20th Annual
Bluff Country Studio Art Tour
Participant Application 2021

Location:  SE Minnesota
Phone:   651-307-6373 (Sue)
Event Dates:  April 23-25, 2021
Application Deadline:  November 15, 2020

Please read entire application completely for submission requirements and artist performance requirements.

The 20th Annual Bluff Country Studio Art Tour is open to artists/studios in southeastern Minnesota. Artists from southwestern Wisconsin and northeastern Iowa may apply to be hosted at a Minnesota artist site or our group site in Lanesboro.   This is a studio tour and our preference is for artists to open their studios to the public to demonstrate and show visitors their work process.  Artists with studios not handicap accessible or conducive to tours are encourage to apply as an artist at our hosted location in Lanesboro. (space is limited and an additional fee for center rental applies - rental fee is split between all artists participating at this location, generally under $40). Other hosted locations may be considered but require prior review and approval (use phone number above)

Categories/Fees: (fees are non-refundable)
Emerging Artist - $120 (see category requirements below)
Visiting Artist** - $150
New Established Artist - $225
Returning Artist - $240
Year Around Gallery* (representing 2 - 24) artists - $300
Year Around Gallery* (representing 25 or more artists) - $350
Optional Additional Brochure Photo - $25
Late Applications - additional $25

If you are a 2020 participatant who opted to roll your fees to the 2021 tour, your 2021 fees will be 25% of those listed above.

 
*BCSAT may tour applying gallery locations before acceptance into event
**Visiting Artists present their work at another artist's studio (not allowed at Lanesboro Community Center site). They receive a mention in the brochure, website and social media posts with their host artist's listing but photos, artist statement and contact information are not included.

Emerging Artist Category - This category is designed specifically for artists who have little or no experience exhibiting and selling their artwork in an art fair/tour environment.  Artists who meet this requirement are encouraged to apply, however BCSAT reserves the right to pre-screen emerging artists to make sure they fit this category.  The application procedure is the same as the regular applicants except that a 2000 character (including spaces) essay about why they want to participate in BCSAT and why they should be selected as our emerging artists is required.  Emerging artists will be provided a location to display their work in the Lanesboro group site or may display at their studio location. Only one Emerging Artist will be selected so artists who wish to participate in the tour even if not selected as our emerging artist should indicate they wish to participate as a NEW ARTIST if not selected using the checkbox where indicated.

Process:
Applications are due by November 15, 2020. Jury of Emerging, Visiting and New artists will be completed by November 15th and those artists will be notified.  Due to COVID and a desire to remain flexible, we will delay payment due date until January of 2021. Email invoices for participation fees will be sent to all artists at that time. Since some 2020 participants opted to roll their fees to 2021, there will be avariety of payment amounts due for 2021 and this seems like the easiest way to keep it all straight.

Artists Receive:
Each artist and gallery receive a page on the tour website with site specific information and a slideshow of work, as well as their location shown on our website tour map. Our brochure provides a map of the entire tour, each artist is listed with one photo and location information. Brochures are mailed to approximately 11,000 addresses of past patrons and an additional 5,000 are distributed by participating artists and local businesses, visitor's centers, art festivals, and art organizations. Additionally, the tour is promoted in print ads, TV and radio promotions, local chamber promotions and social media. Each artist is expected to provide a mailing list for the tour mailing and distribute brochures to potential attendees.

Image Requirements:
Each artist shall provide 6-10 high res. 300dpi photos with a maximum of 1920 px on the longest side. These photos will be used to jury new and emerging artists, for the artist's slideshow on our website, brochure and ad design as well as social media promotions.

Quality photographs are extremely important. The majority of photos should be of artist's current work, however please also include 1-2 photos of the artist working.

Images should be titled with the Gallery name or artist's last name and image number (ex. - Pariseau1).  If you have a preference what photo is used for the brochure image, use name & brochure (ex. - PariseauBrochure).  If you don't have a preference, our brochure designer will select a photo they feel fits best with the brochure design.

COVID - 19

We encourage all participating locations to give thought to ways to make their site safer for both them and visitors. Whether it is rearranging the studio to allow for one way traffic, installation of barriers or presenting work outside, make feasible changes that will provide a safer and therefore better attended experience.  

We have applied for a grant to improve our ability to safely present the tour but we won't know for a couple months yet if we will receive that funding. 

Application

EMERGING ARTISTS ONLY

all others click NEXT at bottom of page

Photo uploads

Image Requirements:
Each artist shall provide 6-10 high res. 300dpi photos with a maximum of 1920 px on the longest side. These photos will be used to jury new and emerging artists, for the artist's slideshow on our website, brochure and ad design as well as social media promotions. Quality photographs are extremely important. The majority of photos should be of artist's current work, however please include 1-2 additional photos of the artist working.

 

Images should be titled with the Gallery name or artists last name and image number (ex. - Pariseau1). If you have a preference what photo is used for the brochure image, use name & brochure (ex. - PariseauBrochure). If you do't have a preference, our brochure designer will select a photo they feel fits best with the brochure design.

Acknowledge and Agreement

 

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund. As such, preference is given to returning and Minnesota artists. Out of state artists wishing to participate are encouraged to participate by being hosted at a Minnesota artist's site or the group site in Lanesboro MN (additional costs may be associated with hosted sites).

Bluff Country Studio Art Tour is run entirely by volunteer participating artists.

All artists assist with distributing brochures and are asked to assist with tour planning activities by picking up tour materials in a timely manner, attending meetings, providing opinions, tour promotions, and committee activities. A wide range of volunteer opportunities are available with varied time commitments. 

 

BCSAT Policies:

1.  Application deadline is November 15, 2020.
2.  Participation fees are due January 15, 2021.
3.  All application fees are non-refundable.
4.  Emerging, New Artists and Visiting Artists will be juried and event organizers reserve the right to pre-screen for eligibility.
5. All participants are encouraged to carry appropriate liability insurance to have the public visiting their studio or showing their work at their location of participation.
   
6. All proceeds of sales belong to the artist/gallery and each artist/gallery is responsible for collecting and reporting sales tax.
7. All participating locations must be open during all tour hours Friday - Sunday 10am - 5pm.
8. All participants agree to allow BCSAT to use information and photos for promotional purposes.
9. All work displayed at artist locations must be the work of the participating artist and similar in nature to the photos submitted with application.  Guest artists are not allowed unless they have also applied and been approved through the jury process as Visiting Artists.
   
10. Hosted locations other than the Lanesboro Community Center or another participating artists studio are subject to approval by the BCSAT application committee.  Proposed sites must be handicap accessible and must not have other items for sale by persons not participating in the tour.
11. Gallery locations may have demonstrating artists in the gallery during the tour weekend. These demonstrating artists must be artists represented at the gallery prior to the tour dates.
12. Failure to comply with these policies may result in participant prohibited from participating in future tours.

 

Payment

Invoices for participation fees will be emailed to participants in January 2021 outlining how and when payment is due.