FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
WHAT IS GALLERY OF GIFTS?
The Gallery of Gifts is a favorite annual exhibit at the Library Arts Center in which the gallery is turned into an exhibit of unique, hand-made craft during the holiday
season. The exhibit provides the residents of this region the opportunity to purchase beautiful, locally crafted items during the season of giving. The show draws a variety of talented area crafters to display and sell their work, so that visitors to this “boutique-style” event will find unique gifts for holiday giving. The work of the approximately 100 Gallery of Gifts artists and artisans participating in 2014 generated over $33,000 in overall sales, which greatly helped to stimulate the local creative economy.
The Gallery of Gif
ts is the one show each year in which the Library Arts Center focuses on exhibiting a variety of craft, however, the Center’s West Gallery features an exhibit of artwork, and each participating artist is given his/her own space on the wall (approx. 30 in. across) to exhibit small, framed pieces. Artists may also sell matted prints or other pieces featuring original artwork (such as notecards, calendars, etc.) in the space below their wall spaces.
The Gallery of Gifts is an important annual fundraiser for the Library Arts Center, a non-profit organization, and items are sold on consignment. Items displayed in the exhibit are sold with a 30% commission to the Library Arts Center.
Artists who are accepted to display work in the show set their own prices, keeping in mind the commission taken by the Arts Center. There is no entry fee for the Gallery of Gifts. It is expected that pieces will remain part of the exhibit until the close of the exhibit, unless they are sold. All items submitted must be locally handmade (in New England).
In the past, participants in Gallery of Gifts were sought by invitation. However, the number of interested and talented artisans has grown tremendously, and therefore, as in the past several years, this year the show will be a juried show. Artists are invited to submit work, or images of work to one of two rounds of jury selection. Details of what is required for submission are highlighted below. We invite both professional and amateur artisans with unique craft offerings to submit their work. Our aim is to provide a variety of unique crafts at a variety of price points so that everyone who visits the exhibit will find something special.
WHEN IS GALLERY OF GIFTS?
This year, the Gallery of Gifts exhibit will take place November 7-December 23, 2015. The exhibit’s opening reception will be Friday, Nov. 6th, 5-7pm. Gallery hours for the exhibit and sale will be Tues.-Fri. 11am-4pm and Sat. 10am-2pm.
HOW DO I GET MY WORK JURIED?
JURY DEADLINES for 2015 The submission deadlines for the two rounds of Gallery of Gifts are:
September 1st
October 13th – final date to submit physical samples to be reviewed by jury
Artisans will receive a letter/or email notifying them if their work has been accepted within three weeks of the submission deadline. If an artist’s work is not accepted into the exhibit during the first round of selection, he/she is welcome to submit work in the second round of selection.
During the selection process, jurors will assess the work of the artists with regard to:
1) creativity/uniqueness of art or craft
2) quality
3) affordability/value
4) appeal to audience
Jurors will seek to find a balance of types of fine craft, such as wood pieces, jewelry, fiber art, glass, weaving, etc. A balance of work displayed in the West Gallery exhibit will also be sought.
APPLICATION FORMS:
Gallery of Gifts 2015 Application for CRAFTERS
Gallery of Gifts 2015 Application for ARTISTS (for consideration for the West Gallery exhibit)
For consideration by the jury, please submit the following, along with the Official Gallery of Gifts Application Form:
**3-4 work samples OR photos of your work. (Physical samples of craft items are preferred whenever possible. Digital images are preferred for artwork.) Artisans will be invited to bring specific types of items based on the photos or work samples submitted. Artists are not permitted to bring items that are not approved by the jury during the selection process. Please be sure to submit at least one photo or work sample for each type of item you would like to submit for consideration. FOR EXAMPLE, if a potter wished to be considered for his/her mugs, vases, bowls, etc., he/she should submit at least one example of each kind of item. OR, if a wood artisan also happens to make beaded jewelry, he/she should submit an example of each type of work. If an artist submitting for the West Gallery exhibit wishes to sell his/her note cards, calendars, etc. along with his/her artwork, an example of each of those items should be submitted, as well. **Artists with photos of their work posted on their websites may suggest that the jury look at their websites, in lieu of sending photos. They must, however, still indicate what they are applying to be considered for, a range of prices and quantities they would be willing to bring on their application forms.
**FOR ARTISTS & CRAFTERS SUBMITTING PHOTOS: It is preferred that you send a document or PDF file that includes your name & a grouping of photos & is ready for the jury to view, rather than emailing photos individually.
**REMEMBER: Presentation counts! Please plan on submitting work samples in the condition in which they will be for sale, with real examples of intended tags and packaging.
Artisans may submit images or work samples & application forms 1) via email sent to info [at] libraryartscenter [dot] org, 2) via USPS snail mail (printed images or on disk) to Library Arts Center, 58 N. Main Street, Newport, NH 03773, 3) or by dropping off images or work samples at the Library Arts Center office during our normal office hours Tues.-Fri. 11am-4pm. Again, please note that physical samples are preferred whenever possible. Jurors will review work within three weeks of each submission deadline. Artisans will be notified via letter or email as to whether or not their work is accepted into the show. Images, disks, & work samples may be picked up after the jury process is complete during normal office hours Tues.-Fri. 11am-4pm.
IF MY WORK HAS BEEN JURIED FOR GALLERY OF GIFTS BEFORE, DO I HAVE TO HAVE IT JURIED AGAIN?
YES, for the 2015 year, the Library Arts Center requires all artists/artisans to be juried.
PURPLE TAG ITEMS
In an effort to make this important fundraiser for the Library Arts Center more successful, we are asking that artisans consider donating one handmade craft item (of the artisan’s choice) to our Gallery of Gifts Purple Tag Offering. These items will be marked with purple tags throughout the exhibit, and if they are sold, 100% of the sales price will directly benefit Library Arts Center exhibits, classes & programs. Please consider donating an item to help the Library Arts Center in this way.
For more information about the Gallery of Gifts 2015, please contact the Library Arts Center, Tues.-Fri. 11am-4pm. (603) 863-3040 or email info [at] libraryartscenter [dot] org.