You haven't heard much from me for awhile because I've been in Pontiac, MI, for the jurying for Arts, Beats & Eats. I have been present for many juries, usually as an administrator, here are some recent observations.
This Spring I've run the jury for both the Great Lakes Art Fair and Arts, Beats & Eats, both in the metro Detroit area.
The Great Lakes Art Fair signed up with zapplication.org. Since this was a new event it was hard to tell if being part of Zapp contributed to the number of applications received. We really had to work hard to put this event together and find artists to take part. There has been this perception among artists that all an art fair has to do is to sign up with Zapp and the applications pour in. This was not our experience. We did receive good applications but believe that the reason for this was our own outreach to the artist community, not because of Zapp's mailings.
Lisa Konikow and I have handled the Arts of Arts, Beats & Eats since l998. This year we signed on with Juried Art Services. It was our first year using a digital system. Contrary to common wisdom in the artist community we did not receive many more applications than the previous year. What we did receive was some applications from some very excellent artists who have not applied to our show before. We are very pleased. Arts, Beats & Eats will look fabulous in 2009 and we will capitalize on these new artists in our publicity and promotion (not forgetting our stalwart stars who have been with us for some time).
We would have thought that an event that has always been in the top 25 art fairs would be known to just about everyone in the business, but somehow this year we have new applicants. I am puzzled by this. Is this because of the Juried Art Services mailing list? What do you think? I'd love to hear your comments.
I love it, Peter. Art's Beats & Eats - never thought of that, although I've heard some other not so kind manipulations of the name, things that .... no, I won't say it.
When I met you at GLAF I think I mentioned that since I live an hour and a half from Pontiac, I had heard of the ABE on the radio etc. I know this sounds like I'm an idiot, but I always thought it was a music festival run by someone named Art. I just started doing shows last summer and I soon realized it was more than that. All I'm saying is that from someone who is not from the area, I was a little confused. I don't know about the Digital system other than it is easier for us to apply and I have gotten regular notices from both services about the upcoming shows. I also know of several artists who are staying away from Michigan right now, even Ann arbor... Personally I like JAS better anyway, it seems like they are more complete for lack of a better word (i.e. artist statement etc.) Hope to see you there!
The numbers are pretty small--we are filling 145 spaces, we had around 225 applications both last year without JAS and 225 this year. Pretty interesting, isn't it?
Disappointing also when you consider that ABE spent a chunk of change to go digital in hopes of increasing their jury pool.
I never believed that the digital jurying systems were really increasing the numbers of applicants for any except the very top art fairs. I know of two other art fairs where their directors told me they only saw a slight increase in applications when they went to Zapp. No, I can't tell you their numbers, Nels.
Both Zapp and JAS have huge mailing lists-- about 20,000 "artists" apiece. When I questioned them on this figure they stood by it.
ok--let us talk numbers--which i find curiously missing in so many blogs--how many did you get for apps before JAS for Arts ,Beats and Eats--and how many did you get now that you went JAS? Do tell--Nels
Comments
~P
When I met you at GLAF I think I mentioned that since I live an hour and a half from Pontiac, I had heard of the ABE on the radio etc. I know this sounds like I'm an idiot, but I always thought it was a music festival run by someone named Art. I just started doing shows last summer and I soon realized it was more than that. All I'm saying is that from someone who is not from the area, I was a little confused. I don't know about the Digital system other than it is easier for us to apply and I have gotten regular notices from both services about the upcoming shows. I also know of several artists who are staying away from Michigan right now, even Ann arbor... Personally I like JAS better anyway, it seems like they are more complete for lack of a better word (i.e. artist statement etc.) Hope to see you there!
Pete
Disappointing also when you consider that ABE spent a chunk of change to go digital in hopes of increasing their jury pool.
I never believed that the digital jurying systems were really increasing the numbers of applicants for any except the very top art fairs. I know of two other art fairs where their directors told me they only saw a slight increase in applications when they went to Zapp. No, I can't tell you their numbers, Nels.
Both Zapp and JAS have huge mailing lists-- about 20,000 "artists" apiece. When I questioned them on this figure they stood by it.