Francisco's Farm

Questions Prospective Exhibitors Ask

Where's Midway?

(If your question is not answered below, submit it to artistsliaison@franciscosfarm.org for a quick reply.)

Exhibitors:
Why are you moving and What's the new venue like?
Are previous exhibitors automatically accepted?
Are previous exhibitors given preference in booth location?
I exhibited at Francisco's Farm in previous years, so I don't need to send images of my work, right?
I applied and wasn't accepted last year - or some previous year. Why should I bother to apply this year?
How about electricity? Do you offer it, do you allow generators, and/or do you have any suggestions?

Who can apply:
I don't make my living as a professional artist - does that qualify me as an Emerging Artist?
Do you accept any food vendors - funnel cakes, barbecue, etc?
Do I have to be a resident of Kentucky to apply?
Can two artists share one booth?

Questions about the application process:
How can I save the application to my computer so I can fill it out there and print it?
Can I submit photographs or slides with my application?
What are the specifications on digital images?
How much money should I send with the application?

Eligibility of Art and Craft:
Are handcrafted soaps, bath products, cosmetics, and candles eligible?
How about food products that are not to be consumed on site - jams and jellies, sauces, mixes, etc?
I create beautiful, hand-painted silk scarves. Is my work ineligible because I purchase the scarves rather than make them myself?
I create both 2D and 3D work. Can I exhibit and sell both? Do I need to submit two separate applications?

Marketing and Promotion:
Where do you market the event?
When will exhibitors receive promotional materials? What are they?

Lodging:
What are the lodging options for exhibitors?

Why are you moving?
The decision to move this successful event after seven years was not undertaken lightly. An Advisory Group of artists, arts organization directors, and marketing consultants provided input, suggestions and recommendations to our Planning Committee. All advisors expressed the opinion that Equus Run will be an outstanding venue. We are committed to exceeding the high expectations of our artists and visitors each year, and especially in 2011 when we celebrate our first year at Equus Run Vineyards. The following benefits weighed heavily in our deliberations:

Even greater variety of dining options
More convenient parking for visitors and artists
The opportunity to enjoy a glass of wine or beer
Booth layout will flow with easy access to every artist
Exhibitors may drive to booth spaces for ease of set-up and tear-down
The Festival offers electricity for exhibitors
Broad promotion will include Equus Run Vineyards' thousands of loyal customers

What's the new venue like?
Award-winning Equus Run Vineyards is nestled on 35 acres in the heart of central Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region, amidst picturesque thoroughbred horse farms, historic stone fences and the quaint charm of Midway. Named "Kentucky's Best Wine" for the 5th straight year by Kentucky Monthly magazine, Equus Run is the Official Licensee of the Kentucky Derby Commemorative Wines and was also chosen to produce the Commemorative Wines of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Equus Run Vineyards offers an unparalleled venue for our artists and art patrons. Explore this award-winning winery!

The artists exhibition area will wind through the promenade gardens in the vineyard, from the large tasting barn with its covered porch and music stage, to the tiered amphitheatre where Equus Run produces a summer concert series.

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Are previous exhibitors automatically accepted?
Prior to the 2009 Festival, the Planning Committee decided on a change in policy to be instituted beginning with the 2010 Festival. Exhibitors winning Artist Awards and exhibitors who are given the highest scores by our Artist Award Jurors are invited to exhibit at the next three annual events without being subject to the jury review and their application fee is waived.

The organizers are committed to creating a new mix of exhibitors each year. This may not seem helpful or fair to artists who have exhibited in the past, as it isn't a show that an artist can continue to count on year to year. However, one of our primary goals is to increase the number of visitors who come and purchase art, and offering a new show each year helps to create a loyal following for the show - visitors who consider it a show they want to return to each year - a show with a reputation for excellence and freshness - a show that is lucrative for the artists.

Artistic excellence is the sole criteria for selection of exhibitors. The top applicants will be accepted, and Francisco's Farm Arts Festival establishes no quota or entitlement by media category.

Are previous exhibitors given preference in booth location?
The Festival will attempt to honor all specific location requests, but can make no guarantees. Applications are date-stamped when the application is Complete. Complete applications have all fields filled in and include images, artist statements, and payment of application fee. Accepted artists with specific space requests will be assigned spaces on a first-come, first served basis per the date-stamp on their application.

I exhibited at Francisco's Farm in the past, so I don't need to send images of my work, right?
Every applicant (including those in the Emerging Artist category) needs to submit three images with his or her application every year. We also require an image of your booth. A new review panel is assembled each year, so some reviewers may have never seen your work before. You may also have created new work and the reviewers are always interested in seeing your most recent work.

I applied and wasn't accepted in previous years. Why should I bother to apply this year?
Check out the images of the artwork that was accepted last year. If your work is as good as, or better, than the work represented, perhaps the images you submitted didn't accurately reflect the quality of your work. Perhaps you are doing new work, but submitted images of your old work. Another possibility is that the competition was particularly tough in your media category. There are often more applicants in some categories - usually Jewelry and Photography - and that varies from year to year. A new review panel is assembled each year, so some reviewers may have never seen your work before.

Please also read the answer to "Are previous exhibitors automatically accepted?", as it provides further information about our efforts to create a 'Not to Miss' show for visitors.

How about electricity? Do you offer it, do you allow generators, and/or do you have any suggestions?
We'll make electricity available to a limited number of exhibitors on a first-requested, first-reserved basis as indicated on the application. The fee for electricity is $25 per booth. There are a number of electric supply boxes scattered throughout the exhibition area and more may be added - it's possible that everyone who requests electricity may have it - we'll make those decisions in early spring.

We do allow quiet, odorless generators but they must be located a distance behind your booth to avoid any nuisance issues with other artists and visitors.

Here's an excellent suggestion from an artist: "I bring boat batteries. Many shows will not allow generators so I use deep cycle, marine batteries, one fully charged battery will last me an entire 3 day show running my fans, fountains and sometimes a light. I always bring an extra just in case. They cost less than a generator, make no noise or odor and take up less room. I was sent in this direction by a couple of show old timers and it was a great suggestion!

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I don't make my living as a professional artist - does that qualify me as an Emerging Artist?
The Emerging Artist category was created to offer an opportunity to artists who have not yet submitted their work to any adjudicated program or juried art show, ie they do not qualify to apply as a regular applicant. If your work has been accepted by state, regional, or national adjudicated programs or recognized juried shows, you qualify to apply as a regular applicant so do not fit into our Emerging Artist category.

Do you accept any food vendors - funnel cakes, barbecue, etc?
The organizers are committed to providing the best dining options for our artists, patrons, and volunteers at the Festival. Applications for food vendors will be available online in January, and vendors are encouraged to request an application by contacting artistsliaison@franciscosfarm.org. Downtown Midway is filled with wonderful restaurants, and visitors are also encouraged to visit them for lunch or dinner during the Festival.

Do I have to be a resident of Kentucky to apply?
Artists from anywhere in the country are invited to apply. Most of our exhibiting artists have been from the southeastern United States, but our reputation for outstanding artist hospitality services is drawing artists from other parts of the country, as well.

Can two artists share one booth? Two artists may share one booth, but both must apply and be accepted individually.

How can I save the application to my computer so I can fill it out there and print it?
You can save the application to your computer either by right-clicking on the link to the application, then clicking 'Save As' and saving it someplace where you can find it later, OR opening the application and selecting 'File', 'Save As'. You can then open it later, fill it out, and print it. You just can't save a 'filled-out' application, so remember to print two copies and save one for your records.

Can I submit photographs with my application?
Photographs and slides are accepted, however, there is a $25 fee (in addition to the application fee) for processing photographs and slides into digital images. Digital images are strongly preferred. As the industry is phasing out slide projectors, digital images will become the only acceptable submissions in future years, as they are now at many art shows. Artists are encouraged to obtain professional quality digital images of their work for submission to art shows and the media.

What are the specifications on digital images?
Digital images must have a minimum resolution of 300 ppi. This will allow us to use your images in print for publicity purposes. (Note: Digital images prepared for websites are often only 72ppi resolution - not high enough for print.) Minimum image size is 4"x4" - 1200x1200pixels, and larger images are preferred..
When sending digital images, please send only the image files - do not include photographic software that must be installed in order to view the images or links to web-based image storage sites.
Images should show only one artwork per image, unless you are showing a collection - for example, a necklace with matching earrings. For two-dimensional work, it's generally best to exclude mats and frames so that the artwork itself fills the frame.
Images may be burned to CD and mailed with your application, or images may be emailed to artistsliaison@franciscosfarm.org. You may need to send the images in three separate emails, as many email clients are restricted to attaching files no larger than 2MB.

How much money should I send with the application?
You'll need to send $30 (the application fee) with your application (or mail it separately if you've submitted your application electronically. Send no booth fee. Send no electricity fee or tent rental fee (if you reserve these). Accepted applicants will be invoiced for booth fees (and for electricity & tent rental fees if they reserve these services) along with their acceptance letter, in February. Fees are due March 1st.

The only reason to send more than the $30 application fee -
If you are sending photographs or slides, we will need to scan them to create digital images for the jury panel. There is a $25.00 fee for this service, in addition to your application fee. If you send photographs or slides, include a check for $55.00.

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Are handcrafted soaps, bath products, cosmetics, candles, or food products eligible?
Although we recognize the craft and creativity involved in producing these products, the organizers of the show have decided not to accept 'consumable art and craft', which includes soaps, lotions, bath products, cosmetics, candles, and food products.

I create beautiful, hand-painted silk scarves. I purchase the scarves. Is my work ineligible because the scarves are purchased?
Items purchased and decorated, as well as work made from combining purchased commercial objects, are generally not considered to be handcrafted work; HOWEVER, strong overall design, interpretation, and originality can obviously affect the end result.

The intent of the rule is to promote original art and to exclude embellished commercially-mass-produced items in which the commercially mass produced element of the work dominates over the embellished dimension of the work. The determination is to what extent the purchased item itself is a "backdrop" for your original art. Are the designs original? Do you create only multiples of one design, or items that are unique? These questions/answers help to make the determination. If you are uncertain as to the eligibility of your artwork, please feel free to inquire of artistsliaison@franciscosfarm.org

I create both 2D and 3D work. Can I exhibit and sell both? Do I need to submit two separate applications?
Both your 2D and your 3D work need to be accepted by the jury panel, but you need not submit two applications - just submit two sets of images and pay one application fee. If your booth shot doesn't show both artforms displayed, add a note to your application to explain the percentage of 2D and the percentage of 3D you intend to sell at Francisco's Farm. Also, let us know if you will be unable to exhibit unless both media are accepted or whether you are able and willing to display only one if the other is not accepted.

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Where do you market the event?
The Festival is promoted in the Lexington, Louisville, and Cincinnati print, radio, and television markets, as well as through road signs and posters in the central Kentucky area. Exhibiting artists are strongly encouraged to promote the Festival, through press releases to their local media, distribution of postcards and hand-out cards, and through links from their web sites. See the 2010 Media Report (PDF), and our promotion will be even broader in 2011.

When will exhibitors receive promotional materials? What are they? Promotional materials include postcards with space for exhibitor notes and 'hand-out' cards to be distributed to your customers and at your local galleries and events. Accepted exhibitors will receive hand-out cards along with their acceptance letters. Additional postcards will be sent along with exhibitor packets, and we will honor all requests for additional cards while supplies last.
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What are our loding options?
The organizers are working on opportunities for exhibitor lodging at area college campuses and discounted hotel rooms within a 15 minute drive of the venue. Details on lodging and dining options will be included in your acceptance letter.

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