Take Your Time When You Apply
Photos courtesy of Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce
Professional, well-lit photos make all the difference. Your artwork may be incredible in person, but if your photos do not showcase it properly, you are already at a disadvantage. Invest the time to submit clear, high-quality images that accurately represent your work.
We provide space for artists to describe their work, and I encourage applicants to take advantage of that opportunity. Tell us about your process, your inspiration, and the skills you have developed over time. We love hearing the story behind the art. An artist who has spent years refining their craft and can explain the techniques, materials, and passion that go into creating their work always stands out.
If there is a personal story that connects you to your art, share it! Those details help us understand not only what you create, but who you are as an artist. A strong application combines beautiful images with a compelling story, and that is a winning combination.
The Jurying Process
We use an online application process that allows artists to upload photos of their work, describe their artistic process, identify any collaborators, and provide either a booth photo or a rendering of their display setup. Artists are required to submit three photos of representative artwork and price information for each artwork submitted.
For artists who are new to the show circuit and do not yet have booth photos, that is completely OK. We encourage them to create a rendering of what they envision their booth looking like or even use a dining room table or similar setup at home to demonstrate how their work will be displayed. We are looking for a thoughtful presentation and an understanding of how the artwork will be showcased to customers.
One requirement that is especially important to us is the artist-at-work photo. We want to see artists actively creating their work. This helps us better understand the process behind the finished pieces and ensures that applicants are genuinely producing the work they are submitting.
The jury process evaluates both the quality of the artwork and the professionalism of the presentation. We review the artist statement, submitted images, booth presentation, artist-at-work photo, and supporting information to better understand the artist's creative process, craftsmanship, and overall fit for the festival.
Our jurors rate each artist on a scale of one to five. Then we invite, waitlist, or decline based on those ratings.
Mistakes Seen on Applications
One of the most common mistakes I see is applicants rushing through the process. They answer questions with little detail, upload photos that do not properly showcase their work, and treat the application as something to simply complete rather than an opportunity to present themselves professionally.
My advice is simple: be intentional. Take a moment to review your application before submitting it and ask yourself, "Am I proud of this? Is this something I would include in a professional portfolio?" If the answer is no, it is worth spending a little more time on it.
High-quality images are incredibly important. I love seeing sharp, high-resolution photos where I can appreciate the details and texture of the artwork. When I can almost feel the texture through the image, that is a great sign. That said, not everyone has access to professional photography equipment, so my biggest recommendation is to make sure your work is well lit, free from harsh shadows, and photographed against a clean background.
We do not need to see your messy workspace or what is happening behind the scenes in the photo. Save that for social media. In your application, we are looking for presentation, cleanliness, and professionalism.
My biggest piece of advice is to take your time. Be thorough, answer questions completely, and provide as much relevant information as possible the first time around.
Many categories receive a high volume of applications, and while we would love to personally follow up with every artist for clarification, that is simply not realistic. A thoughtful, complete application gives you the best chance of being fully understood during the jurying process.
And please, read the directions and FAQs. We recently updated ours to make them even more helpful and accessible. We genuinely enjoy connecting with artists and answering questions, but there is only one me.
The more you utilize the resources provided, the smoother the application process will be for everyone. Visit fhartfairs.com to check it out.