At GNCCF, we show designer-makers at the top of their game as well as the best of what’s new. Many make us the first step into national craft events.

We welcome applications from designers, makers, and artists working in ceramics, jewellery, glass, basket-making, silver and metal smithing, book-making, paper, stationary, wood, plastics, mixed media, furniture, fashion textiles and accessories, fashion design, shoe design, millinery, leather, interior textiles and home-wares, product design, and printmaking. Applications must be from the designer-maker and work must not be mass-produced. We do not accept imported goods, not made by you.

We do not accept painting, drawing, graphic design, photography or greeting card makers, nor do we accept hand-made candles or soaps and toiletries.

All exhibitors are selected for their excellence and suitability for the fair by a panel of craft experts, based on their submitted images.

For all our fairs, we welcome applications from diverse and talented makers from the UK and abroad, whatever their background or professional qualifications; we encourage applicants from people who represent marginalised or under-represented groups in craft, including, but not limited to, those who are Black, Asian and minority ethnic, neurodivergent, D/deaf, LGBTQ+ and working class. We're also keen to attract makers whose contact address puts them in one of Arts Council England's Levelling Up For Culture Places.

If you live with a disability or mobility issue, our application form offers you the opportunity to tell us how we can help you participate in the fair, and we will make reasonable adaptions where we can, within the scope of the venue.

If you need support to fill in the application form, please get in touch and we will do what we can to help.

Midnight 29 February 2024

Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair, Victoria Baths Manchester: 17-20 October 2024

Exhibitor package fees for 2024:

Table top/space only balcony upstairs inc 1800x750 table, £295+VAT (Priority will be given to New Makers in business 3 yrs or less)

Table top/space only Turkish Baths downstairs inc 1800x750mm table, £340+VAT

2x1m white shell scheme stand £430+VAT

2x1.5m white shell scheme stand £575+VAT

3x1m white shell scheme stand £575+VAT (limited availability)

3x1.5m white shell scheme stand £650+VAT (limited availability)

Other stand sizes may be available but are not guaranteed - organisers will confirm your preferred stand size/option and cost once selected.

Please select by clicking on your preferred stand size from the drop-down menu on the application form which details the above exhibition packages and respective costs.

The stand package comprises:
Exhibitor profile inc an image and 50 word description on our website with your email and link to your website/online shop
Exhibitor profile with images on our social media platforms (facebook, instagram, twitter)
Extensive promotion via our social media platforms
Show promotion via our newsletter sent to over 20,000
Promotion to members and Friends of Victoria Baths and via their social media
Exhibitor storage area
24 hr security
Helpers for set up and breakdown
On-site easy access temporary parking for set up and breakdown
Extensive national and regional press and promotion campaign, with particular emphasis on maker profiles and images of work
Printed and digital promotional materials to send to your networks
Digital promotional artwork to use on your social media platforms
Exhibitor awards
Various stand options to choose from - white plywood shell scheme, space only, table-top.
Chair
If you select a shell scheme stand this will include two spotlights.

Additional costs:

Electrical sockets and extra lighting can be ordered at an extra cost via the electrical contractors. Order before 3rd Oct - socket costs from £40; cost of extra spotlight from £24. After this date the cost for a socket is £50 and spotlights are from £30. PAT testing costs £10 for first item and £5 for subsequent items. Note these prices are exclusive of VAT and are subject to change.

Furniture hire. Please note tables are only included in the tabletop package. We do not supply tables or display furniture as part of other stand packages. Tables 1800mm long x600mm deep x 730mm high can be hired from the organiser at a cost of £15 +VAT. Plinths and shelving can be hired from the exhibition hire company at an extra cost. We also may have some plinths or counters to hire. Please email us in the first instance. Chairs are supplied at no extra cost.
Please note if the live GNCCF Manchester has to be canceled due to Govt/Covid-19 restrictions, then the fair will revert to an online version. Exhibitors will have the option of taking part in this online fair at a reduced cost or withdrawing completely in which case part or full refunds will be given respectively.

GNCCFonline Christmas Edition: 7-8 December 2024 (shops remain open till 31 Dec)

Participation fee: £85+VAT. If applying to both GNCCF and GNCCFonline and you are selected for, and take part in GNCCF, then we offer a discounted participation fee of £60+VAT for GNCCFonline. You can choose your preference on the application form by clicking on your preferred option.


GNCCFonline Christmas Edition includes:

Our website will feature 8 product images, along with descriptions and buy now URL and exhibitor profile with URL to your online selling platform (eg. your website shop, etsy shop, via gallery instagram etc).
An exclusive preview for subscribers on the Friday evening before the fair opens online to the public on Saturday
GNCCFonline will remain live for at least one month after the fair to enable follow-up sales
Extensive promotion on our social media platforms (facebook, instagram, twitter)
Show promotion via our newsletter sent to over 20,000 and via our network of partners.
Digital promotional materials to send to your networks and use on your own digital platforms

Applications for GNCCF 2024 and GNCCFonline Christmas edition open 1-29 February 2024.

The application form is for applying to the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair taking place at Victoria Baths Manchester, and/or GNCCFonline Christmas edition.

The application form must be completed in full and submitted online. If you wish to apply for more than one show you only need to complete the application form once. On completion of the form, you will be directed to our payment handler Stripe to process your application fee(s).
Once you have submitted your application form, you will receive an automated email from CuratorSpace telling you that it has been received.
The submission form has a "save as draft" option on it which lets you save the submission and come back later to complete it. However, we advise you complete the big wordy sections in Word first and cut and paste in, jjust in case your wifi goes down or there's a glitch; this way you're not starting over and you don't have a GRRR moment!


Exhibitor Contact Details:

Please state your business name here as this will be published in our fair directory on our website and social media. Some info we ask for is for organiser's use only and will not be published. This will be stated on the application form.

Business Details:

For your website profile describe your work/practice in 50 words max and write it in the third person. eg. Jane is a ceramicist. She works in porcelain and her work is seen in many collections.
You may wish to include details of materials, techniques, inspiration, your background, where you work from and any important or unusual awards or commissions - people who engage with your story are more likely to buy from you.

We also ask you for a 25 word description for social media profiles.

Please note the details you submit in this part of the form are automatically uploaded onto the website, should you be selected, so the text you provide must be grammatically correct - do check for typos and correct sentencing case - for instance, please do not write it all in lower case.

In the qualifications/significant exhibitions & commissions section please state what qualifications/experience you have relating to your practice and any significant achievements such as exhibitions or interesting commissions. Please also mention other fairs/shows you have been selected for. It does not have to be a comprehensive list. This section is to inform our selectors, especially if they are not familiar with your work.

Please also list here any interesting facts about you or your work, which may make a press story eg. change of career or unusual background or route into your craft. We are particularly keen to hear from applicants who have stylish/quirky homes or studios or who have interesting collections of craft etc - or have clients who have. Think about what you like to read about and if you think you have a story that would be of interest to others, tell us.

Event Selection:

Select the show(s) you wish to apply for by holding Ctrl and clicking on each show ( if there is a check box, tick the relevant box) and select your preferred stand size from the drop-down menu by ctrl click. Please refer here for exhibition package details.

Should you be selected, we will get in touch with you if we are unable to offer you the stand option you have requested and offer you an alternative. If you are selected and prefer to be on an end or near another exhibitor please contact us once you have accepted your space.


GNCCF Bursaries

This year for the first time we are working with the Radcliffe Trust to offer 10 makers who are within 3 years of starting their business, who are selected for GNCCF, a bursary of £250 towards the cost of stand fees. Recipients will receive a £250 discount on their fees. To apply, indicate you wish to be entered for the bursary, and we will use a lottery draw to identify 10 recipients.

We also offer 2 makers from Arts Council's Levelling Up areas, who haven't exhibited at GNCCF Manchester before, a bursary of £250 towards their stand fees. To apply, please indicate you wish to be entered for this draw. We leave it to you to decide if you honestly need this. If you're an established maker and you're doing OK, please consider stepping aside and giving the others a stronger chance of receiving the support. Bursaries can only be used in this way and cannot be exchanged for cash. If you are unable to attend the show, you will forfeit the bursary. To find out if you live or work in one of Arts Council's Levelling Up for Culture Places, cut and paste this link into your browser to check which local authority you are in: https://findthatpostcode.uk/, then check against the list on the Arts Council website, which you can find here: https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/your-area/priority-places-and-levelling-culture-places.

Interested in Demonstrating?:

If you are interested in demonstrating your craft at GNCCF please outline what you can show and state if you will need extra space for equipment and proximity to utilities. Should you be selected for the GNCCF, we will get in touch to discuss the possibility of demonstrating on your stand or at some other area of the show. Extra space will not be charged for.

Interested in delivering an outreach workshop?:

We deliver high-quality craft workshops for the clients of The Oasis Centre, a community centre based in Gorton East Manchester.
We are keen to hear from makers who may be interested in hosting a workshop or long-term craft project. Experience working with vulnerable adults and/or teenagers is desired but not essential (DBS checks may need to be carried out). Workshops should be for between 1.5-4 hours and be aimed as if the participants are 8 years old. You will be paid for your time and materials.

Images - please see "Guidelines about your Images" for everything you need to know about selecting and uploading your six images.

Monitoring Questions

These questions help us to make sure we are making GNCCF representative of our communities. Your responses are confidential and never shared with any other organisations. It's also required by our funders, so it helps the fair to happen every year. All questions are optional but we would be grateful if you could complete as many questions as you can.

You will need to upload 6 images onto the online application form. Please select your images first, resize and relabel them as follows. You will be prompted to upload your images to your Curatorspace account, then you will need to re-select them from here and upload them to your application form.

Your images must be at least 1MB and no bigger than 3MB and be jpegs or PNGs. We cannot accept TIFs or PDFs. Should your images be larger than 3MB they will not upload. Please do not upload images less than 1MB as we are unable to use them in publicity.

Image 1 MUST BE SQUARE. It will be the main image on your website entry and will also be used for press and social media promotion. If you have difficulties trying to crop images to make them square please upload the original image for selection and we will contact you for an alternative square image 1 should you be selected.

Images 2-6 can be either square, portrait, or landscape.

Image uploading can take a while depending on your broadband speed - do not refresh the page as this will stop the uploading process.

Images should be of the work you intend to exhibit and be no more than 3 years old.

All images must be cleared for non-exclusive copyright so we can use them for publicity and promotion. (Please refer to the terms and conditions).

Please enter the name of the photographer to be credited in the Photo Credit field or enter Artists Own if you took the photo.

LABELING YOUR IMAGES

You must label your images as follows. We ask them to be labeled in this way so we can send them to the press - this is for your promotional benefit so please oblige.
IMAGE 1: Please label this image on your upload as YOURNAME1 and save it as a jpeg ie the file name will look like this: ANNSMITH1.jpeg (You will need to save the image as this, or a png, before uploading it).
Images 2-6
These are additional images for selection, website, and press. Images 2-6 must also be between 1- 3MB and jpeg or png. They can be square, portrait, or landscape. Please label all these images on your upload as YOURNAME2/3/4/5/6.


SOME TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL IMAGES

A poor-quality image can be a reason for not being selected. Here are some tips to increase your chance of success:
• Is your image sharp and in focus?
• Make sure the image isn't too dark or light
• Don’t photograph light-coloured work against a light background or dark against dark.
• Work is judged on quality and consistency. Do your images form a consistent body of work?
• You may wish to show close-ups of detail, especially for textiles in one of your photos and a wide shot of the same product in another
• Don't allow a model to dominate the photo - it's the work we want to see, not the person wearing it.
• Consider photographing your work in a white light box or against a plain background so it can be cut out from the background. We use these images in our promotional materials and the press likes them like this too.
• It's worth investing in good photography. Bad photographs can mean your work gets rejected.
• It may also be useful to invest in some small lights if you choose to photograph your work yourself.
• Good photographs are used in promotional materials and press releases.

A note about the best images for our promotional materials and for press:
For your image to be chosen as one of our "hero" images in our promotional materials eg leaflets, display ads, and social media it is useful to have an image of work on a plain background so it can be "cut out". The press also prefers these images. When photographing your work please consider this and always get some pieces shot in this way.

If you are having problems uploading images please contact us through the 'Contact curator' tab.

For Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair Manchester the application fee is £15 (inc VAT)
For GNCCFonline Christmas edition the application is £8 (inc VAT)

You will be prompted to pay the application fee upon completion of the online application form when you will be redirected to our payment processor. The application form will not be submitted without this payment. You will need to select the fairs you wish to apply for by clicking on each fair; if you are applying for both you will need to
select by holding ctrl and clicking multiple times. If there are checkboxes, just tick the relevant boxes.

The Application fee is non-refundable and is inclusive of VAT. It will go towards covering the administration costs for processing the applications and the selection procedure.

GNCCF Manchester is advertised and promoted nationally, with a strong campaign in the North of England and a particular focus in Manchester and the North West.
This marketing campaign includes:
• distribution of leaflets via Culture Calling, the region's premier arts listing and distribution agency to the region's major galleries, museums and arts venues, universities, cafes, bars and city centre offices. We will also be delivering leaflets door-to-door in selected postcodes identified through some bespoke research carried out by the Audience Agency in 2023 to widen our reach.
• display advertising in magazines
• digital advertising
• regional outdoor advertising
• cross-promotion with relevant groups, organisations and universities
• extensive web-based and e-marketing campaign
• promotion to our mailing list of 21K subscribers
• extensive social media promotion via Facebook, Instagram, and X( Twitter).

The GNCCF has generated a PR value in excess of £500K over the last 4 years, with editorial and photography in the Observer and Guardian online in Nov 2023, Sunday Times, Mail on Sunday, Guardian Weekend, Guardian online, Independent, Living etc, Elle Decoration, Homes and Antiques, World of Interiors, House & Garden, Country Living, Art Quarterly, Selvedge, Craft, Ceramic Review, Creative Tourist, Northern Soul, Creative Boom, Manchester Evening News, Yorkshire Post, Cheshire Life, Lancashire Living, BBC Radio Manchester, BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show and Radio 4, Woman's Hour.

GNCCFonline is promoted through
• extensive social media promotion on our Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter)platforms
• display ads in local publications on and offline
• cross-promotion with relevant groups, organisations, and universities
• extensive web based and e marketing campaign
• promotion to our mailing list of 21K subscribers

We don't accept group applications or shared stands as part of the main body of the GNCCF but may consider "grouping" makers from the same organisation together so they can brand their individual stands. This decision will only be taken after selection and once we start space planning so we can ensure a good balance of different craft disciplines are spread throughout the venue.

However, Victoria Baths is a venue with lots of quirky spaces such as the changing cubicles surrounding the swimming pools and the old Superintendent's Living Quarters and viewing balconies upstairs and we are always keen to hear from artist collectives to animate these spaces with exhibitions and installations etc. If you are a group of makers, a gallery, or a collective and have a proposal for these spaces, we will be happy to consider it. This is subject to the availability of space. The cost will depend on the proposal - please email us with your proposals to ann-marie@greatnorthernevents.co.uk

My favourite show to exhibit at, brilliantly organised and the visitors are so friendly! A great mix of visitors from craft newcomers to serious collectors, makes for very interesting conversations.

A friendly, buzzing show in a stunning location, that pulls in a very engaged and supportive crowd.

Now the only selling event I participate in annually, GNCCF is a top-quality event with a great vibe, brilliantly organised, and attracting a wide range of engaged and enthusiastic visitors and buyers.

GNCCF is my all-time favorite fair and I'd feel lost not being part of such an amazing fair!

It is always a pleasure to be a part of GNCCF. The show is beautifully curated, well organised, and welcoming and the venue is extremely special. The visitors in Manchester are enthusiastic and receptive to the exhibitors and their work and it was a joy to engage with them!

Finally, a place for like-minded artists to sell to like-minded collectors.

This venue and show make me feel quite emotional, it’s such a wonderful building filled with creativity and always faultlessly organised by the GNCCF team.

It's always been a pleasure to exhibit at GNCCF - which is one of my favourites! Being at Victoria Baths adds to the experience. It was great to see so many visitors make the trip to see us there.

Superbly organised and friendly. Very busy, lots of sales. And the helpers were fantastic!

Really well organised and with lots of visitors. The marvellous venue only adds to the fantastic experience.

GNCCF was my first big craft fair and I couldn’t fault a thing. It was so well organised that it has certainly set the bar for my experience of exhibiting with other fairs in the future.

Great exposure in the North. The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair is on a par with the London shows and one of my favourite shows on the circuit.

It was my first GNCCF and turned out to be the best, most successful show I’ve ever done. My work was very well received and my sales were great.

GNCCF has led to some great professional development opportunities for me, including a solo show at the prestigious Blackwell House in Cumbria.

I receive orders throughout the year from GNCCF customers.

The GNCCF give me great exposure and positive brand association; it's great to exhibit alongside exceptionally good talent; and my business benefits from lots of gallery interest and follow-up sales throughout the year.

The social media campaign was excellent and the show was very well advertised; constantly a good show for me.

Terms and Conditions for Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair & GNCCFonline 2024

In these Terms & Conditions, the following definitions are: Organiser refers to Great Northern Events (NW) Ltd. Exhibitors refers to any persons selected to participate at The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair or GNCCFonline.

For Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair live events:
• Exhibitors must keep their stands open and attended by knowledgeable staff throughout the event and wherever possible this should be the designer-maker.
• Exhibitors may not sub-let space within the area allocated to them.
• Exhibitors must not display goods of an inflammable, noxious or obscene nature. Fabrics used on stands at live events for display purposes must be fireproofed. The organiser will remove any such unsuitable material from the event.
• Exhibitors will be liable for any damage caused to the panels, flooring or stand fittings.
• Exhibitors will be liable for any damage they cause to event buildings/structures.
• Exhibitors may not move or install any lighting or electrical appliances without the written approval of the organiser. Any lighting or electrical appliance not supplied by the electrical contractor must be approved and PAT tested by either a qualified electrician in advance of the show for which proof may be required or on-site by the contractor. This will incur an additional cost as detailed in the exhibitor manual and exhibiting fees of the website
• The organiser reserves the right to move stands and relocate space previously notified to exhibitors.
• The organiser reserves the right to cancel and/or amend the event if required by circumstances outside their control.
• The organiser accepts no liability for the loss or damage to exhibitors' work at any event, neither during the event nor during setting-up or dismantling. Exhibitors are responsible for fixing their work securely to shelving and walls. Insurance is the responsibility of the individual exhibitor and the exhibitors must ensure they are covered for all eventualities (including public liability insurance).
• A deposit of £150 for your exhibition package for the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair ( also known as GNCCF) Manchester must be paid upon acceptance of your offer of space and must be received by the Organiser by Sunday 7th April 2024. Should the exhibitor withdraw from the fair this deposit will not be refunded.
• For Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair Manchester a second instalment of 50% of the outstanding balance must be received by Sunday 16th June 2024 and the final instalment (remainder of the balance outstanding) must be received by Sunday 18th August 2024.
• Exhibitors withdrawing from the event after Sunday 14th July 2024 are liable to pay 50% of their total exhibition package fees. For Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair Manchester, exhibitors who cancel on or after Sunday 18th August 2024 are liable for the total cost of the exhibition package.
• The organiser cannot accept responsibility for any issues arising as a result of problems with the venue or its staff. If, because of war, fire, strike, or other cause beyond the control of the organisers, the event is cancelled, exhibitors remain liable for stand fees and the organisers shall have no liability to exhibitors from the loss of income resulting from such cancellation. The exception to this would be if the organisers cancelled the fair due to Govt guidelines/legislation to stem the spread of COVID-19, in which case the deposit and any further payments made would be fully refunded. Should the exhibitor accept a digital or other alternative option to replace the cancelled fair, and this incurs a participation fee, then this amount will be subtracted from the total fees already paid by the exhibitor and a partial refund will be given for the difference.
• If the organiser cancels the event, exhibitors' deposits and stand fees will be reimbursed in full (unless an alternative option is accepted by the exhibitor - see point above - in which case a partial refund may be given) but the organiser cannot be held liable for any additional expenses incurred.

For GNCCFonline: Christmas Edition:
• A deposit of £40 for your exhibition package for GNCCFonline: Christmas Edition must be paid following the acceptance of your offer of space and must be received by the Organiser by Sunday 7th April 2024. Should the exhibitor withdraw from the fair after this date, your deposit will not be refunded.
• Your outstanding balance must be paid by Friday 20th September 2024.
• For GNCCFonline: Christmas Edition, exhibitors who cancel on or after Friday 4th October 2024 are liable for the total cost of the participation package.

For both live and online events:
• The organiser reserves the right to withdraw their offer of space from any exhibitors owing monies to the organiser on any account.
• All exhibitors should give full cooperation to the organisers and/or appointed publicity contractor in attempting to achieve coverage and promotion for the event.
• Any agreements entered into by the exhibitor and an external contractor or supplier at the event, are the responsibility of the exhibitor and the organiser cannot accept liability for claims resulting from the failure of any of its contractors or suppliers to deliver goods or services.
• Whilst the organiser takes every effort to ensure that exhibitors' contact details are correct in the promotional material for the event, the organiser cannot accept responsibility for any errors published therein and the organiser shall have no liability to exhibitors for any claims resulting from such errors.
• In consideration of the organisers assisting exhibitors in promoting their work, exhibitors must agree to grant the organisers a non-exclusive copyright licence for any promotional materials supplied to the organiser and/or its appointed publicity contractor, for the purpose of promoting and publicising their work and the event. In granting this licence exhibitors should be aware that the promotions may include the use of these materials on the Internet and that images supplied may be scanned and held digitally for this purpose. The copyright is and will continue to be, beneficially and solely owned by the exhibitor, who must ensure that it does not and will not, infringe on any other copyright and that no information contained in the materials is or shall be inaccurate, misleading or injurious.

Exhibitor Code of Conduct
• We ask all exhibitors to join us in creating a positive environment and atmosphere, where everyone is welcomed, and accepted and has a fantastic fair experience, whether in-person or online.
• As part of this, we do not tolerate any discriminatory behaviour, bullying or harassment including any form of Racism, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Antisemitism and Sexism. Such behaviour may include hostile or abusive comments or intimidating actions. If you see or hear such behaviour at one of our events, please talk to an organiser.
• Failure to make yourself aware of our exhibitor Terms and Conditions and Code of Conduct, and follow them at all times may lead to you being asked to leave the fair without a refund of any fees paid.

The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair Manchester and GNCCFonline are managed by Great Northern Events NW Ltd, a not-for-profit company registered in England, Company Reg No 6419531. VAT registered VAT No234847392

Great Northern Events NW Ltd, 1 Norman Road, Heaton Moor, Stockport SK4 4HJ
www.greatnorthernevents.co.uk

GNCCF Bursaries

This year for the first time we are working with the Radcliffe Trust to offer 10 makers who are within 3 years of starting their business, who are selected for GNCCF, a bursary of £250 towards the cost of stand fees. Recipients will receive a £250 discount on their fees. To apply, indicate you wish to be entered for the bursary, and we will use a lottery draw to identify 10 recipients.

We also offer 2 makers from Arts Council's Levelling Up areas, who haven't exhibited at GNCCF Manchester before, a bursary of £250 towards their stand fees. To apply, please indicate you wish to be entered for this draw. We leave it to you to decide if you honestly need this. If you're an established maker and you're doing OK, please consider stepping aside and giving the others a stronger chance of receiving the support. Bursaries can only be used in this way and cannot be exchanged for cash. If you are unable to attend the show, you will forfeit the bursary. To find out if you live or work in one of Arts Council's Levelling Up for Culture Places, cut and paste this link into your browser to check which local authority you are in: https://findthatpostcode.uk/, then check against the list on the Arts Council website, which you can find here: https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/your-area/priority-places-and-levelling-culture-places.