Last Year's Gourd Art Festival Was the BEST EVER for Exhibitors!
Average Sales were up Over 40%, with Exhibitors Reporting
as Much as a 300% Increase in Sales Over the Previous Year!

Dear Artist/Exhibitor,   
  
The 12th Annual International Gourd Art Festival is taking place June 21st and 22nd, 2008 at the Welburn Gourd Farm in Fallbrook, CA, and we would love to have you join us as an exhibitor at the event!

The 2007 show was a phenomenal event for artists and exhibitors, with record breaking sales for many and sales increases (over previous year) reported at anywhere from 20% higher up to 300% higher! Here’s what 2007 Exhibitors had to say about the show:

 “Attendance was great!  Sales were fantastic!  You missed a great show if you didn’t attend.”-Kathy Riker     

“Our sales doubled this year.”-Barbara McDermott and Sandee Horan
     
 “I’ve been doing this show for over 9 years now and this has been the ABSOLUTE BEST festival ever!...Crowds were great and sales were FANTASTIC!”-Dianne Connelly

"This year was the best show ever! ...Everyone enjoyed themselves immensely....[Sales] were way better than any other year! If you didn't attend, you really missed out." -Carrie Dearing, www.creativegourdart.com

"Sales up 35%." -Donna Morris, Out of Our Gourds

"Our first festival as exhibitors and it was a fabulous experience! Great venue,...very nice people, and good traffic." -Penny and Jim Tucker, Aspen Wolf Arts, Tehachapi, CA

"Great!...Sales up 20% - 25%!" -The Gluesmith, www.thegluesmith.com

Exhibitor Guidelines and Application Checklist

• Event: 12th Annual International Gourd Art Festival
• Date: June 21st and 22nd, 2008
• Location: Welburn Gourd Farm, Fallbrook, CA
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 1, 2008 There are currently four Exhibitor spaces left -- please call the festival office for application procedure. 760-728-4588.
• Application Process: 100% Juried Show for artwork; Those selling gourd tools and supplies are accepted or declined based on how many exhibitors have already been accepted selling the same kind of items. Application fee: $15 (not refundable)
• Booth Space Fee: $255 per 10’X 10’ space (charged once you have been accepted)
• Display: Professional booths and displays are required, including a clean tarp/tent (preferable white), full length drapes on tables. Tarps, tables, table drapes, chairs, back and side walls available for rent.
• Exhibitor Requirements: All exhibitors’ booths must contain 90% gourd related items for sale (unless it is a Sponsor Booth). All artwork MUST be created by you, the artist (partner work is fine, as long as all artists are listed on the application). ABSOLUTELY NO 3rd party work or imports are allowed with the exception of cultural-based art from another country where a village or family creates art as a group and one artist serves as the representative for that village or family (must be approved by the Festival office).
• Jury Process: Artist selection is based on quality, individuality, and originality (in terms of style) of work. Even though all gourd art, by definition, is original and unique, the ‘originality’ criterion ensures the show is not saturated with too many artists selling the same style work.
• Clear, focused photographs are extremely important. This cannot be emphasized enough! The jury only has your photographs on which to base their decision, so clear, sharp photos are the most important part of your application. Also, the best photos will be chosen for use in publicity of the Festival (with artists permission), thereby increasing your selling opportunities.

The application is saved as a PDF file so you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Just click on the button below to download the software if you do not already have it.
You may also request to have the application sent to you by mail. Just call 760-728-4588.

Application Checklist:

• Completed 2008 Exhibitor Application. Be sure to include your California Resale Number (permanent or temporary); contact the SBOE Information Center at (800)-400-7115 if you do not have a CA resale number or click here to download the CA Resale Number request form. (You will need Acrobat Reader to open this document, or visit the BOE web site at www.boe.ca.gov)
• Completed Web Listing form
• If you plan to sell tools, books, or supplies, you MUST include a complete list of items to be sold, written on reverse of application; if selling both art and supplies, please indicate % art and % supplies.
• Minimum of five high quality photos (i.e., not blurred, over or under exposed, no “hot spots,” etc.) representative of the artist’s work to be sold (not required for exhibitors selling only gourd supplies).
• Self-addressed stamped envelope for return of photos (Optional)
• Separate Check or Money Order for $15.00 non-refundable processing fee (This must be paid separately from Total Due on your application.)
• Signed and dated Exhibitor Contract.

Please note: If there is more than one artist selling in your booth, please fill out separate applications for each artist. You may have multiple artists in a booth, however each artist must submit their own information and application, including the $15 application fee (booth space and rental fees need only be on one application for a group). Each artist’s work is juried separately. There is an exception for artwork created jointly; only one processing fee and application is required.

Once the application is received, it will be reviewed for completeness. Only completed application packets will be considered and passed on to the Jury panel. If during the initial review it is determined that the application is not complete, the entire application will be returned to sender to be finalized.

In order to reach the juried step of the process, all items on the checklist below must be completed and mailed to:

Int’l Gourd Art Festival
145 E. Fig St. Ste. E
Fallbrook, CA 92028

Sincerely,

Vickie Knox
Festival Director
The International Gourd Art Festival

Please call us with any questions you might have: 760-728-4588, M-F 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Or Email: vickie@gourdfestival.com