**DEADLINE EXTENDED to Friday 24th January 2020** Call for exhibitors to show at The Saltaire Makers Fair at Saltaire Arts Trail, 23-25 May 2020. We are looking for contemporary craft designer-makers working in a wide range of handmade disciplines to exhibit work over the three days of the late May Bank Holiday in gorgeous Victoria Hall, at the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Saltaire. The event is part of an annual festival of contemporary visual art sited in the unique public and private spaces of the village. We 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 WLL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, but should consider applying for the 'Open Houses' opportunity instead.

Who are we?

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.

Our premier event, the Saltaire Arts Trail, takes place annually - in 2020 this will be on the late spring Bank Holiday weekend of 23-25 May. Over three days, Saltaire becomes a magnet for visitors. As well as The Saltaire Makers Fair, there are commissioned exhibitions and installations, free creative family workshops, and the famous Open Houses - a village wide gallery of contemporary art in the Grade II listed homes of Saltaire residents.

Visit the Saltaire Inspired website to find out more.

The Saltaire Makers Fair

Held twice a year, our 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.

Some comments from exhibitors: -

"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"

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 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 Houses opportunity, which runs alongside The Saltaire Makers Fair during the Saltaire Arts Trail weekend.

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 2020 panel will be announced on the Saltaire Inspired website. 

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 take part in. See the 'Opportunity FAQs' section for details, and include details in your application if you wish to be considered.

Costs

STANDARD SPACE: £170 for 3 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 SPACE: £200 for 3 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 SPACE: £230 for 3 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 £40 reduction on the above prices, please state your stand 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, or LARGE DISPLAY from the drop down menu.

Fees will be requested upon successful application and must be paid by Friday 20th March 2020. 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.

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 Friday 24th January 2020, in order for your application to be considered. The £6 administrational does not guarentee you a place within the 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.