I wanted to recommend the Mundelein Arts Festival in Mundelein, Illinois being held September 8-9, 2012. This is the second year and although new shows carry risks, this show is very well run. There were people to aid in set-up and take down with the ability to drive up to your allocated space. There were many volunteers willing to watch your booth at any time and bringing water around constantly. The local McDonald's provided breakfast each day for free and volunteers would get it for you while setting up.
I had good sales at the show - exceeding $3500 (not bad for my first show). There are purchase awards from local businesses, as well as awards for a 2-d and 3-d artist.
The show is community run and also donates scholarship money to a student in the local public high school as well as the local Catholic high school. A nice way to give back and support the upcoming generation of artists. The high schools have an exhibition booth (not selling so no competition just more traffic) and it is great to talk to the younger hopefuls!
Worth checking out - you'd never know this was a "new" show with the level os artist support and overall organization! www.mundeleinartsfestival.com
Comments
That weekend is a prime weekend for shows, though. The weekend after Labor Day is one of the busiest weekends in the entire season. There are so many better known alternatives. If she wants to attract artists to a newer show, considering moving it to a weekend with fewer choices, for example the following weekend, or the last weekend of September. Shows tend to cluster on the first weekend of the month (September is a little different because of the Labor Day holiday) , while other perfectly good weekends go begging.
On the weekend this is scheduled, for example, I have loads of very good choices; on the following weekend, Sept 15-15, hardly any. Only 3 (good to okay) shows in the Chicago area, and very little within a reasonable driving distance. I am always looking for alternatives for that weekend, and the last weekend, and seldom find anything.
And what about the first weekend of October? Nothing going on up here, and as beautiful fall is just getting started. Give me some alternative to St. James Court.
Thanks for the review Michelle and congrats on very decent sales!
Thank you ladies for the recommendations. I am getting back into the show circuit and am looking for some good leads. I am located in Crystal Lake, IL and will check this one out!
http://joliechicago.com
I was next to Michelle at an art show last yr (she won 1st place, btw, ahem ;-) and she told me about the show. As someone who has done shows for over 25 yrs, you can tell that these people "get it". They are always striving every yr to quickly and thoroughly work out any issues (if there are any) to really make this a fantastic show. Not just a group taking our money in fees and then walking away. (Michelle is also a veterinarian and really helped me out with info for my dog's, very frustrating allergies. ;)
Sounds good. Thanks for the recommendation.
This show has potential. Its location is surrounded by both middle and upper middle class suburbs. While last year's quality was a little uneven, I think that is understandable as it was the first year. As Michelle said, it is well supported by the community with the purchase awards and cash prizes. Parking for patrons was close by and the show was easy to navigate. The artists I spoke with were enthusiastic about the show.