Artfest Exhibitor Information
Are you an artist considering applying to our show? Jurying for the 2008 show is complete, but you can find general application information below. Be sure to send us your contact information (via the "Contact Us" form in the "Contact Us" tab so that we can send you an application this fall for the 2009 show!
Show Background
The Boston Mills Artfest is a nationally recognized fine art and fine craft show. 2008 marks the 37th consecutive year that the Artfest will be held at Boston Mills Ski Resort, nestled in the scenic Cuyahoga Valley National Park midway between Cleveland and Akron.
Artfest consists of two separate shows held on two consecutive weekends. Artists are not allowed to exhibit in both shows. A Preview Night is held each weekend so that Artfest patrons can purchase art while sampling wines and hors d'oeuvres.
Each year, the Artfest is publicized extensively. More than 50,000 postcards are sent out to let art patrons know about the current show's dates and times. Cleveland Magazine prints the show programs and inserts copies into their June issue for distribution. Boston Mills also cultivates media and corporate partnerships to maximize our print, radio, and television advertising.
Of course, positive word-of-mouth from satisfied customers is our best publicity, so we appreciate the continued efforts of our exhibitors to please the Boston Mills patrons!
Setup
Most of the display spaces are located inside four large clear-span tents, with the remainder of the spaces positioned in an outdoor area for those who prefer to use their own display tents. Only the indoor spaces have access to electricity, which is limited to 400 watts per booth. Outdoor spaces do not have access to electricity. Personal generators are not permitted.
Space dimension and pricing vary, depending on location. A map showing available spaces is printed on the inside of this application. Artists will not be permitted to expand past the specified dimensions. Please indicate your space preference in the appropriate portion of the application. We try to accommodate all requests but reserve the right to place applicants where needed to maintain a balanced show.
Requirements
Applicants must create 100% of all work displayed. Reproductions must be signed and numbered and cannot make up more than 20% of the display. Reproductions must be presented, either framed or matted, in portfolios/bins. Reproductions cannot be displayed on walls. No open editions allowed. Unacceptable items are: Imported work of any type, any work created by a person other than the exhibitor, "Art on a Stick" of any kind, greenware pottery, sculpture from molds, mass-produced factory art and jewelry, and any other items deemed by the Director to not fall within the spirit of our requirements.
Each exhibitor must be present for the entire show, including Preview Night. If accepted as a collaboration, both artists must be present. Each exhibitor is responsible for the sale of his/her work. No agents are permitted. Prices must be clearly displayed on all items. There are no commissions charged by the organizers on any sales. Boston Mills will provide overnight security during the show. Pets are not permitted on the grounds. Upon request, contact information for local kennels will be provided.
Exhibitors will be permitted to exhibit only the specific type of work accepted by the jury of selection. If entering multiple categories, submit separate applications, envelopes and slides for each category. Jewelry, for example, cannot be exhibited with another medium without being screened and accepted by the jury of selection.
Final interpretation of these requirements will be at the discretion of the Director.
All participating exhibitors are eligible for show awards and will be asked to submit one original work from their display for the Awards Judges to review. Each weekend, judges will award three Awards of Excellence ($1000 each) and Best of Category awards ($250 each) for a total of $7,750 in cash awards given out per show.
Jury of Selection
The selection of exhibitors is the duty of the jury of selection. Jurors are changed annually and are chosen by the Director from past award-winning exhibitors and other outstanding working artists.
The Artfest Director, Ron Beahn, will serve as the jury foreman. The jury of selection will select 160 artists for each weekend of the Boston Mills Artfest, less the number of exempt artists who are confirmed for each show.
Standby exhibitors are also selected during the jury process. The Director will add standby artists to the show by medium to maintain balance when openings become available.
The 2008 Fine Art Jury:
Patricia Hecker (IN) - Mixed Media, Tom Hale (MI) - Acrylic/Oil, Fred Graff (OH) - Watercolor, Deborah Hoover (MI) - Watercolor, David Petlowany (OH) - Sculpture, (alt) Chris Coffey (OH) - Multiple Images
The 2008 Fine Craft Jury:
Bonnie Blandford (MI) - Jewelry, Jane Frenke (WV) - Fiber, Michael Kifer (MI) - Clay, Earl James (OH) - Glass, Peter Czuk (MI) - Furniture, (alt) Michael Martell (OH) - Clay
How to Apply
Applications for the 2008 Boston Mills Artfest will be accepted in the following mediums: Traditional Acrylic/Oil, Conceptual Acrylic/Oil, Watercolor, Jewelry, Wood, Graphics/Drawing, Multiple Images (digital and photography), Glass, Whimsical, Sculpture, Clay, Wearable Fibers, Furniture, Metal, Mixed
Media, Non-Wearable Fibers
Applicants must submit 5 professional quality color 35 mm slides of their work and 1 slide of their booth display. Print your name and medium on each slide, and place a red dot in the lower left hand corner. Number the slides in the lower right hand corner to correspond with the descriptions on the entry card and place in a plastic sleeve.
When completing the application, give a brief description of each slide pertaining to construction, actual materials used, method, etc. Incomplete application forms will have a negative effect on the scoring process.
Do not attach or staple any material to your application. No other envelopes, packages or boxes will be accepted. No photos or samples of work will be reviewed or returned. The artist (or artists, if a collaboration) should sign the form once it has been completed.
A screening fee of $25 (US) is required and must be submitted along with your six slides. A $15 additional fee and a separate form are required for each additional category entered. If you need a convenient way to submit your materials, you can order the ARTPRO Secure Mailer at artprollc.com.
Exempt artists need only submit the slides and completed entry card, so that the jury of selection is made aware of what artwork has already been accepted into each category. Exempt artists are 2006 June Show cash award winners, 2007 cash award winners from both shows, and 2008 jurors. Artists receiving honorable mentions are not exempt but will have 3 points added to their final jury score.
Do NOT submit payment for a display space now. Payment for display space is due after acceptance, at which time you will also need to submit $10 for a vendor permit from Boston Township and apply on your own for a Transient Vendor's License from the State of Ohio for sales tax purposes, for $25. If accepted exhibitors do not pay their space fee by April 30, that space will be reassigned. No space fee refunds will be issued after May 15th.
Click here to download a PDF version of our 2008 show application. (Approx. 1.2M in size.) If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 800-875-4241, ext. 6, or send an email to us at: info@bmbw.com
A Word from Ron Beahn
As many of you know, we were planning to switch to a digital, online management system for the 2008 Boston Mills Artfest. The new system will encompass everything from the artist application to the actual jurying process and notification of results. It will also have to be compatible with our in-house ticketing software, network and website--all of which needed to be upgraded this year as well, due to changing computer technology.
When dealing with a project this large, fixing one glitch seems to result in the need to tweak several other areas. We soon found ourselves at the end of October without a fully functional digital Artfest system. We feel that the jurying process is really the heart of the Boston Mills Artfest. As such, we will not launch the new system until it has been thoroughly tested and meets our expectations 100%. We will also not trust the Boston Mills Artfest jurying to an outside vendor.
As a result, we will be relying on the old 35mm slide application process for just one more year. Please be prepared to submit your slides digitally next fall--and thank you to the many artists who have provided us input on digital applications during this changeover.