• 2021 A Fair of the Arts Vendor Application

    The priority deadline for the 2021 A Fair of the Arts Season is Friday, April 5th. All applications received after this date will be placed on our waitlist. Artists will only be called off the waitlist if there are cancellations. 

    Please read the text in full before submitting your application. 

  • Local art and fine craft artisans are invited to apply to be a vendor during the 2021 A Fair of the Arts season. 

    A Fair of the Arts is a celebration of art and community with displays, sales, and demonstrations of visual arts and fine crafts by local and regional artists held in various Bloomington Parks and Recreation owned spaces.  

    The deadline to apply for the 2021 A Fair of the Arts season is Friday, April 5th at 5 p.m. to receive full consideration.  All applicants applying after this date will be placed on a waiting list. We will contact artists from the waitlist as cancellations occur.  

     For questions about A Fair of the Arts please contact Crystal Ritter, event coordinator,  at 812.349.3962 or ritterc@bloomington.in.gov. 

  • A Fair of the Arts vendors are selected through a jury process. The jury will be comprised of four to six local individuals who have vested interest in A Fair of the Arts and/or the local arts. The jury will select artists based on the following criteria.

    • product guidelines (listed below) 
    • style of work (category) 
    • quality of work
    • price range
    • variety of artist mediums represented

    We consider all the applications carefully based on the images you submit and your own description of your work. Please take time and put consideration into the pictures and descriptions that you provide to our jury. 

    Artists may be placed initially in a minimum of 2 shows and a maximum of 5 shows. This is to allow us to feature a diversity of artists and products at each event.

    All accepted artists will be placed on a waitlist for shows that they are not initially placed in and we will call artists from the waitlist to fill cancellations. We will try to fill cancellations with an artist of a similar style of work first. 

    Product Guidelines:

    • All work must be original and made by the applicant.
    • Significant alteration of commercial components in any work is required.
    • Work must be safe, be a durable (not consumable) good, and exhibit a quality of craftsmanship.
    • If work is made from or includes dried flowers and/or herbs, the flowers and/or herbs must be grown by the applicant.

    Unacceptable work includes:

    • Work made from kits. 
    • Work made from molds not made by the applicant.
    • Work made by someone other than the applicant (including commercially made products, imports, and products bought for resale). 
    • Any work that could be considered paraphernalia. 

    Criteria for Selecting Artists:

    • Product meets guidelines established above.
    • Quality of work: Works will be juried based on application materials submitted including the photos, description of work, and product sample (for personal care artists).
    • Price range: Pieces available for sale should be reasonably priced.
    • Applications will be divided into 10 categories:
      - clay
      - metalwork/woodwork
      - drawing/painting/photography
      - natural materials
      - fiber arts
      - personal care
      - glass
      - recycled art
      - jewelry
      - surface decoration

    Artists must choose ONE category which best represents the majority of the product created and sold. This is the category in which artwork will be juried. Provide images of sample products only in this category. A minimum of 80% of the product you sell must be within this category. If you wish to sell equally in multiple categories, please submit a separate application for each including separate photos and application fees.

    Personal Care artists must submit a product sample to the jury by the application deadline. Samples may be dropped off in person or mailed to the below address. 

    Attn: Crystal Ritter
    City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department
    401 N. Morton St., Suite 250
    Bloomington, IN 47404

    Site Information: 

    • A Fair of the Arts will take place in a variety locations located on Bloomington Parks and Recreation property in 2021. 
    • A Parks and Recreation staff member (who is certified in CPR/AED and first aid) will be available to answer questions, assist with traffic control and ensure the smooth operation of the Fair.

    Booth and Sales Information:

    • Booth spaces are 10' x 10'. You are required to provide your own tent, tent weights, and display materials. No tables or chairs will be provided or available to rent. 
    • The cost of a booth is $60.00 per Saturday (fair).
    • Commissions are not collected on sales.
    • Although exhibitors are required to be present in their booths, booth sitters are available for restroom breaks.
    • Demonstrations by exhibitors are encouraged with prior approval.
    • Exhibitors wishing to share a booth must submit separate applications and jury into A Fair of the Arts individually. Please note in the special requests section below the full name and/or business that you wish to share a booth with. 
    • All displays must be set up by by the set established time for each event and exhibitors may not tear down until the event is completely over. 

    Timeline:

    • January 22, 2021 - Applications e-mailed and posted online at bloomington.in.gov/afair
    • April 5, 2021 - Application deadline
  • 2021 Artist Application

    Registration Deadline: March 12, 2021
  • Artist Information

  •  -
  • Artist Photo Submission

  • Please include the following by the application deadline (April 5th):

    •  Three (3) photos of your work and one (1) photo of your display for our jury. If you cannot upload photos of your work at this time, please email them to Crystal Ritter at ritterc@bloomington.in.gov. 

    • Personal care category artists: please submit a product sample by mail or in person, Monday thru Friday between 8 am and 5 pm, to the address below.

    Attn: Crystal Ritter
    City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department
    401 N. Morton St., Suite 250
    Bloomington, IN 47404

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  • Application Fee Payment

    The application fee for A Fair of the Arts is $15.00. Payment is due by the application deadline, April 5, 2021. Application fees are non-refundable. Applications without the application fee will not be considered. We apologize, but we are unable to accept American Express.
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  • If you do not wish to pay with a credit card please mail your application fee to the address below. 

    Attn: Crystal Ritter
    City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department
    401 N. Morton St., Suite 250
    Bloomington, IN 47404

    Make checks payable to City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department.

  • After submission, an automated email will be sent to the email provided on this form. Please print for your reference.

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