2023 Bluff Country Studio Art Tour Participant Application

22nd Annual
Bluff Country Studio Art Tour
Participant Application 2023
Location: SE Minnesota
Phone: 651-307-6373 (Sue)
Event Dates: April 28-30, 2023
Application Deadline: December 1, 2022

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

The 22nd 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 around $40). Other hosted locations may be considered but require prior review and approval (use phone number above)

Categories/Fees: (fees are non-refundable)

Artist* - $175
Emerging Artist - $100 (see category requirements below)
Year Around Gallery** (representing 2 or more artists) - $350

* The artist category should be used by all individuals whether at their own studio, being hosted at another's studio or presenting at the shared site in Lanesboro (or other shared sites that may become available).
**Gallery applicants must be year around retail businesses presenting the work of two or more artists at their location on an ongoing basis. The gallery category should not be used for a location to invite multiple guest artists to participate in the event. BCSAT may tour applying gallery locations before acceptance into event.

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 s BCSAT emerging artist 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.
Process:
Applications are due by December 1, 2022. Jury of Emerging and new artist or gallery applicants will be completed by December 20th and those artists will be notified. Email invoices for participation fees will be sent to all artists January 1st with payments due January 31, 2023.

Artists Receive:
Each artist and gallery receives 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. We will be mailing oversized post cards to our mailing list and creating a downloadable/printable brochure/map that will be on our website and available at artist locations during the tour. Post cards are mailed to approximately 12,000 addresses of past patrons and an additional 4,000 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 to distribute promotional materials to potential attendees. Lastly, the tour operates a mobile app providing tour information, details on the locations participating and map navigation to those locations. Download the app 'Bluff County Studio Art Tour' from your app store to check it out (it's important to enable location services for the mapping to function properly)

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 info page on our website, print materials 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 featured image, use name & "feature" (ex. - PariseauFeature). If you don't have a preference, our graphoic designer will select a photo they feel fits best with the design need.

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 hope this isn't as much of a topic for 2023 but...

Application
Category *
If not clear what is the appropriate category to apply, feel free to contact Tour Coordinator Sue Pariseau at 651-307-6373
Name *
Business Name *
Studio/Gallery Address *
City *
State *
Zip Code *
Is display location different than address above? *

Yes No
If yes, provide display location
Shared Lanesboro site is 202 Parkway Ave S Lanesboro.
GPS Coordinates (optional)
Phone *
Email Address *
Website URL
Do you have a Facebook page for your art? Add link to your page
Please follow @bluffcountrystudioarttour and we will follow you in return and share your posts as appropriate.
Do you have an Instagram for your art? What's your user name?
Please follow @bluffcountry.studioarttour and we will follow you in return and repost your posts as appropriate.
Medium *
10 words or less
Is location handicap accessible? (this is something that is of the very important to SEMAC, our grant provider and we encourage each location to do everything feasible to provide greater accessibility) *

No (if you have any stairs or doorway isn't wide enough for a wheelchair) Handicap Accessible Handicap Accessible with help
Do you want any of the info above to be kept private? If so what?
Artist Bio *
Please provide a brief statement. this information will be used on our website and social media communications.
Write a paragraph to be used as a social media post to promote your participation in the BCSAT. It should be written in the third person, include the relevant info people need to be able find you and reflect what makes a visit to your studio special.
Example - Stop #1 on the Bluff Country Studio Art Tour is the pottery studio of Sue Pariseau. Sue creates work that is functional, wood fired and has a little spunk. She loves that her pieces can add joy to a users most trivial daily events; morning coffee in your favorite mug, breakfast in a treasured bowl, or pastries on a handmade plate. Handmade things add just a little decadence to daily rituals. During the Bluff Country Studio Art Tour, visit Sue's studio at 40051 County 12, Lanesboro MN. Enjoy the scenic drive to this rural studio surrounded by the areas signature hills, valleys, prairies, trees and a vineyard.
Should the need arise, would you be interested in being interviewed or writing an article for tour promotion

Yes No
Any additional information you want to add?

EMERGING ARTISTS ONLY

all others click NEXT at bottom of page
Emerging Artist Essay

please provide a 2000 character (including spaces) essay explaining why you wish to participate in the Bluff Country Studio Art Tour and why you should be selected as our Emerging Artist of the Year. 0/2000

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 applicants, on the artist's info page on our website, mailers 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. It is also helpful to have photos in various aspects (landscaped, portrait or square ) so there are a variety of sizes and shapes to select from when utilizing photos in our promotions.

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 featured image, use name & "feature" (ex. - PariseauFeature). If you do't have a preference, our graphoic designer will select a photo they feel fits best with the design need.
Photo 1 (required) *

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Photo 2 (required) *

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Photo 3 (required) *

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Photo 4 (required) *

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Photo 5 (required) *

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Photo 6 (required) *

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Additional Photo Submissions (up to 4 additional)

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Up to 4 additional photos of work or artist working may be added here Cancel of

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 RULES:
1. Application deadline is December 1, 2022.
2. Participation fees are due January 31, 2023.
3. All application fees are non-refundable.
4. New participants will be juried and event organizers reserve the right to pre-screen locations 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 to the State of Minnesota.
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 sbmitted 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.
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. Failure to comply with these rules may result in participant being prohibited from participating in future tours.
I understand and agree to follow the above BCSAT rules *

Yes

Payment
Invoices for participation fees will be emailed to participants January 1, 2023 outlining how and when payment is due.
Should be Empty: