Bluff Country Studio Art Tour - 2017

Location:  SE Minnesota
Phone:   651-307-6373
Event Dates:  April 28-30, 2017
Application Deadline:  October 31, 2016
Please read entire call completely for submission requirements and artist performance requirements.

The 17th Annual Bluff Country Studio Art Tour is open to artists/studios in southeastern Minnesota. Artists from southwestern Wisconsin and northeastern Iowa may apply to be hosted at our group site located at the Lanesboro Community Center.  This is a studio tour and our preference is for artists to open their studios to the public to demonstrate and show visitors their work process.  Artists with studios not handicap accessible or conducive to tours are encourage to apply as an artist at our hosted location at Lanesboro Community Center (an additional fee for center rental applies - rental fee is split between all artists participating at this location)

Categories/Fees:
Emerging Artist - $125 (see category requirements below)
New Established Artist - $210
Returning Artist - $250
Late Artist Application - $275
Optional Additional Brochure Photo - $25
Gallery/Museum/Art Institution (all volunteer) - $250
Gallery/Museum/Art Institution (representing 2 - 24) artists - $300
Gallery/Museum/Art Institution (representing 25 or more artists) - $350

Emerging Artist Category - New for 2017, an emerging artist category has been created.  This category is designed specifically for artists who have no experience exhibiting and selling their artwork in an art fair/tour environment.  Artists who meet this requirement are encouraged to apply, however BCSAT reserves the right to pre-screen emerging artists to make sure they fit this category.  The application procedure is the same as the regular applicants except that a 2000 character (including spaces) essay about why they want to participate in BCSAT and why they should be selected as our emerging artists is required.  Emerging artists will be provided a location to display their work in the Lanesboro Community Center or may display at their studio location. Only one Emerging Artist will be selected so artists who wish to participate even if not selected as our emerging artist should submit a second application using the New Artist category.  A seond entry fee will be assess at the time of application but will be refunded via a coupon code after acceptance 

Process:
Applications are due by October 31, 2016.  Late applications may be made until November 15, 2016 at the higher late registration fee.  Artists’ applications will be juried and artists will be notified of their status by November 30th.  Artists will then be able to log back into CaFE and pay their fees by December 15th  Failure to pay fees by December 15th will trigger one contact from event organizers.  If payment is not received following that contact, artist's acceptance if forfeited. 

Artists Receive:
Each artist receives a page on the tour website with a slideshow of work and a map to their location.  Our brochure provides a map of the entire tour, each artist is listed with one photo and location information.  Brochures are mailed to approximately 10,000 addresses of past patrons and an additional 5,000 are distributed through local businesses, visitor's centers, art festivals, and art organizations.  Additionally, the tour is promoted in print ads, radio ads and social media.  Each artist is expected to provide a mailing list for the tour mailing and distribute brochures to potential attendees. 

Image Requirements:
Each artist shall provide 6-10 high res. 300dpi photos with a maximum of 1920 px on the longest side. Larger images will automatically be resized by CaFE.  These photos will be used to jury new and emerging artists, for the artist's slideshow on our website, brochure and ad design as well as social media promotions. Quality photographs are extremely important. The majority of photos should be of artist's current work, however you are welcome to also include 1-2 photos of the artist working.  When uploading photos to CaFE, please be sure to complete all the blanks on the photo upload page including the longer description blank

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria