Saltaire Makers Fair - 17th & 18th September 2022

Deadline: 17/07/2022

Venue: Victoria Hall  |  City: Saltaire, Bradford  |  Region: West Yorkshire  |  Country: United Kingdom  |  Saltaire Inspired Team

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*DEADLINE EXTENDED: SUN 17TH JULY* Call for exhibitors to show at The Saltaire Makers Fair, 17-18 September 2022. We are looking for quality CONTEMPORARY CRAFT designer-makers working in a wide range of handmade disciplines to exhibit and sell their work at this highly respected two-day craft fair in Victoria Hall, located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Saltaire, taking place during the last weekend of the annual Saltaire Festival.

Saltaire Inspired are looking to select and showcase high-quality, innovative work with a FOCUS ON HANDMADE PRACTICES in ceramics, textiles, jewellery, glass, metal, artists' books, paper, leather, wood, furniture, plastics, fashion textiles and accessories, printmaking and mixed media. 

Applications with a focus on painting, drawing, photography or other Fine Art practices WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, but should consider applying for the future 'Open Village' opportunity instead (May 2023).

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.

Event dates: Saturday 17th - Sunday 18th September 2022.

The Saltaire Makers Fair

Held twice a year, Saltaire Inspired's Saltaire Makers Fairs have a growing 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.

Comments from recent 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"

Artistic Policy and Selection

We aim to showcase the original work of independent artists, makers and designers.  All work must be handmade by the exhibitor themselves and original in concept. We are looking for work that is of gallery quality, contemporary and interesting. We do not accept or promote work constructed from assembled pieces, kit-based items or mass-produced reproductions of works in other media. Limited edition prints must be original. 

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 in May, as a part of the Saltaire Arts Trail 2023. 

Returning artists and makers will be expected to exhibit a significant proportion of new work. If you have exhibited with us before, please make sure you include details of proposed new work in your application.

An independent panel of arts professionals will make the selection. The 2022 panel will be announced on the Saltaire Inspired website. 

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: £125 for 2 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.

SMALL DISPLAY-BOARD PITCH: £145 for 2 days - Standard Space +  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.

LARGE DISPLAY-BOARD PITCH: £165 for 2 days - Standard Space + display boards 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 pitch preference in your application. May include a small amount 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, 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 19th August 2022. 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.

The administration fee should be paid no later than the closing date of Sunday 17th July 2022, in order for your application to be considered. The £6 administrational 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?

Largely volunteer-led, Saltaire Inspired creates exhibitions and projects within the World Heritage Site of Saltaire village, responding to Bradford’s cultural heritage and strengths. We promote and develop artists and their practice, showcase and sell high-quality contemporary craft and design, engage and inspire the local community and aim to make visual arts accessible and engaging through the use of private and public buildings. 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 Sept22 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.

Contact the curator
Who is eligible for this opportunity?
Contemporary applied artists, craftspeople and designer-makers based in the UK, exhibiting contemporary craft and design work.

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.
When is the deadline?
*DEADLINE EXTENDED: Sunday 17th July 2022 *
What kind of work are you looking for?
Artist-created work of original concept and excellent quality in the fields of contemporary ceramics & sculpture, textiles, jewellery, glass, metal, artists' books, paper, leather, wood, furniture, plastics, fashion textiles and accessories, printmaking and mixed media - this is not an exclusive list; we are always keen to see interesting use of new materials.

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.

We will not accept or promote work constructed from assembled pieces, kit-based items or mass-produced reproductions of works in other media (giclee/digital prints) presented as 'limited edition'.
Merchandising, including commercially printed cards, should form only a minor part of your display. 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.
What are the options and costs for Exhibiting Stands?
Please note that all pitch options include the same 8x4ft floor space.

• Standard Pitch: £125 for 2 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.

• Small Display-Board Pitch: £145 for 2 days - Approximate floor space of 8x4 ft, including a 6x2 ft table and up to 2 chairs if required + 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.

• Large Display-Board Pitch: £165 for 2 days - Approximate floor space of 8x4 ft, including a 6x2 ft table and up to 2 chairs if required + display boards 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, 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 19th August 2022. No commission will be taken on sales.
Is there a fee to apply?
There is a non-refundable administration fee of £6 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.

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 administrational fee should be paid before the closing date for entries, of Sunday 17th July 2022. 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.
How do I make a submission?
Use the Curatorspace Submission form, attaching between 4 and 10 good quality images - you will need to upload and attach each image individually. For your application to be considered, please make sure to pay the £6 application fee - you will not be able to complete your application without this payment. 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. Please contact the Curator for alternative payment options.
Can I share a space with another artist?
We will not be allocating half or part-stalls to separate applicants. We are happy to receive joint or group submissions from artists who 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 exhibit. The joint application would be judged as a whole and members of the partnership or group would then share a single administration/stall fee.
How many/what kind of images should I submit?
You can attach up to 10 images as part of your application. To help us with selection, please upload a minimum of 4. 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 a 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.
I would like to offer a demonstration. can you give me more details?
We are very keen to have interesting and engaging demonstrations available to the public. We will be able to offer a limited number of Demonstration Spaces with additional room for working*, and at a discounted pitch fee rate. Demonstrations will take place at your stand. 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, or Large Display).

*We regret that no additional room for working outside of the stand can be given for demonstrations taking place in a Large Display Space.
When is the Fair open to the public?
11am - 5pm, Saturday 17th September 2022
10am - 5pm, Sunday 18th September 2022
Does the venue have disabled access?
Yes, there is lift access to all floors and disabled toilet facilities. Please state in your application if you have any accessibility requirements, to help us best allocate your pitch location, if you are selected.
What facilities are there at the venue?
The venue has free Wi-Fi and a good 3G signal. 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.

In collaboration with Cupola Contemporary Art, there will be the opportunity for the public to buy higher priced items through the OwnArt scheme (exhibitors will need to sign a code of practice in order to be included in this).
How will the Fair and my work be publicised?
Saltaire Inspired has good marketing plan in place, based on over 15 years experience. We will market and promote the Saltaire Makers Fair through the production and distribution of high quality print, a vigorous social media campaign and by generating press releases and distributing them to appropriate media. 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.
What is the decision making process for the applications?
An independent committee of arts professionals will assess all applications and make the selection at a date to be agreed in late July 2022.
You will be informed as to whether your application was successful as early as possible after selection, but by no later than Sunday 31st July 2022.

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.
What happens if I am selected?
You will be contacted via a message sent through the Curatorspace messaging feature shortly after selection, and by no later than Sunday 31st July 2022. All artists who have submitted work will be contacted even if unsuccessful on this occasion.

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. Payment of the pitch fee must be paid by Friday 19th August 2022 in order to secure your place within the Saltaire Makers Fair.

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