YOU MUST READ THE FOLLOWING EVENT INFORMATION. ONCE YOU CLICK SUBMIT AT THE END OF THIS FORM, YOUR ORGANIZATION IS AGREEING TO COMPLY WITH ALL INFO.
EVENT INFORMATION—This serves as a CONTRACT between COMMUNITY BOOTH organization and Twin Steeples Inc.
******** PLEASE READ*******
The Twin Steeples Village Arts Market invites you to apply to our annual juried festival, dedicated to bringing the best of fine arts and fine crafts to historic downtown Ponchatoula, Louisiana, and providing the best in Southern Hospitality for our artists.
www.twinsteeples.org/village-art-market
GENERAL INFORMATION
Sept 30: Registration and Setup begins at 7:00 am. You will receive a specific set up time. Judging of Booths begins promptly at 11 am Friday (one hour before the market opens)
Sept 30: Market opens, noon to 5 pm
Security is provided Friday night from 7pm to Saturday at 7am
Oct 1: Market open 9 am to 5 pm
Oct 1: Packing up prohibited to begin before 4:30 on Oct 1, or you may not be allowed to return next year.
COMMUNITY Booth Fees (non refundable):
$100 for a single booth streetside. No Electricity.
$75 for additional adjacent single booth.
Payment
Booth Fee: Twin Steeples will accept payment through Square on this site, or artists may make their booth check payable to "Twin Steeples Inc." and mail it prior to the due date directly to the following address:
Twin Steeples Creative Arts Center, 220 E. Oak Street, Ponchatoula, LA 70454
Registration and Set-Up
A photo ID must be presented at registration by Artists and Collaborating Artists.
Each exhibiting ORGANIZATIONS must register at the Registration tent on the corner of S. 5th Street and East Oak Street before beginning set-up.
Your Registration Packet contains a vehicle parking pass which will allow you to drive on Magnolia Street for set-up and dismantling. This parking pass is also your access to long-term parking in parking lots designated for Artists and Organizations.
All vehicles must be out of the exhibit area by 11 am Friday.
This is a family-oriented Fine Arts Market for spectators of all ages, and work exhibited must be in keeping with this atmosphere. The Village Arts Market committee reserves the right to remove work that it deems inappropriate.
Exhibitors bear the responsibility for all setup and security needs for their exhibits. NEITHER Twin Steeples Creative Art Center NOR the City of Ponchatoula will be responsible for loss or damage of any kind. Security provided Friday night only.
Festival Information
NONCOMPLIANCE WITH THESE STANDARDS & RULES MAY RESULT IN ELIMINATION FROM THIS YEAR’S AND FUTURE FESTIVALS WITH NO REFUND OF FEES.
The festival is located outdoors on the second block of East Magnolia Street and inside both Galleries of Twin Steeples Creative Arts Center. The festival will be held rain or shine. There will be no rain/contingency plan.
Twin Steeples Village Art Market hours are noon to 5pm Friday and 9am to 5pm Saturday.
Exhibits must be staffed and ready by 11am on Friday and by 8am on Saturday.
Organizations are required to staff their exhibits during Festival hours.
Organizations bear the responsibility for all set-up and security needs for their exhibit. The Market is not responsible for loss, damage, or injury of any kind and does not provide assistance with set-up.
Organizations are required to sign a Market Release Statement. They will not be allowed to set up an exhibit in the Market until Twin Steeples has received the signed Release Statement.
No pets are allowed before, during, or after the Market. No exceptions.
The Market reserves the right, at any time, to adopt, orally or in writing, any additional rule(s) that it deems necessary for the good and welfare of the Market. Such additional rule(s) shall have the same force and authority as though fully incorporated in the Market's Rules.
Organizations must comply with all Market Rules and city, state, and federal laws. Failure to comply may result in the Market prohibiting an Organization from setting up a booth or removing the Organization with no refund and will jeopardize participation in future festivals. Actions taken by the Market in response to an Organization’s failure to comply are within the complete discretion of the Market.
Booth Space
Booth space is 10’x10’.
Organizations must provide their own display booths, tents (ALL WHITE TENTS ONLY), weights to anchor tents, racks, tables, and chairs. Organizations are responsible for the assembly and disassembly of all items and should prepare for the possibility of inclement weather conditions such as strong winds and/or rain. (SEE ATTACHED ARTICLE ON CANOPY SAFETY)
Electricity is not available streetside. Generators are not allowed on the festival site or in the parking areas.
No nails or stakes are allowed to be placed on the street.
Exhibitors must confine themselves to their 10'x10' booth space. Walkways between and/or beside booths remain clear and open for public passage and safety and security reasons. All art, equipment, chairs, etc., are to be contained within the 10’x10’ booth space. No music shall be played inside your booth.
Any demonstrations must be pre-approved by the Market & must be conducted within the Organization’s booth space.
Booth ID signs must be hung on the upper left side of each Organization’s tent or display. Booth ID signs are the Market's property and must be returned at the close of the Market.
Organizations are not allowed to change or swap booths but must occupy the booth and location designated by the Market.
An accepted application is a commitment to show and no refund will be made for cancellations, inclement weather, illness, or any other reason. NO EXCEPTIONS.
No display of previous awards will be allowed.
Judging
Judging will begin promptly at 11am on Friday (One hour before the Market opens) and will continue throughout the day.
Judges reserve the right to travel the show and evaluate the exhibits in the manner they choose. A “spotter” is assigned to follow and assist the judges.
In fairness to all exhibitors, judging will be based solely on items for sale during the Market.
Winners will be presented with award ribbons to be displayed in their booth during the Market.
Awards
$300 – Middendorf’s Best of Show (ARTISTS BOOTHS)
$100 each - 5 Jani-King Awards of Distinction (ARTISTS BOOTHS)
Non-cash - Best Display Award (ARTISTS BOOTHS)
$100 – Best COMMUNITY BOOTH
Hospitality and Amenities
Hospitality will be set up in various locations throughout the Market for daily complimentary refreshments for Vendors of coffee, water, and light snacks.
Volunteers are scheduled during Market hours to assist artists such as booth sitting to allow Artists who are alone in their booths to take a short break. This service is not offered to Community Booths as there is no limit to the number in these booths. If you need assistance, please text or call Market office at (985) 510-0686.
Free, convenient parking
Promotional Flyer to email and post on social media
Any requests or special needs must be made in writing or via email and received no later than September 1. All efforts will be made to honor such requests; however, the committee cannot guarantee that all requests will be granted.
Sales & Taxes
Organizations retain 100% of their sales and are responsible for reporting their own taxes.
Sales taxes required by the City of Ponchatoula, Tangipahoa Parish, and the State of Louisiana and reporting forms will be included in the registration packet.
Evaluation
A Market Evaluation Form will be included in the Registration Packet. Please give us your ideas and input for future shows by completing the evaluation form and handing it to the volunteer who picks up your sign and badge on Saturday at 5pm.
Contact: Executive Director Erin Wallace at ewallace@twinsteeples.org or (985) 510-0686.
Canopy Safety:
By Kathleen Johnson
“The issue with canopy safety is that the tensile and sheer strength of the fasteners provided on the tent, the tensile strength of the rope, the tensile and sheer strength of bucket handles (totally unsuitable), the use of bungee cords (where the hook is very vulnerable) is rarely considered. And the place where you fasten your weight also has a very defined limit and those canopy struts will fail and break under force exceeding their tensile and sheer strength.
The key is that the wind pressure is a squared function of the speed. Pressure from a 30 mph wind speed is nine times more than the pressure created by a 10 mph wind speed (30 mph2/10 mph2 = 900/100 = 9 times more force). A tent can feel relatively stable and perform well under light winds, but a gust of 30 mph suddenly requires the provided weights to resist 900% more force. As wind speeds increase, this incremental increase continues to grow.
A 15 mph wind creates a 350lb force on the side of the tent and the upward forces are greater.
Weights and canopy tie-downs should be safely secured - “safely,” meaning that the method used to secure the canopy does not create its own safety hazards:
· Weights should not cause a tripping hazard
· Weights should be tethered with lines that are clearly visible
· Weights should have soft edges to avoid causing cuts and scrapes
· Weights should be securely attached
· Weights should be on the ground (NOT above people’s heads)
Canopies are used at markets to shield vendors and their products from sun and rain, but unpredictable winds can come up at any moment creating a safety hazard if the canopy is not properly secured.
Sufficiently weighted canopies will have at least 50 pounds per leg. One canopy manufacturer recommends at least 40 pounds on each corner of a 10x10 tent; double that on a 10x20 tent. 50 pounds should be used for umbrellas. Weights for signs will vary depending on the size of sign.
Always Be Prepared
§ You should always have your canopy secure.
§ Setting your canopy weight with an air gap underneath (1" is what I set mine at) moves the center of gravity of the tent downward to 50 percent.
§ The tensile strength of rope used is recommended, by some national standards, to be 300 to 350lbs. Rope packets are clearly marked.
§ Vented canopies abate some of the upward pressure.
§ Added cross bracing can help stabilize a canopy.
§ Never put on your canopy sides if winds are projected to be over 15mph.
§ Horse Shoe weights have been highly problematic and easily come off canopy legs despite some recent adaptions. In fact, I was at a Festival and watched a canopy lift in the air, flip, and propelled the horse shoes weights off the legs and at great speed and distance. They are dangerous and should be banned from use unless adapted for fixed placement on the legs of the canopy.”