Artist information

ARTIST CALENDAR:

February, 2008:
Printed Fair applications distributed

May 5, 2008:
Application postmark deadline

June 2, 2008:
Artist's notification letters will be mailed

September 4 and 5, 2008:
Artist check in and set up

September 5, 6, and 7, 2008:
2008 A Fair in the Park

Please read through the information below before completing your application and booth request. Thanks!

Artist Submission Check List:

2008 Completed Application Form

$25.00 check for application fee and $250.00 check for booth fee.
($300. for artists that would like a corner booth.)
Separate and Each made Payable to:
Craftsmen's Guild of Pittsburgh

One business size (#10) envelope, self addressed and stamped ($0.60 or more) for notification.

Four (4) slides of artwork (all clearly marked with name, medium, numbered 1 - 4, and labeled "top").

One (1) slide of booth display with work visible (clearly marked with name, numbered #5 and labeled "top").

Artist biography, statement and digital images for press and publicity materials.

Booth Request Form and Artist Setup Form. (see rules on participation)

Booth Displays in Mellon Park:

Mellon Park is an intimate location for a contemporary art and craft festival. In 1909, one of the most impressive mansions built in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania was the 65-room Richard Beatty Mellon House on the 11 acres of land bordering Fifth Avenue, Shady Avenue and Beechwood Boulevard. This land is now known as Mellon Park. Richard Beatty Mellon's family had a deep love of the outdoors and flower gardens. Their Rose Garden still exists in Mellon Park today and is the site of the Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition during A Fair in the Park. Although the mansion was torn down in 1941, the carriage house remained and is now the Phipps Garden Center.

In 2006 A Fair in the Park decided to take advantage of this quaint historical park, spreading out the Participating Artist's booths. The benefit of this change was that it not only provided artists with a larger booth space, but that it also provided nontraditional booth spaces that can be unusually shaped, have undulations, and/or trees throughout.
Section 1 (Rows A - H) of our layout remained your typical flat field where each Artist has a box space lined up in rows.
Section 2 (Rows I - L) became an area of potential unique features where artists could take full advantage of this gorgeous property and be more creative with their display.

In response to this layout change, Artists have created incredible booths using no canopies but only pedestals. Others have used traditional pop-up canopies, but have elected to spread their work out by requesting a corner space. Artists applying to A Fair in the Park can enclose a Booth Request Form with their application to indicate which section of the park they prefer to set up their display. Artists should view our 2008 Booth Layout to aid in their booth location preference. We encourage artists with wildly innovative, contemporary work to think "out of the box" when selecting their booth area and location. It is important for artists to remember however that Booth assignments are made at the discretion of the festival.

Rules on Participation:

1. All booths must be set up for the full length of A FAIR IN THE PARK. Each artist is responsible for providing his/her own booth or display unit. We recommend that these units have provisions for inclement weather. Shelter is not available in the park. Electricity is not provided for lighting and generators are not permitted.

2. Artists are permitted to load in to the festival only during their scheduled load in time. To request a specific time, please include the Artist Setup Form with your application. If this form is not included with your application and you are accepted into A FAIR IN THE PARK, a load in time will be assigned to you.

3. Vehicles are NOT permitted on the grounds of A FAIR during the advertised hours of the event to the public. Vehicles are permitted on the paved walkways through out the park during load in and load out. Vehicles are NOT permitted to park on the park grass. Artists that disregard this rule will be removed from participating in A FAIR IN THE PARK.

4. All work must be conceived, designed and executed by the participating artist.

5. The artist whose work is on exhibit and for sale must be present for all three (3) days of the show. Proxy or stand-in exhibitors/agents are not allowed.

6. Agents, dealers, production studios or vendors of commercial or mass produced items are not permitted including items such as imports, plants, velvet paintings, manufactured or kit jewelry, ceramics set from commercial molds, art supplies, decoupage.

7. Photo mechanical (offset) reproductions may not exceed 25% of the work offered for sale and must be clearly signed and numbered in such a way that leaves no doubt they are reproductions.

8. Any accepted artist who does not notify A FAIR staff in advance of cancellation may not be accepted into future FAIR shows.

9. Artists that fail to cooperate with A FAIR committee or follow the rules of participation as set forth in this application will not be accepted into future A FAIR shows.

Application Procedure for Special Situations:

1. A maximum of two artists may share a booth. Each artist must submit a set of five (5) slides and a $25. application fee. One check for $250. must also be submitted. Please indicate on each entry form who will be sharing the booth. Also indicate if either applicant will participate in A FAIR if the other is not accepted.

2. Artists may apply for one 11'X12' space only. End spaces or corner booths are $300. Artists that would like a corner booth must include a check for $300. with their application. There are 32 available corner spaces for the 2008 A Fair in the Park.

3. Each artist may exhibit only work in the medium for which they have been accepted. To exhibit work in more than one medium, an artist must submit five (5) slides in each category of work and include a $25. application fee for each category.

4. 2D visual art such as: Photographs, etchings, lithographs, silk-screens and paintings are welcome although they are not titled crafts.

5. A Fair in a Park considers an artist's choice of booth location if the artist has a handicap or physical disability that prevents them from accessing certain areas of the park. A Fair in the Park also has Booth Request Forms in which artists are able to suggest a specific area and location for their booth.