Call-for-Artists: Festival of the Arts Glen Ellyn

Join us for the 52nd Annual Festival of the Arts in Glen Ellyn.  This is a juried fine arts show held in the Chicago western suburb of Glen Ellyn.  All booth spaces are along a concrete walkway that winds through century old oak trees surrounding picturesque Lake Ellyn.  This year we will continue to limit the number of artists to 70 to concentrate all artist booths along the main path between the main entrance and the boathouse area.  Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have at festivalofthearts@downtownglenellyn.com.

New this year, the Alliance of Downtown Glen Ellyn will be presenting the festival.  We are a downtown organization whose mission is to drive sales in Downtown Glen Ellyn.  We have a previous 12 year track record of very successful events with a particular passion for driving sales.  We are excited to work with the Glen Ellyn Lions Club as the event transitions.

Applications now available through Zapplication.org

GENERAL INFORMATION

Show dates: August 28 and 29, 10:00 am-5:00 pm each day.

New this year, the Festival of the Arts is being run by the Alliance of Downtown Glen Ellyn.  We are a non-for-profit organization whose mission is to drive sales for Downtown Glen Ellyn, as well as, market our town. We have a 12 year track record of executing very successful events and are  excited to be running this art festival at Lake Ellyn. We will be bringing amazing juried art of all media to the beautiful surrounding of Lake Ellyn and welcoming many to enjoy and purchase it.  Please apply to show and bring the beauty that you created to our town.

2021 is a big year for art in Glen Ellyn and DuPage County. From June-August, College of DuPage, in partnership with the McAninch Arts Center and Cleve Carney Art Gallery, has announced an exhibition of the largest private collection of works by Frida Kahlo coming to the Glen Ellyn campus in summer 2021. The 26-piece collection, on loan from the Museo Dolores Olmedo, features an array of sketches and paintings spanning the career of Kahlo, who is considered one of Mexico’s greatest artists. 150,0000 tourists are expected to come to Glen Ellyn to view the exhibit, and we are excited to add to the experience by welcoming them all to our very own Festival of the Arts. In 2021, Glen Ellyn is the place to be showing, enjoying and buying art.

ARTIST AMENITIES

• Commission free sales
• Coordinated loading and unloading with assistance is available for a  $25 fee (30 minute pre-reserved time)
• Friday check-in and set-up followed by an artist reception on the boathouse deck
•  Bottled water throughout the day, morning coffee and pastries Saturday and Sunday
• Booth sitters available
• Overnight Security
• Festival programs with listing of artists attending
• Food and music available

AWARDS

$1,600 IN CASH PRIZES.
1-$600 Best of Show, 2-$300 Awards of Excellence one in 3D medium and one in 2D medium,2-$200 Awards of Merit one in 3D medium and one in 2D medium. There are also 4 Judges Awards with the recipients receiving a complimentary booth space to next year’s show. Award winners are selected by professional judge(s), for excellence, regardless of media.

PUBLICITY

The Festival of the Arts in Glen Ellyn is promoted through featured newspaper articles, internet and print advertising, eblasts, magazine ads, social media marketing, and broadcast radio promotion.  Also, the Festival of the Arts will be highlighted on the tourist website for all Frida Kahlo visitors.

EXHIBITING ARTIST GUIDELINES & ACCEPTED MEDIUMS

Participation is open to all fine art. All work represented must be of an original concept executed and designed by the artist in attendance. The Festival of the Arts reserves the right to remove any and all works deemed not suitable at the time of the festival. It also reserves the right to select or invite other applicants in order to ensure a balance of medium. The Festival of the Arts reserves the right to refuse any application at their discretion and refund the artist booth fee. Any Artist not conforming to the Show Rules will be removed; no fees will be refunded after July 10th.

The following mediums are to be included in each show: ceramics, drawing, fiber non-functional, fiber wearable, paper non-functional, furniture, glass, jewelry, acrylic, oil, watercolor, pastel, sculpture, wood, mixed media, collage, photography, and printmaking. Prints in limited editions are allowed, and must be hand signed and numbered.

Individual consideration of any media not listed will be given upon request. No work which has been made with commercial kits, molds, patterns, plans, prefabricated pieces, or assembly line technique will be allowed.

Artists are responsible for their own tents, display tables and related materials.

JURY PROCEDURE

Five images are required for the jury process; four images of the artist’s work and one of a set up the booth.

A maximum of 70 artists will exhibit at the 2020 Festival of the Arts in Glen Ellyn. There will be a wait list after the 70 artists with the highest jury scores have been selected. Artist on the wait list will be notified in order when spaces become available.

Artists will be selected by a panel of qualified judges through this electronic format and electronic images emailed by those not using ZAPPlication. Artist images will be viewed collectively in the same room. Artists will be notified of acceptance by e-mail and through the Zapplication process no later than Saturday, May 16, 2020.

Booth fees of accepted artists are due by June 1, 2020 to guarantee your space. After June 1st artists on the wait list will be notified of any remaining available booth spaces. The booth spaces will then be filled on a first come first served basis until the 70 booth spaces are filled.

SALES TAX

The collection and remittance of Sales Tax is the responsibility of the exhibiting Artist. As of January 1, 2020, the local sales tax is 8.25%. Please check with Festival of the Arts volunteers to confirm the sales tax when you are at the event.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

• Artist exhibited work must be consistent with images submitted for jury process.
• Artist who is named on the application must be onsite during show hours both days of the festival.
• Staking-in is not allowed due to proximity of trees and underground electric.
• Booths should have a professional look. Artists will be provided with name tags and identification cards which must be prominently displayed.
• Manufactured or components containing manufactured pieces are not permitted to exhibit (some exceptions are accepted ie. recycled or vintage items included in some 3D work, please contact us before applying of you have any questions)
• Although we provide overnight security artists are fully responsible for the care, safety and security of their work and property.
• Alcoholic beverages are not allowed in the park outside of the established beer garden.
• Exhibitors are required to display an Artist Statement in their booth during the art fair. The Artist Statement should be printed on 8.5 x 11 paper. The Statement should include a description of the artistic process and materials used. It is a requirement of the show rules that the Artist Statement be prominently displayed in the artist’s booth during the fair. Artist without statements will be ineligible for awards.
• Display may not extend beyond booth space. Browse bins must be aesthetically pleasing, and may not obstruct traffic flow or sidewalks. Racks, bins or other display elements may not be placed outside of the Artist’s space so as to restrict or impede pedestrian traffic.
• The Festival of the Arts in Glen Ellyn reserves the right to request removal of any items you have not been approved to sell, if we suspect they are not of original design, or if items are not consistent with those submitted to the jury.
• This list is not all inclusive and may be amended at any time.

BOOTH DISPLAY SPACE

The footprint of each display space is a minimum of 10 feet across the front and 11 feet deep. We will attempt to honor specific space requests on a first-come, first-served basis after receiving the booth fee; however, final booth location will be determined by the needs of the show to ensure a proper balance throughout the show grounds.  A layout with specific booth numbers will be provided with the acceptance email. Final booth location and numbers are subject to change and will be available approximately two weeks before the event. Only one artist is allowed per booth unless work Is collaborative and the exhibiting artist is expected to be present during the Festival of the Arts  Artist are responsible for their own tents and display tables, all tents must be able to be secured in case of inclement weather. The booth fee is 225.00 and is due by June 1st. Double booth spaces are available for 450.00, due to trees and benches double booth spaces are not available in all areas of the show.  There will 75% refund of the booth fee if the request is received before July 10th. After July 10th there will be no refund of the booth fee.