ARTIST APPLICATION
Sixth Annual Gorge Artists Open Studios Tour April 13, 14 & 15, 2012
Deadline for Entries: November 15, 2011
What is the Gorge Artists Open Studios Tour?
Gorge Artists Open Studios is a juried, annual, self-directed tour of artist studios in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. It provides an opportunity for the public to meet artists at work in their studios. All studios or workspaces are located in or near communities in the Mid-Columbia region of the Columbia Gorge. New this year: artists may share studio space. Each artist must still show/demonstrate their materials, tools and work in process.
[Link]
When is it?
The studio tour is April 13, 14 & 15 but there are other activities to enjoy as a Tour artist, including three workshops and a group show.
Why would I want to participate?
The Gorge Artists Open Studios Project provides many learning, selling and community building opportunities for participating artists: You can: * SHOW and SELL your work, BUILD our collector base and COMMUNICATE with the public. * Meet and get to know other Gorge artists at seminars and volunteer activities. * Learn techniques for getting the most out of the studio tour at two free artist workshops. * Show in the April 2011 Tour Preview exhibition at The Pines. You receive: * 5 Tour Guides to distribute to collectors or friends. * 300 post card invitations to mail to your current customers ($80 value). * Year-long promotion on the [Link] website and blog. * Year-long promotion in the Error! Contact not defined. Tour Guide.
More than just one weekend a year.
Tour artists build relationships with other artists and with potential customers and collectors. The Tour Guide is used by the media, curators, and art buyers all year long. Artists are invited to exhibitions, get written about, teach classes and sell their work because of Gorge Artists Open Studios.
What does it cost to participate?
The fee is $140 dollars, (a $15 dollar non-refundable processing fee plus a $125 participation fee) plus 8 hours of volunteer time. You may pay a $300 participation fee and opt out of your volunteer commitment. The participation fee includes publication in the Tour Guide and on the website, as well as workshops, signage and 5 Tour Guides.
How do I become a Tour Artist?
Just fill out and return the enclosed 2-page application. Burn a disk with 3 current images for 4x6 300 dpi reproduction and enclose two checks one( $15) non-refundable application fee and one ($125) refundable participation fee, or $300 if opting out of your volunteer commitment. Applications will be juried in November. Application deadline is November 15. Or download an application from our website: [Link] Much of our communication is via email. You must have an active email account to participate.
How is the Tour promoted?
Gorge Artists Open Studios has an active publicity and marketing program. Regional publications as well as local press cover the Open Studios Tour. The Oregonian has listed the Tour as a Must-See Event. The Tour has been promoted on OPBs Oregon Art Beat. We also buy ads in The Sunday Oregonian and Friday Arts and Entertainment section, Portland Art Dealers Associations monthly guide, Rediviva and other publications.
APPLICATION FORM
Gorge Artists Open Studios April 13, 14 & 15 2012 PART 1/2
Application Due November 15, 2012
info: [Link]
TOUR GUIDE - ARTISTS INFORMATION
This information will appear in the Tour Guide. Please check it carefully. Legibility is very important! Thank you!
Artists Name: **Studio Address: City: Email: Medium: State: Website: Studio phone # Zip:
DIRECTIONS: (please begin directions from either Washington Highway 14 or Oregon Highway I-84. For instance, Take I-84 to Exit #69, Mosier, then turn right on ..etc.) Please describe what side of the street your studio is on as well as house color or other indicators, if appropriate. **If you are sharing a studio with another artist, please use correct address and give the same directions to the studio.**
PARKING: (Please describe where you would like visitors to park. For instance, Parking is available at head of driveway. If full, please use turn-around ahead on road ahead.)
DESCRIPTION OF WORK: (For instance: I create panoramic oil paintings using my own pigments and handmade brushes. My subjects include local landscapes and flower studies. Ask me about my recent appearance on the Charlie Rose Show.)
Application Checklist:
Completed and signed 2 page application form. A CD with 3 -5 images sized to 4x6 at 300 dpi. These images should reflect a consistent body of work. Be sure to indicate your name and the titles of the pieces on the CD. One image marked for the Tour Guide with an asterisk on the CD or CD cover. If not indicated, we will choose an image. Please make sure this piece, or one very similar, will be available for the Tour, visitors sometimes fall in love with the piece in the Tour guide and are disappointed if it is not available. 2 checks- $125 dollar participation fee ($300 if opting out of volunteer work) plus 1 for $15 dollar non-refundable application fee. I will be sharing a studio. MAIL TO: Gorge Artists, PO BOX 2230, THE DALLES, OR 97058
APPLICATION POSTMARK DEADLINE November 15, 2012.
If you have questions call Pat Bozanich or John Maher (541) 296-5134
Gorge Artists Open Studios April 13, 14 & 15
Application Form Part 2
Application Due November 15, 2011 info:[Link] Contact Information: Artists Name: ____________________________________________________ Mailing address: ____________________________________________________ Phone number(s): ____________________________________________________ Email address: ____________________________________________________
Service Contribution:
The Gorge Artists Open Studios Tour is an event produced by Gorge Artists Inc., a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization. Unless you opt to pay an additional $175, you MUST contribute a minimum of 8 hours of volunteer time. This organization is volunteer-driven. Your volunteer commitment is essential to the success of the Studio Tour. Please indicate which tasks/committees from the attached Artist Volunteer Activities page interest you: 1. _________________________________________________________________________________ 2. _________________________________________________________________________________ 3. _________________________________________________________________________________
Please list any special skills and expertise you would like to volunteer: Participation Agreement:
If you drop out after December 20, no money will be refunded. No changes of studio location, phone, email, etc. can be made in the Tour Guide After Dec.31. I agree to open my studio at the location listed above from 10 am to 5 pm on the weekend of the event, April 13, 14 & 15, and to be present during those hours. I will have my own original, unique art displayed. I will show visitors my materials, tools, and work-in-progress. I agree to be at work and show visitors some aspect of making my art. I am enclosing two checks, one for the $125 participant fee ($300 if opting out of volunteer work) and one for the non-refundable $15 application fee. Gorge Artists will refund my participant fee if I am not accepted. If I am not opting out (and paying the extra fee) I agree to contribute 8 hours of volunteer time. I also agree to attend the three artist workshops. I agree to allow my artwork images to be used for publicity purposes. I have email and agree to use it as the primary communication method for Tour activities.
Signature:
Date:
Gorge Artists Open Studios Artist Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer Duty Description
Make sure we have enough event signs, that they are in good shape and that they are distributed to artists and are picked up after the tour. Make new signs as necessary. Contact participating artists to make sure all volunteer duties are covered; track volunteer hours; coordinate with Gorge Artists board and committee chairs to assess volunteer needs; be familiar with all volunteer duties Keep customer and artist databases current and usable. Coordinate volunteers working with other databases. Do even more to make the Open Studios Tour a successful event, become a Board Member! Help make decisions and guide the organization. Lots of work, but fun too. Tabling at First Fridays in Hood River, Last Fridays in Bingen, Third Fridays in The Dalles to sell tour directories. Identify additional venues and staff those too. Proof read Open Studios Tour Guide, maps for proper studio placement and directions to studio, articles, etc. Help coordinate/provide food for Tour-related events Two artist workshops Open Studios Preview Show Post-tour celebration Identify Tour Guide sales outlets in your community, set up point-of-purchase displays, refill displays and collect money. Collect displays, unsold guides, money after event. Coordinate Tour Preview Show. Coordinate delivery of artwork, hanging and take down of show, food committee and related tasks. Develop/design promotional mailer; coordinate mailing with volunteers. Manage Gorge Artist Website to keep information current and correct Identify and approach current and potential event sponsors; develop sponsorship and cross-promotional relationships with motels, B&Bs and restaurants. Realtors too. Ideally we would have at least one person in each community doing this work. Develop a contact list of Websites to post Open Studios Tour information on, post event to as many websites & online calendars as possible. Verify media contacts and update database of contacts (includes coordinating with artists to gather information about the newsletters each is connected to.) Work with community liaisons and others to display, distribute, sell, monitor sales activity, and collect funds for tour guides. Help with set-up and clean up, content planning, record keeping, material distribution, and presentations. Write stories about participating artists and Tour for newspapers, magazines, websites, etc. Write text for our website and potentially provide new written content for the tour guide.
Sign-up Title
Sign Maven Assistants Volunteer Coordinator (also assistants) Database manager Board Member Tabling/Directory Sales Proof reading Food Committee(s) Workshops Tour Preview Celebration Community liaison Tour Guide distribution Coordinate Tour Preview Show (also assistants) Website Manager Hospitality/Fundraising Committee Community liaisons Promotion Web contacts Managing media contacts database Retail Sales Coordinator Workshop tasks Writing articles for publication