*DEADLINE EXTENDED - Sunday 1st January 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 Saturday 27th May - Monday 29th May 2023.

Over the three days of the late May Bank Holiday in 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 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 VILLAGE opportunity instead.

Event Dates: Saturday 27 May - Monday 29th May 2023 (late Spring Bank Holiday weekend).

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 three days of the Spring 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 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. 
• 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.
• 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: £185 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.

STANDARD PITCH + SMALL DISPLAY-BOARD: £215 for 3 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: £245 for 3 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 £40 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 10th March 2023. 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 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?

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.