Saltaire Arts Trail MAKERS FAIR (5th-6th May 2024)
Deadline: 12/11/2023City: Saltaire, Bradford | Region: West Yorkshire | Country: United Kingdom | Saltaire Inspired Team
DEADLINE EXTENDED to Saturday 11th November 2023. Call for CONTEMPORARY CRAFT designer-makers working in a wide range of HANDMADE disciplines to exhibit work at the SALTAIRE MAKERS FAIR at Saltaire Arts Trail, taking place over TWO DAYS on Sunday 5th May - Monday 6th May 2023.
Taking place over TWO DAYS within Victoria Hall, located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Saltaire, arts event organisers Saltaire Inspired are looking to select and showcase high-quality, innovative work to show and sell at this highly respected craft market, with A FOCUS ON HANDMADE PRACTICES in ceramics, textiles, jewellery, glass, metal, artists' books, paper, leather, wood, furniture, plastics, fashion textiles and accessories, original printmaking and mixed media.
Applications with a focus on painting, drawing, photography or other Fine Art practices WLL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, but should consider applying for the OPEN VILLAGE opportunity instead.
Event Dates: Sunday 5th May - Monday 6th May 2023 (early Spring Bank Holiday weekend)
*Please note that the Saltaire Makers Fair will NOT take place on Saturday this year, due to the venue's unavailability*
The Saltaire Makers Fair
Held twice a year, Saltaire Inspired's Saltaire Makers Fairs have an established reputation for providing a showcase for some of the best contemporary craft available for sale or commission in the north of England and, increasingly, further afield. Audiences will have the opportunity to see unique and original handmade products, buy directly from the artists and makers, and meet the creative talent behind the work.
The venue, Victoria Hall in Saltaire, is both attractive and historically unique, a great setting for a contemporary craft fair, and we regularly see 1000 - 1500 visitors per day through the doors. The Fair will include artist demonstrations, a popular Art Tombola and there will be a pop-up cafe with delicious sweet and savoury snacks.
The Saltaire Makers Fair will form a part of the wider programme of events within Saltaire Inspired's annual festival of contemporary visual art, the Saltaire Arts Trail, which has been running since 2006 and is sited in the unique public and residential spaces of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Saltaire village. Over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend, Saltaire becomes a magnet for visitors who come to explore the wide programme on offer including the Saltaire Makers Fair, commissioned exhibitions and installations, creative friendly family workshops, and the famous Open Village Trail - a village wide gallery of contemporary art in the Grade II listed homes, windows and public spaces of Saltaire residents and businesses.
Visit the Saltaire Inspired website to find out more.
Some comments from past exhibitors: -
"The footfall was amazing. The organisers and volunteers were warm and welcoming as always"
"Nice mixture of stalls, plenty of room for visitors to walk around, generally nice atmosphere and great team"
"Friendly yet professional feel. High quality makers"
"Excellent marketing and buzz"
"Very good footfall with plenty of people willing to buy work"
"Saltaire is wonderful because it brings designer/makers and people who are really interested in art work together in one place"
"Enjoyed the event very much and made to feel special by both organisers and visitors"
"One of the best organised/set up/run fairs I’ve done to date"
What are we looking for?
- We aim to showcase the original contemporary craft and design work of independent artists, makers and designers.
- All work must be of a handmade nature and have been made by the exhibitor themselves.
- Work must be original in concept not an obvious copy of another designer-maker’s work
- We are looking for contemporary work that is skillfully made and of a high quality, suitable for display in a contemporary craft gallery setting.
- Applications to show printmaking work must feature original limited edition handmade prints as the main focus, and should only show digital/giclée prints as a small part of their display and should be labeled as such.
- We do not accept or promote work constructed from assembled pieces, kit-based items or mass-produced reproductions of works in other media. Merchandising, including commercially printed cards, should form only a minor part of the exhibitor’s display.
- Traditional fine art practices such as painting and drawing will not be suitable for display within the Saltaire Makers Fair.
- Returning artists and makers will be expected to exhibit a proportion of new work. Applicants who have exhibited at the last 3 or more consecutive events may benefit from taking a break from exhibiting this year, in order to keep the show fresh and regular audiences engaged.
- Joint or group submissions can be considered only if artists wish to present their work together as a single display, where the work is related in subject matter, style, technique etc. or is the work of a studio group, and intended to be shown as a coherent joint display.
- Saltaire Inspired is committed to inclusion and diversity and particularly encourages applications from artists whose backgrounds and lived experience are underrepresented in the visual arts, contemporary craft and design sectors. If you would value a pre application conversation or have questions about showing your work within the Saltaire Makers Fair, please contact us.
Our Saltaire Makers Fairs have a specific focus on showcasing handmade and contemporary craft, therefore we are unable to accept applications of traditional Fine Art practices, such as painting, drawing and photography. Artists wishing to show Fine Art works should consider applying for our OPEN VILLAGE opportunity, which runs alongside the Saltaire Makers Fair during the Saltaire Arts Trail weekend.
Before submitting an application, applicants MUST read the 'Opportunity FAQs' section for full details and requirements for this event. This can be found towards the top of the page, below the event title, by clicking the tab in green text.
Demonstrations
We are able to offer a limited number of spaces to artists wishing to demonstrate their craft, this is a great opportunity to engage visitors and encourage sales. A discount on pitch fees will be offered to those exhibitors selected to run demonstrations that feature an activity for visitors to watch or take part in. See the 'Opportunity FAQs' section for details, and include details in your application if you wish to be considered.
Costs
STANDARD PITCH: £135 for 2 days (Sun & Mon) - Approximate floor space of 8x4 ft, including a 6x2 ft table and up to 2 chairs if required. You are welcome to bring your own free-standing display boarding etc. to set up within this space.
STANDARD PITCH + SMALL DISPLAY-BOARD: £155 for 2 days (Sun & Mon) - Approximate floor space of 8x4 ft, including a 6x2 ft table and up to 2 chairs if required. Includes pre-installed display-board measuring approximately 4x3 ft (total space to display on board, above table height), with legs that make 6.5ft height in total. Includes a flexible hanging system, no spotlights but access to power may be requested.
STANDARD PITCH + LARGE DISPLAY-BOARD: £175 for 2 days (Sun & Mon) - Approximate floor space of 8x4 ft, including a 6x2 ft table and up to 2 chairs if required. Includes pre-installed 'bay' style display-board measuring approximately 8x4 ft (total space to display on board, above table height) with legs that make 6.5ft height in total. Includes a flexible hanging system and 2 spotlights.
DEMONSTRATION SPACE: a £30 reduction on the above prices, please state your stand preference in your application. May include a small amount of additional space for demonstrations to take place in, to be agreed (no extra space can be given for demonstrations taking place in a Pitch + Large Display-Board space).
Please state which pitch type you would prefer in your application, by selecting either STANDARD ONLY, + SMALL DISPLAY-BOARD, or + LARGE DISPLAY-BOARD from the drop down menu.
Fees will be requested upon successful application and must be paid by Friday 1st March 2024. No commission will be taken on sales.
How to apply
- Make your submission via Curatorspace, uploading between 4 - 10 good quality images, please include one image of a previous stand display if possible. Please ensure that you upload and attach each image individually. Your application will be judged on your images and information given in your application, so good, clear quality images are essential.
- A non-refundable administration fee of £6 will be required for all submissions. As a volunteer-led charitable organisation, this helps us to cover the administrational costs of carrying out a fair and unbiased selection process with an independent panel of industry professional judges. This administration fee should be paid on the same date you submit your application in order for your application to be considered.
- The £6 administration fee does not guarentee you a place within the Saltaire Makers Fair, all applications are subject to a selection process. Before you submit your application, you will be directed to Curatorspace's secure payment portal in order to make payment of the application fee and to complete your submission.
Who are Saltaire Inspired?
Saltaire Inspired is an ambitious arts charity, creating quality contemporary arts events in unique settings.
We deliver three annual arts events in the World Heritage village of Saltaire, and work towards our vision to help Saltaire become an internationally recognised centre for the visual arts.
We promote and develop artists and their practice, create art and community events in the unique spaces of Saltaire and present exciting and challenging contemporary visual art in accessible settings, inspiring people of all ages and backgrounds to take part. Saltaire Inspired is a registered charity.
Visit the Saltaire Inspired Website to find out more.
IMPORTANT NOTE - Before submitting your application, please read the 'Opportunity FAQs' section for full details and requirements for this event. This can be found towards the top of the page, below the event title, by clicking the tab in green text.
Submission fees
The following submission fees apply to this opportunity.
- Saltaire Makers Fair at SAT24 Application Fee - 6.00 GBP
The appropriate fee will be payable using a debit or credit card after the first submission has been completed. If the submission fee allows you to submit more than once, you will be able to make further submissions after the first. Contact the curator if you have any questions about the opportunity or the submission fee, or email help@curatorspace.com if you have any questions about the payment process.
This opportunity is open to makers at any stage in their creative career, who can show a cohesive collection of quality and original work.
Saltaire Inspired is committed to inclusion and diversity and particularly encourages applications from artists whose backgrounds and lived experience are underrepresented in the visual arts, contemporary craft and design sectors. If you would value a pre application conversation or have questions about showing your work within the Saltaire Arts Trail, please contact us.
Our Saltaire Makers Fairs have a specific focus on showcasing handmade and contemporary craft, therefore we are unable to accept applications of traditional Fine Art practices, such as painting, drawing and photography.
The Fair is an opportunity for the public to meet the makers, therefore exhibitors must show only work created by themselves.
We would like to offer the public work at a range of prices, but are also keen to promote the appreciation and sale of higher-priced, signature items.
Saltaire Makers Fair Selection Criteria:
• All work must be of a handmade nature and have been made by the exhibitor themselves.
• Work must be original in concept not an obvious copy of another designer-maker’s work.
• We are looking for contemporary work that is skilfully made and of a high quality, suitable for display in a contemporary craft gallery setting.
• Applications to show printmaking work must feature original limited edition handmade prints as the main focus, and should only show digital/giclée prints as a small part of their display and should be labeled as such.
• We do not accept or promote work constructed from assembled pieces, kit-based items or mass-produced reproductions of works in other media. Merchandising, including commercially printed cards, should form only a minor part of the exhibitor’s display.
• Traditional fine art practices such as painting and drawing will not be suitable for display within the Saltaire Makers Fair.
• Returning artists and makers will be expected to exhibit a proportion of new work. Applicants who have exhibited at the last 3 or more consecutive events may benefit from taking a break from exhibiting this year, in order to keep the show fresh and regular audiences engaged.
• Joint or group submissions can be considered only if artists wish to present their work together as a single display, where the work is related in subject matter, style, technique etc. or is the work of a studio group, and intended to be shown as a coherent joint display.
• STANDARD PITCH: £135 for TWO days - Approximate floor space of 8x4 ft, including a 6x2 ft table and up to 2 chairs if required. You are welcome to bring your own free-standing display boarding etc. to set up within this space.
• STANDARD PITCH + SMALL DISPLAY-BOARD: £155 for TWO days - Approximate floor space of 8x4 ft, including a 6x2 ft table and up to 2 chairs if required. Includes pre-installed display-board measuring approximately 4x3 ft (total space to display on board, above table height), with legs that make 6.5ft height in total. Includes a flexible hanging system, no spotlights but access to power may be requested.
• STANDARD PITCH + LARGE DISPLAY-BOARD: £175 for TWO days - Approximate floor space of 8x4 ft, including a 6x2 ft table and up to 2 chairs if required. Includes pre-installed 'bay' style display-board measuring approximately 8x4 ft (total space to display on board, above table height) with legs that make 6.5ft height in total. Includes a flexible hanging system and 2 spotlights.
• Demonstration Space: a £30 reduction on the above prices, please state your stand preference in your application. May include a small amount of additional space for demonstrations to take place in, to be agreed (no extra space can be given for demonstrations taking place in a Large Display Space)
Please state which pitch type you would prefer in your application, by selecting either STANDARD ONLY, + SMALL DISPLAY-BOARD, or + LARGE DISPLAY-BOARD from the drop down menu.
A deposit on your pitch fee will be requested upon successful application and must be paid by Friday 5th January 2024. No commission will be taken on sales.
Before you submit your application, you will be directed to Curatorspace's secure payment portal in order to make payment of the application fee and to complete your submission.
The administration fee should be paid before the closing date for entries of Saturday 11th November 2023. If the £6 fee is not paid by the closing date, your application will not be considered.
Please note that this £6 administrational fee does not guarantee you a place within the Saltaire Makers Fair, all applications are subject to a selection process.
It is vital to the selection process that the images you submit are of a good quality and give a true idea of the work you wish to exhibit. If possible, please also include one image showing your stand display from another fair/market.
Please upload JPG images, no larger than 4MB. If you are selected, the images will be used initially as part of an online gallery, so we only need them to be web-size at this stage.
PLEASE NOTE: You will need to upload each image separately to ensure that they successfully attach to your application, please check your completed application to make sure all images appear.
If you are applying to have a Demonstration Space, you'll need to be prepared to interact with the public and ideally to have an activity that people can try. We would prefer for any participatory demonstration to be free for visitors, but a small fee for materials is fine, if participants will be taking something away with them.
Please submit a description of what you would like to offer within your application in the ‘Demonstrations’ section, and also state your stand preference (Standard, + Small Display-Board, or + Large Display-Board).
*We regret that no additional room for working outside of the stand can be given for demonstrations taking place in a Pitch + Large Display-Board space.
If you are still really torn, you can add a note in the 'Additional Requirements' box to say you'd be interested in the Open Village if not selected for the Saltaire Makers Fair - please note that your application will be judged primarily for the opportunity you apply for, and will only be considered for your 2nd choice opportunity if time allows on the selection day.
10am - 4pm, Monday 6th May 2024
Please note that the Saltaire Makers Fair will not be taking place on Saturday this year, due to the venue's unavailability.
There will be a pop-up cafe inside the venue and exhibitors will receive money-off vouchers for refreshments.
There is an access lift to all floors of the building as well as disabled toilet facilities.
Exhibiting artists will be featured in an online gallery on the Saltaire Inspired website and in a printed programme brochure. We’d like to ask all exhibitors to participate in the marketing and to promote their attendance at the event as much as possible.
You will be informed as to whether your application was successful as early as possible after selection, but by no later than Monday 4th December 2023.
The panel will be given the task of putting together a well-balanced show, considering new and returning exhibitors, emerging and established artists and an interesting mix of genres.
It is important that the images you submit are representative of the quality of the work you wish to show. The panel will be able to research your website, but time is always tight and first impressions from the submitted images are crucial.
The decision of the selection panel is final and unfortunately no discussion can be entered into once the selection has been made, though we will be happy to give general feedback.
If your application is successful, you must be able to commit to both days of the Fair, and will be asked to agree to our terms of participation.
A deposit payment on the pitch fee must be paid by Friday 5th January 2024 in order to secure your place within the Saltaire Makers Fair.
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