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Standards Review

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Kristin Busch

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Standards Review Information

The Standards Review is an evaluation of the work by Guild members. Each member artist is reviewed every three years. It is not a competitive jury. Rather, artists’ work must meet a certain level of quality in order to pass.

At all Guild art fairs, representatives of the Standards Committee check artists’ work against their review images and note any breach of Guild Exhibition Rules. Standards Review is the most serious aspect of Guild evaluation system; serious violations may result in the loss of exhibition privileges.

 

 

Standards Review for the
2010, 2011 & 2012 Ann Arbor Summer Art Fairs


IMPORTANT: 2009 STANDARDS REVIEW INFORMATION

• All Guild Members must review in 2009 to remain or become eligible to participate in the 2010, 2011 and 2012 Ann Arbor Summer Art Fairs. This includes all Exhibiting, Associate and Artist Members.

• All Guild Members must review in 2009 to remain or become eligible for any member benefits that are tied to the Standards Review jury score.

• The 2009 Standards Review will be conducted on August 11.

• The deadline for applications is August 1, 2009. The Standards Review will be a digital review through Juried Art Services (juriedartservices.com).

• The application will go live on www.juriedartservices on May 15, 2009.

• There is no fee for the Standards Review.

• The Standards Review requires four artwork images and one booth image.

• The results of the Standards Review will be emailed and/or mailed beginning on August 14, 2009.

• Questions? Please contact Guild Program Manager, Nicole McKay, 734.662.3382, ext. 101, or nicole@theguild.org.


Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair

The Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair is one of four official partner fairs that comprise the award-winning and highly respected Ann Arbor Art Fairs, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2009. More than 500,000 people attend the event each year. The Guild’s Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair joined the partnership in 1970. The Summer Art Fair is located in the heart of Ann Arbor stretching from its charming downtown to the campus of University of Michigan. The fair has 375 artist booths, an “Imagination Station” for young fair attendees, art demonstrations and lively entertainment.


Membership Standards Review

In order to be eligible for the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair, which is the Guild’s premiere event, an artist must be a member of the Guild and pass the “Standards Review.” The purpose of the “Standards Review” is to ensure that all work exhibited achieves the required level of quality and that Guild rules are followed in the production of the work. Please review the following information to ensure that you are aware of the rules regarding eligibility and membership.

The Standards Review is conducted for the full membership every three years. An annual Standards Review is conducted for new members and for those members who either failed the scheduled review or wish to review with new work or new images.

Fees & Eligibility

Guild Members:
All Guild Members are invited to jury. Upon passing the review, Exhibiting, Associate and Artist Members will be eligible for the next three years for the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair and for any membership benefits which are tied to passing the “Standards Review. “ There is no fee for the Standards Review.

Non-Members:
If you are not a Guild member, but wish to have the opportunity to exhibit in the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair, you will need to either become a member before the August 1st deadline or participate in the “Non-Member Standards Review” to be held at a later time. The application fee for non-members, which includes a one-year membership in the Guild, is $45, single membership, or $60, joint membership. A joint membership is reserved for no more than two artists who work together to produce one body of work. Membership must be renewed annually to maintain eligibility for the event. If you are a non-member and would like to participate in the “Non-Member Standards Review” or would like additional information please contact The Guild’s Program Manager, Nicole McKay, 734.662.3382, ext. 101 or nicole@theguild.org.

Please note: The “Standards Review” is conducted to determine eligibility for the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair; it does not guarantee a booth space in the event unless the artist has earned Exhibiting Artist membership status.

Deadlines

• The Applications will be accepted online until midnight EST. August 1, 2009. Applications received after the deadline will be subject to a $25 late fee.

• If you are unable to submit an online application, please contact The Guild for additional options and fees, 734.662.3382, ext. 101.

Online Application Procedures for the Guild’s Standards Review

• Go to http://www.juriedartservices.com/ (the Juried Art Services web site)
• Create your artist portfolio by completing the JAS application and uploading your artwork images and booth images.
• Once you have an artist portfolio, you will select The Guild’s “Member-Only Standards Review” from the JAS list of scheduled items.
• The JAS system will automatically fill in your information. You will select four (4) work images and one (1) booth image for the “Standards Review.”
• If you are applying in two or more categories, please submit an application for each medium. There are no fees for additional categories.
• If you are applying in a non-jewelry category but wish to exhibit a small amount of jewelry in your medium (no more than 15 percent of booth), please submit a separate application for jewelry. There are no fees for additional categories.
• Review your application and submit.

Timeline

May: Announcement of Standards Review procedure in Guild Newsletter
May 15: Standards Review application goes live on JAS
May 26: Standards Information mailed and/emailed
June 30: Standards reminder emailed
July: Standards reminder in Guild Newsletter
July 27: Standards reminder emailed
August 1: Deadline for Standards Review applications
August 11: Standards Review
August 14: Begin email notifications of results
August 21: Begin mailed notifications of results (for those without email addresses)


Background

The Guild of Artists & Artisans is a non-profit membership organization of professional artists. It has a unique membership structure designed by its founding artists. The Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair is reserved for members only and has a tenured component. That is, booths are set aside for members who have achieved Exhibiting Member status. Exhibiting Member status requires several consecutive years of membership and passing the “Standards Review,” which is a peer jury evaluating creativity, design and technical skill.

New members join The Guild as Artist Members. They are invited into the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair based on booth availability and jury scores.

There is a keen demand for exhibiting status. It is the pinnacle of Guild membership. There is no guarantee when or if this status will be granted.

Only the Ann Arbor event employs this unique process; there is no tenured component or membership requirement to participate in the Guild’s additional events; however, Guild members do receive discounts on both application and booth fees.

For more information or to determine if you are required to review, please contact the Guild, 734.662.3382, ext. 101, or nicole@theguild.org.

Scoring

Artists will be judged on Design, Technical Competence, and Booth Presentation:

• Design evaluates artistic vision, development of creativity and overall success in the final product.
• Technical Competence evaluates the skills required to execute the work, and includes the level of difficulty of the techniques used, and how accomplished the artist is in using the chosen methods.
• Booth Presentation is an assessment of the artist’s display and the overall visual impact of their booth.
• The highest possible score a juror can give is 10 (1 – 7 for artwork and 1 – 3 for booth display). There are 10 jurors for the Standards Review; the highest possible score a Guild Member can receive is 100. Members who receive a score of 54 and above are eligible to exhibit for three years (if reviewing in assigned review year) at the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair; members who receive a score of 53 and below are ineligible to exhibit at the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair.


Event Location, Days & Times

2010 Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair, Wednesday, July 21 – Saturday, July 24
2011 Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair, Wednesday, July 20 – Saturday, July 23
2012 Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair, Wednesday, July 18 – Saturday, July 21

Wed/Thurs/Fri 10 am – 9pm; Sat 10am – 6pm

The Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair is located in Downtown Ann Arbor on Main, Liberty & State streets.

Security

Overnight security will be provided Tuesday through Friday.

Electricity

The Guild expects to have electricity to all booth locations by the 2010 event.

Important Information

By applying to Guild membership and events, artists verify that they are responsible for the design and execution of their artwork according to The Guild’s exhibition standards. In addition, artists understand that The Guild of Artists & Artisans is not liable for loss or damage to artwork or personal injury. Artists will not be part of any legal action against The Guild or its personnel. Artists understand and agree that The Guild may use images of their artwork in advertising and promotion regarding all Guild programs and events.

Guild Show Features

• Extensive advertising and promotion
• Professional and respectful art fair staff
• Well-provisioned artist hospitality tents
• Negotiated special rates for artists in nearby hotels and motels
• Friendly booth sitters
• Professional, overnight security
• 100 free promotional postcards

Exhibition Standards

1. All work must be the original design of the artist. The essential work required to make each finished piece must actually be done by the artist. The only exceptions allowed are defined

in Rule #2.

2. The Guild reproduction policy, which applies to all media, is as follows: No more than 25 percent of the work in an exhibitor’s booth may be reproductions and each piece must be clearly marked with the word “reproduction.” The presentation of the reproductions must play a visually subordinate role to the entirety of the exhibitor’s display. Determination of what constitutes an original or a reproduction will ultimately be decided by The Guild of Artists & Artisans. The decision of The Guild is final.

3. All work must be safe, non toxic, and fit for its intended use. If any work requires special or limited use, this will be fully disclosed and explained to the public.

4. Any commercially produced parts used in a work must play a subordinate role and may not be sold separately. Beads must be made by the artist. If the beads are not made by the artist, they must play a clearly subordinate role in the finished piece.

5. Artists should avoid a mass produced, cluttered or commercial appearance to their display.

6. The work exhibited by the artist must match the quality and balance of the digital images submitted to either the “Standards Review” or for the particular show into which the artist has

been juried.

Acceptability of Specific Work

In the past, The Guild has dealt with many questions about whether specific work complies with our Exhibition Standards. Following is a partial list of work that has been found to be unacceptable in our events. This list is a guideline to help you determine if your work will meet our requirements. Please note, however, that this list is not exhaustive. If you have questions whether or not your work complies with Guild regulations, please contact us. The decision of The Guild is final. Unacceptable work includes, but is not limited to:

• T-shirts, sweat shirts, hats, and other commercially manufactured clothes, no matter how embellished by the artist.
• Cut coin jewelry.
• Jewelry made of manufactured components.
• Beads must be made by the artist. If the beads are not made by the artist, they must clearly play a subordinate role in the finished piece.
• Stud earrings in commercial settings.
• Enamels on manufactured representational copper shapes.
• Manufactured belt buckles sold separately from the belts.
• Manufactured tiles with a design as a major component of the piece.
• Dried flowers, whether they are in groups, arrangement, or bouquets.
• Wreaths.
• Anything made in a commercial mold, in any medium.
• Tole painting.
• Dough art.
• Country crafts.
• CDs and tapes.
• Food.

Cancellation Policy/Refunds

1. In the event you must cancel a show, please notify The Guild immediately, by calling 734.662.3382, ext. 105.

2. You are also required to put your cancellation in writing and send or email it to The Guild’s art fair operations director, Alan Bogl, alan@theguild.org or The Guild, 118 North Fourth Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-1402,

3. If the cancellation is made at least 45 days before the event, your booth fee will be refunded minus a $50 administration fee, unless otherwise noted.

4. There are no refunds on cancellations made less than 45 days before the event is scheduled to take place, unless otherwise noted.

5. There are no refunds of application or membership fees.

Exhibition Rules

• Rule 1: Exhibitors must comply with all local ordinances, regulations and rules.

• Rule 2: Picture I.D. is required for fair registration and must be presented upon the request of Guild staff or designee at any time during the fair.

• Rule 3: By one hour prior to fair opening on the fair’s first day, artists must have claimed their booth space by their presence or, if necessary, by phone, or their booth space may be resold; no refund will be issued.

• Rule 4: Member artists must be present at the fair no less than 60 percent of each day. Member artists (and/or their artwork) are not permitted to take part in any other Ann Arbor fair (official or otherwise) during the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair.

• Rule 5: Unless artists are notified officially of a fair emergency by Guild staff, booths must be opened at the fair’s starting time and remain open until the fair’s closing time. Artist concerned with their personal safety may close. Artists are expected to reopen as soon as the dangerous situation has ended.

• Rule 6: Rude, obscene or abusive language and/or threatened, actual physical restraint and/or abuse of another Guild Member, Guild staff or the general public are prohibited.

• Rule 7: On site consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited during fair hours.

• Rule 8: Booth structure, display and artwork must not exceed the limits of the assigned space. Booth substructure must not impede water flow.

• Rule 9: All storage must be concealed neatly within the assigned booth space. No blue or green plastic tarps may be used to conceal storage.

• Rule 10: On Main and Liberty Streets, the use of sidewalks and planters for display or storage is prohibited.

• Rule 11: Use of chairs and tables is limited as follows: Each State Street booth is allowed two chairs and one table. The table may not exceed 24”x 24”. No visible storage is allowed within or on the table. Artists may not place personal belongings on the University of Michigan grounds.

• Rule 12: Overhangs aren’t permitted on the fire lane side of your booth (street side). Overhangs are permitted: 1) On State Street booths on the sidewalk side; 2) In the rear of Main Street booths, as long as the overhang does not extend over the sidewalk; and, 3) On corner booths on any street, the overhang may extend into the pedestrian aisle only. Overhangs many not exceed 30” and must be at least 80” above the curb; the overhang may not interfere with any other exhibitor’s booth or the traffic flow or be used for display, signs, etc.

• Rule 13: Pets aren’t permitted on the fair site.

• Rule 14: Signs that advertise sales or markdowns are prohibited.

Rules Violations: Decisions regarding rules compliance are determined by the Rules Committee members or designated staff. Exhibitors found to be in violation of the rules may be issued a “rules violation notice.” Exhibitors must comply immediately upon notification that they are in violation of the rules. If continued non-compliance is observed, exhibitors may receive points for the rules violations. Violations may be issued during the fair in person. In addition, violations may be issued in writing within 30 days after the fair. The Guild will send written notification to all exhibitors receiving violations following the event. From one (1) to ten (10) points may be assessed per violation. Accumulation of 10 points over a three-year period results in the suspension of exhibiting privileges for 13 months from the fair date of the of the violation which earned the 10 point assessment.

Appeals: Exhibitors have the right to appeal the assessment of violation points in person or in writing to the Rules Committee. The appeal must be made within 60 days of the date of the rules violation notification letter.


Rules Violations

There are two rules that are considered to be inviolable under any circumstances:

1. Engaging in “buy-sell” practices, that is, buying the work done by another and selling it as your own; or
2. Selling commercially produced reproductions of the work of another artist.

Any exhibitor discovered engaging in either of these practices will permanently lose exhibiting privileges at Guild events.


The Guild of Artists & Artisans is a non-profit, membership organization of professional artists. Established in 1970, The Guild’s mission is to promote community awareness, understanding and appreciation of the visual arts and to maintain a support network for artists, which provides educational, mentoring and marketing opportunities. The Guild is recognized and valued for its ability to showcase independent artists, bringing their artwork to the community via its juried fine art and fine craft fairs. It is a trusted source for artist and fairgoer alike.

Standards Review Information

Nicole McKay, Program Manager
The Guild of Artists & Artisans
118 N. Fourth Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734.662.3382, ext. 101
nicole@theguild.org
www.theguild.org

Standards FAQ

If I pass Standards am I automatically in the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair?
To be eligible for participation in the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair, a Guild Member must pass and continue to pass the Standards Slide Review. However, a limited number of booths are available for the Summer Art Fair and are assigned first to Exhibiting Members who have passed the Review.

Why did I fail the Review?
There are many possible reasons for failing the Review. For example, the slides may be poorly shot or produced in a manner that does not effectively show the work, the booth display may be weak or poorly lit, or the work may not display the level of artistic or technical expertise that is required to be in the Summer Art Fair. It is important to remember that the only representation of the artwork the reviewers see is the review slides. In order to have the best possible slides, it is imperative that the artwork be professionally photographed. It is also recommended that backgrounds be neutral, that the work be appropriately lit, and that the booth be fully visible and neatly arranged.

 

Why are people walking around the Guild’s fairs with slides and taking pictures?
The Standards Committee charges individuals to compare slides that are sent in for the Standards Review with the work that actually appears on the street. This on-site review that has been performed for many years and is an important element of the review process. If the on-site reviewers or members of the Standards Committee find any artists that are not incompliance with the Exhibition Rules or displaying work that is varies significantly from their review slides, the on-site reviewers will take a photograph for the record. These photos are employed by the Standards Committee to determine if there are possible violations.

 

Please contact The Guild with any Standards questions or concerns. Nicole McKay is the staff liaison with the Standards Committee. She can be reached by calling 734-662-3382, ext. 101 or emailing nicole@theguild.org.

 

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