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July 1, 2009
Dear Artist:
The University of Idaho Women’s Center warmly invites you to apply to participate in our 14th annual arts and crafts fair, WomensWorks. This year’s fair will be held in the newly-remodeled U of I Student Union Ballroom, and will take place on Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7, 2009 from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm each day. The deadline for completing the online application and submitting booth payment is Friday, October 2, 2009.
WomensWorks, now a signature Women’s Center program, has always been a unique and wonderful event, showcasing the work of talented women artists while also providing financial support for Women’s Center scholarships and programs. We are delighted to have hosted many of you for several consecutive years, and sincerely hope that you will return again this year. However, due to extensive budget and programming cuts at the University for this coming fiscal year, we have had to make some changes to the fee structure of the show. These adjustments are detailed below.
The cost of individual booths will be $75.00 for the two-day event. Booths include one 8-foot table and two chairs. Two artists may share one booth by paying $40.00 per artist. The following additional amenities may also be reserved at extra cost and on a first-come, first-served basis:
• Extra table = +$10.00
• Electricity = +$10.00
• Table skirt (dark gray only) = +$5.00 per table
• Premium booth location in a corner space (limit 8) = +$20.00
• Adjacent booths (two booth spaces next to each other) $150.00
In addition to the above changes, one other significant change in WomensWorks policies is important to note. In the past, we have allowed artists to mail us a check for a percentage of their sales after the fair is over. However, because the rate of return on our requested percentage contributions has been steadily declining, this year we will require a flat contribution of 10% of artists’ sales proceeds, payable by 5:00 pm on the second day of the show, Saturday, November 7. We greatly appreciate your cooperation with this change in policy. We have made this change in lieu of significantly raising the booth fee, which would disproportionately affect those artists with lower total sales. We expect you to know how much you have sold and to be able to calculate the 10% contribution. Please bring any required ledger or receipt books to accomplish this task.
Booth dimensions are 10 feet x 10 feet. Artists may bring their own canopy and walls for displaying their work, as long as the entire display fits within these space dimensions. As is customary, only original artwork and crafts will be allowed to be sold. The artist(s) must be in attendance throughout the fair. There will be a limited number of booths available in each category of art/craft (i.e., jewelry, pottery, textiles, etc.), and booths will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Once all booths allocated for a specific type of art/craft have been filled, artists will be placed on a waiting list and considered for admittance to the show only in the event of a cancellation within their particular art/craft category.
In the past two years, our expanded publicity campaign has resulted in increased attendance and sales for vendors. We are planning to continue this extensive advertising again this year, as well as launch even broader outreach efforts to local communities, including area businesses, regular radio and newspaper coverage, and flyers to local schools, universities, and other non-profit entities. We hope to further increase attendance by once again placing coupons in local newspaper ads. As in past years, we will send you as many postcards, posters, and flyers for your own mailings as you request on the online application form. Please help us to get the word out about this fantastic event. Invite all your customers and friends!
Participating artists will be able to set up their booths on Thursday, November 5 between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm, or on Friday morning from 8:00-10:00 am. As in past years, student volunteers will be available to help carry heavy items up and down the stairs. If you are interested in taking part in WomensWorks 2009, please complete the online application form as soon as possible. Please note: If you do not have access to the Internet, call us at (208) 885-6616 and we will mail you a hard copy of the application form.
After completing the online application, you will receive a confirmation e-mail noting that we have received your application, and the total amount due. Payment in full will be required by October 2, 2009. Your space will not be guaranteed until we receive your booth payment. Set-up details, a map, a parking permit, and the promotional materials you request will be mailed to you in mid-October.
If you have any questions, please call the Women’s Center at (208) 885-6616, or e-mail us at wcenter@uidaho.edu. We look forward to seeing you in November!
Lysa Salsbury
Women’s Center Program Coordinator
Heather Shea Gasser
Women’s Center Director
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