2026 Youth Maker Accelerator Application

2026 Handmade Arcade Youth Maker Application

Are you a youth maker or artist between the ages of 13-19? Do you want to sell your products at Pittsburgh's largest holiday shopping market? Apply today to be part of the 2026 Handmade Arcade Holiday Market on December 4-6, 2026 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

Accepted Youth Makers will receive:
- Free 10x10 booth at the Holiday Market (valued at $365)
- $500 materials stipend to make your products
- $75 stipend for event-day expenses (parking, transportation, food, etc.)
- Access to borrow tables, chairs, and display set-up materials from Handmade Arcade
- Coaching & tips from established Handmade Arcade makers
- Four pre-event workshops to prepare for the market
- Promotion on Handmade Arcade's digital outlets
This application will take approximately 30-45 minutes to complete. Your application cannot be saved, so we recommend you prepare your answers on a saved document and then complete this application in one sitting. We recommend you review our Youth Maker Application Rubric before completing your application.

Application Opens: Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Application Deadline: Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM (EST)

Application Notifications: Mid June

We are here for you! If any questions come up as you are filling out this application please email our Education Program Coordinator, at youthmakers@handmadearcade.org
MAKER INFORMATION
First Name*
Last Name*
Pronouns
When may we use these pronouns? Please check all that apply.

In front of parents/guardiansIn front of other Youth MakersIn public social media posts and other marketing materials
Date of Birth*

MonthDayYear
How old are you? *
Where do you/did you attend high school?*
If you are in college, where do you attend?*
Please note preference for Youth Makers will be given to current high school students. College makers are encouraged to apply for Handmade Arcade's Craft Corridor (for new and emerging makers) at the Holiday Market.
Email*
example@example.com
Street Address Line 1*
Street Address Line 2
City*
State / Province*
Postal /Zip Code*
Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.
Primary Parent/Guardian Name:*

First NameLast Name
Primary Parent/Guardian Phone Number:*
Please enter a valid phone number.
Primary Parent/Guardian Email:*
example@example.com
Do you share an address with the Primary Parent/Guardian listed above?

YesNo
Address of Primary/Parent Guardian (if different from applicant's address):

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
APPLICATION TYPE
Have you ever been a Youth Maker at a Handmade Arcade Market?*
If you have been a maker at a previous Handmade Arcade Market, please indicate how you have participated (check all that apply).

Youth MakerHands-On Handmade Arcade Artist or ParticipantOther
MAKER APPLICATION
GUIDELINES

Applicants are encouraged to view our Youth Maker Application Rubric to understand how their applications will be evaluated.

Handmade Arcade defines a "handmade business" as follows:
- Artist(s) created the original products
- No use of mass-produced, trademarked, or licensed items in work
- No use of copyrighted designs artist(s) doesn't own in the work
- No use of purchased, downloaded, or copied images or designs in work
- At least 80% artist's original creation
Addtionally, to qualify for this program:
- Goods must be 95%-100% made by youth maker(s)
- Youth maker(s) must reside in Allegheny County full-time
Applicants who do not fit the definition of "handmade business", do not reside in Allegheny County, and who are not responsbile for 95%-100% of the production of their goods will not be considered.

PLEASE NOTE: Priority will be given to youth makers who have never participated or only for 1 year. After you've participated in the youth maker program for 2 years, we prioritize other youth makers and encourage you to apply through the standard application!
I certify that my work aligns with Handmade Arcade's criteria for a "handmade business."*

YesNo
I certify that I reside in Allegheny County*

YesNo
I certify that 95-100% of the production of my goods is done by me*

YesNo
Business Name
It is not required for you to have a business name when applying for the Youth Maker program, but please share if you have one.
What category do your products best fit into? *
It is not required for you to have a website or social media accounts highlighting your business, but please share if you do! Please do not share personal accounts.
Website
Company website, link to Etsy shop, etc.
Instagram
Please share only business-related social media pages, not personal social media accounts.
Other Social Media
Please share only business-related social media pages, not personal social media accounts.
Have you ever participated in a craft or maker fair to sell your products?*

YesNoOther
What is the price range of the products you would sell at the Holiday Market?
It's okay if you don't know the answer to this yet!
What's the price range for the majority of your products?
It's okay if you don't know the answer to this yet!
APPLICATION RESPONSES
This section of the application involves answering the following:
1. Describe the products you create.
2. What makes your products unique?
3. Describe your creative process and how you make your products.
You can provide this additional information in a written format, voice recording, or video submission.

Applicants are encouraged to view our Youth Maker Application Rubric to understand how their applications will be evaluated.
How would you like to answer the three questions above?*

Written FormatVoice RecordingVideo Submission
Describe the products you will sell if selected for the Holiday Market.*
What makes your products unique?*
Tell us about the innovative materials you use, the creative approach to your products, why each piece is one-of-a-kind, etc.
Describe your creative process. *
Tell us about the materials, tools, skills, and techniques you use to create your products.
Describe the products you create, what makes your products unique, and the creative process you use to make your products. Please make sure you tell us about the materials you use, the creative approach to making, the tools you use, what artistic skills and techniques you use, etc.
Please upload a video showing us the products you create, what makes your products unique, and the creative process you use to make your products. Please make sure you tell us about the materials you use, the creative approach to making, the tools you use, what artistic skills and techniques you use, etc.

Video length must be five minutes or less.
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APPLICATION PHOTOS
GUIDELINES

Applicants must submit a minimum of three (3) and maximum of seven (7) photos. Photos must display your products through clear, well-lit images and should showcase a good variety of your products. Please ensure that images are high-quality, free of text, watermarks, logos and all important details should be clearly seen. If products are small, take care to take quality close-up shots.

Your application photos should not include headshots or studio shots.

Examples of great product photography: H ere, here, and here.
- Maximum File Size: 10 mb
- Allowed File Types: jpg, png
- Photos MUST represent the work you plan to sell if accepted into the Holiday Market.
- Please include only one photo of your booth/table set-up from another market if you have one.
- Please include your business name as the image file name. Example: MyBusiness1.jpg, MyBusiness2.jpg, etc.
Applications without at least three (3) images will not be considered.
Application Photos*

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DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION (optional)
One of Handmade Arcade's strategic plan initiatives is to diversify the makers, attendees, and contractors that participate in all of our programs and services. We invite applicants to share their demographic information so we can better understand if we are succeeding in these goals. The following demographic questions are optional, and responses will be kept private and secure.
What category best describes you? Please feel free to check all that apply.

American Indian or Alaska NativeAsian American/South Asian/AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanic, Latinx or Latino, or Spanish OriginMiddle Eastern or North AfricanNative Hawaiian or Other Pacific IslanderWhite/Caucasian/EuropeanPrefer not to answerOther
What is your age range?
Are you a member of the LGBTQIA2S+ community?
What is your gender?

WomanManNonbinaryAgenderPrefer not to answerOther
Are you a person with a disability (including but not limited to physical, sensory, cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities, chronic conditions, and mental illnesses)?
Is there anything else you want us to know? Feel free to tell us about your skills, hobbies, experiences at past Handmade Arcade events, etc.
Agreements
Applicants who are not accepted into the Youth Maker program may opt-in to receive feedback on their application. If you are not accepted into the program, would you like to receive feedback about your application?*

YesNo
Should be Empty:

MAKER INFORMATION

APPLICATION TYPE

MAKER APPLICATION

APPLICATION RESPONSES

APPLICATION PHOTOS

DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION (optional)

Agreements