mission Federal ArtWalk Festival. This two-day fine art festival is now in its 26th year and is Southern California's largest art festival, attracting 120,000 attendees from throughout the region. Our mission: to encourage people to purchase original fine art, and to enhance that experience by interacting with the artists who create the pieces. What began as a local art event in 1994 has become the best known art festival in the region,
attracting artists from across the country and from across our southern and northern borders. Each year, the festival attracts seasoned collectors as well as first-time art buyers. The event takes place in San Diego's hip and historic Little Italy district, well known for its artistic community, outstanding restaurants and picturesque streetscapes. Filling 16 blocks of Little Italy with fine art of all kinds, many participating artists consider it their highest-grossing event of the year. Mission Federal ArtWalk provides high quality 10' by 10' tents that are also 10' high. Load-in and load-out are made simple, as you can drive your vehicle directly to your tent. Your registration fee includes: --Access to more than 100,000 annual attendees --A page on the Mission Federal ArtWalk web site that will remain up until 2011. Check it out:
www.artwalksandiego.org/artist/ --Listing in ArtWalk Magazine and Event Brochure/Map --Featured Artists receive prominent placement in the event's publicity campaign --An opportunity to have priority space selection in 2011 (for past participants that are among the first 150 artists to apply.) What artists say about us:
It was a pleasure to participate this year - as always. Somehow you accommodate the artists so accurately - not to mention the thousands of attendees. The weekend event was a blast - people really enjoyed themselves; that was obvious. Thank you for all your hard work...AND the patient, kind HELPFUL assistance of you and your staff. Awesome. Moni Blom
Now I'm spoiled! As always, you and your staff were the most welcoming, friendly and supportive of all the many art shows I do each year. Suzette Hodnett
Bravo to you and your team for making artwalk a wonderful event *again*. We had a blast, and the show was a success for me - even in this dicey economy. Kudos to you and your staff for making it so. Belinda DelPesco Artists who participate in Mission Federal ArtWalk find that they sell artwork long after the event as a result of the comprehensive web page dedicated to each artist that can be updated as frequently as you wish. You can upload new artwork images, change your artist statement, etc. This living gallery is a unique feature to this event and one that many artists have stated "is worth the price of the
registration fee." There is no upfront jury fee. We typically receive approximately 1000 applications, and we accept 300 artists. To apply, go to:
www.missionfederalartwalk.org/register If your application is accepted, payment is due within 72 hours of your acceptance. The festival is embraced by San Diego's Mayor and numerous corporate sponsors, as THE celebration of culture in the region, and a must-do each spring. Learn more about the San Diego ArtWalk & its activities:
www.missionfederalartwalk.org ***************** Looking for more art fairs?
Visit ArtFairCalendar.com's call for entries page
Does anyone have experience in doing the Mission Federal ArtWalk? I'm just starting out with art fairs and struggling to know how to evaluate which are worth the huge expense to participate (booth fees, travel, lodging, etc.) I am not yet convinced that going out of state can be worth the money required. Any and all wisdom appreciated! (I am a painter so am particularly interested from that perspective as opposed to craft fine art.)
Yes, Michael, I met them at Peoria also. They really seem to have their act together. Did you visit their website? They seem to be deeply inside their community in Little Italy and know how to put an event together with great marketing.
I am aware of what you are talking about. I do not have much experience with West coast events, but I think this may not be unusual. It certainly encourages loyalty to the show, once you are there. Right? If you are truly interested you might query them for a layout. Maybe the other spaces are okay too.
I met the ArtWalk people at the recent Peoria/NAIA conference and they seemed like really nice folks. I was sorely tempted to try the show. However, when I asked about the layout, etc., of the show, they said that returning artists get priority booth locations on the main drag and that first time applicants usually get a side street. And returning artists also get priority in the jurying over new applicants. I'm not going to drive 2500 miles round trip to watch the crowds go by down the block!
Comments
I am aware of what you are talking about. I do not have much experience with West coast events, but I think this may not be unusual. It certainly encourages loyalty to the show, once you are there. Right? If you are truly interested you might query them for a layout. Maybe the other spaces are okay too.