Art Show Stand-outs
Outdoor Art Shows
Outdoor shows and
"Mall" shows populate the countryside. To get experience, you
can simply try a local show in your town or area. They usually have small
fees, you can set up a table and displays of your art with mat, backing and a
presentation bag in bins and on some sort of backdrop. Your purpose is not
to make a million dollars; it is to see how it works, what others do and how
consumers react to your work. From there you can experiment with larger
shows, juried shows that only accept artists that they judge have reached a
certain level of expertise and shows produced by a company specializing in art
shows. You can then expand as far as you wish. The secret is experience.
Some shows just will not work with your art. Some geographical areas are better
for you than others. Different times of the year yield different results.
It is a journey and only the strong and brave stay on the path. However,
it can be a great supplemental income or even a vocation. The hard part
and, for some people, the best part is that you are your own boss.
Below are just a few
shows the have great reputations. They are annual shows. They have a
long tradition and they are quite large.
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States
College, PA
www.arts-festival.com
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The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts brings over
125,000 people to downtown State College and the University Park campus
of Penn State to celebrate the arts with its nationally recognized
Sidewalk Sale and Exhibition, gallery exhibition, sand sculpture and
music, dance and theatrical performances in a variety of traditional and
non-traditional venues.
Show is during annual during July.
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Ann Arbor
Art Fair
www.artfair.org/
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The Ann Arbor
Art Fair, which is composed of 4 independent fairs, draws more than
1,000 artists and, promoters claim, more than half a million visitors
over 4 days during July.
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Boardwalk Art
Show and Festival, Virginia Beach VA
www.cacv.org/outdoor-art-shows/boardwalk-art-show
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In its 57th
year, the Virginia Beach show is held in June but applications must be
in by January. It is estimated that the show receives 350,000 visitors
and sells over $2 million in art sales.
In 2008, prize money for
artists reached over $30,000.
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Coconut Grove
Arts Festival
www.coconutgroveartsfest.com/
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Held in
February, Coconut Grove showcases the works of over 360 artists and
craftsmen. 2012 will be its 49th year.
It is estimated that in 2011, over 4 million dollars of artwork
was sold in the three days at the show!
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Toronto
Outdoor Art Exhibition (TOAE)
www.torontooutdoorart.org/
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This show is
in it's 50th year and with an estimated 100,000 visitors is rated the
largest juried outdoor art exhibition in Canada.
A non profit, TOAE does not take any percentage or artists sales
and has over $30,0000 in prices.
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Atlanta
Dogwood Festival
www.dogwood.org/
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Spring in the
South. This April, 3 day
show is 75 years old and is an Atlanta landmark itself.
Bring your walking shoes. This
sprawling show hosts a diverse group of 250 artists in its "Artist
Market" plus lots of music, comedy and food in Piedmont Park.
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Art in the
Village. Washington Square
Outdoor Art Exhibit
http://wsoae.org/
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Celebrating
their 81st year. This New
York City show is actually held twice a year at Memorial Day and Labor
Day. The show is in the
heart of Greenwich Village!
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Genoa Candy
Dance Arts & Crafts Faire
www.genoanevada.org
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Nevada's
oldest town, founded 1851, and home of
the 91 year old Candy Dance Arts and Crafts Faire!
This Nevada hamlet (population 225) entertains 30000+ shoppers,
serves 4000 pounds of candy
and has 350 arts & crafts and food vendors at this two day September
show!
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These a just a few of
the art shows I am acquainted with. There
are a cornucopia of shows at all local, state, regional and national levels.
Go to an art show. See what
is presented. Notice how it is
presented. Most or these shows are
free or almost free and are an opportunity to learn while having fun.
