Want to exhibit your artwork at an art fair? Tips on how to prepare your application
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Want to exhibit your artwork at an art fair? Tips on how to prepare your application

Updated: Aug 3, 2020

As Art Vancouver’s exhibitor applications for 2021 are now open, we came up with some useful tips on how to put together your application, and make it stand out from the rest.


When evaluating an artist's application, it is important that we can easily grasp your artistic process, see clear photographs of your artwork, and get a thorough depiction of who you are as an artist in order for us to make a decision. Below are our key tips on how you can make that decision easier for us.



Taking Photographs of Your Artwork


We know it is hard to truly view a piece of art through a screen, so please help us by submitting clear photographs of your artwork! It is best to choose a selection of your most recent work to send to us, and ensure that these are good quality photos that are not grainy or blurry. Photographs with plain white backgrounds would be ideal, please avoid images with busy backgrounds. We just want to see your artwork.



Up-to-date Website and Social Media Channels


Websites and social media channels are a great way for us to get to know you as an artist, see more of your work, and to understand what your artistic process is. We are interested in seeing how you have evolved as an artist as it provides insight into how you will grow in the future. Your website and social media is a great way for us to see this!


As an Art Vancouver Exhibitor, you will receive extensive marketing from us through our catalogue, blog, newsletter, and many other marketing materials, so we want to ensure that you are able to promote yourself and the art fair too through your social media channels. Just getting started with social media? We find that the best platform for showcasing and promoting your work is Instagram due to it being a more visual-based platform. Show us your art and your working processes on your feed so that we can get to know you more.


As well as social media, your website is another platform that we examine when making our decision. Your website should be up to date, include your artist bio, and feature images of your work so that we can see a larger collection of your artwork. If you need help creating your website, we recommend using Studio Townsend (link http://www.studiotownsend.co.uk/).



What to Include in your Short Bio and Exhibition History


As part of your application you will be asked to write a short bio. This is a way for us to get to know you more and should include details such as your past successes, your art education (if applicable), what drives you to create, and the style of your artwork.


As for your Exhibition History, we would like to find out all significant details about your artistic career, and where you plan on going with your art. For example, what are some past exhibitions you have participated in? Are there any artists you work alongside? And what is your vision for your artistic career?



How to Pick a Booth Best Suited to You


In the final part of your application you will be asked what kind of Booth you would like to receive at Art Vancouver. When making this decision, keep in mind that your artwork should have plenty of space around it to stand out. Measure the potential pieces that you will bring to Art Vancouver, think of how much space they may need to stand out on the wall, and choose the Booth size accordingly.


If you will be producing an installation at Art Vancouver, it is also important for you to note whether you will need walls or not. Please let us know how you would like to install this installation work.


Finally, it is advised that you have 1 light per 5ft wide wall in your booth, please keep this in mind when selecting how many lights you may need for your selected booth size.




We hope that you have found these tips useful when putting together your Exhibitor Applications, and we cannot wait to hear from you and see your artwork! If you require further information regarding your application, have questions about the process, or would like to receive an exhibitor information package, please do not hesitate to contact us at exhibitors@artvancouver.net, visit our Exhibitor Page, or check our FAQs.


To apply, please complete the online format here. We look forward to hearing from you.



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