The Hawk Makerspace asked Cultural Arts Programmer, Karla Aren, for all of her best tips and tricks when applying to art fairs like ART on the GRAND and the Michigan Makers Market

 

Introduction

If you’ve been wanting to apply to an art or craft fair, but don’t know where to start, look no further: on October 18^th, Farmington Hills will once again host its Michigan Makers Market at The Hawk! This free-to-attend event is hosted in mid-October each year, and the Michigan Makers Market is a great way to kick off fall and the gift-giving season. Keep reading to find out how to make your artist’s application stand out among other high caliber original artwork and crafts!

Preparing Your Photographs

Photos are one of the most essential components of a stellar application! Once you have built up your stock of high-quality pieces of work that are unique to your medium or category (ceramics, glass, woodworking, jewelry, etc), it is paramount to take professional-looking photographs of your work. You don’t need to be a pro or have a special camera to take a decent and marketable photo! Whether you’re using a digital camera or even your cell phone’s camera, the following tips can help you achieve great results:

 

•       Place your work against a neutral-toned, plain or minimal background.

 

•       Look at your work in the frame of your shot, but also pay special attention to everything else that is included within the frame. Remove any distracting elements visible in the background like chairs, cups, garbage cans, etc. so the focus remains on your artwork.

 

•       Ensure your artwork is adequately lit to highlight every detail of your piece. Light boxes are a great tool to help you achieve photo-ready lighting- The Hawk Makerspace has a light box and tripods available for use during our hours of operation. Reach out to makerspace@fhgov.com for more details!

 

•        It should go without saying, but make sure your images are clear and not blurry.  You want to make it as easy as possible for the jurors to determine the quality of your artwork. 

 

•       Take images of multiple pieces that show the full scope of your craft and what types of different items patrons can expect to see in your booth.

 

 

Show Off your Setup

For many shows, including the Michigan Makers Market, you will also need a quality photo of your booth setup.  If this will be your first show, do your best to set up a mockup display at home and photograph that (or include a detailed sketch of your intended setup). Jurors like to give new artists a chance, so do what you can to show them that you are well-prepared! You can use any photos you take to help you write descriptions of your products. Make sure to use proper grammar and provide well-thought-out details for your product descriptions and biography. A thoughtful, succinct bio that provides enough information to know what to expect but still generates curiosity about your body of work is best. If you’re struggling to come up with a bio, try looking at the bio section on the websites of artists you look up to for inspiration!

 

 

Set Yourself Up for Success

When applying and setting up for your first craft fair, there are several things you can do for yourself beforehand that will set you up for success:

 

•           If you can, speak up for your ideal placement in the special needs/requests area: ask to be along a wall (for your display), near a restroom, near a friend, near the entrance… it’s never guaranteed, but it doesn’t hurt to ask to be put in the best spot for you!  

 

•           Make sure your photos showcase your work as best you can. You will have a better chance of being selected as a vendor, and your photos will stand out in any promotional flyers or posts!

 

•           Try to have a variety of types of art/crafts, and a range within each category. Price to sell your work at different price points! This will make you stand out as an applicant, and as a vendor at the fair itself.

 

•           Brand your work to make your space look more professional and inviting. Signs, branded packing materials, and business cards go a long way. We have several machines at The Hawk Makerspace that can help you tackle branding!

 

•           Once your application is accepted, practice setting up your table or booth at home before the fair. Maximize your visibility and use of space by applying height variation among your displays with racks, boxes, shelves, screens, or easels. Practice what it will be like to physically sell the work, and make sure your setup works for you ergonomically. Remember: your work will sell better if it is clean and organized with clear pricing! Having items with a range of prices is best.

 

Now You're Ready to Apply

The Michigan Makers Market submission deadline is August 31^st, and the event itself will take place on Saturday, October 18^th from 10am-4pm. 

 

Artists may apply online. If the online application is not working for you, try opening it on a different web browser. A minimum of one digital image must be entered per artist, but more are appreciated! Images must be of good quality at 300 dpi or better and saved as .JPEG, .GIF, .PNG or .PDF format. There is no application fee; however, if accepted into the fair, there will be an exhibit fee of $75. Tables, chairs, and nametags are provided for accepted artists - you bring organizers, racks or hanging/display infrastructure. 

 

Artists will be notified by email by September 10 whether they have been selected for the Michigan Makers Market. 

 

Visit this link to apply: https://form.jotform.com/243095720588161

 

Good luck!