Call for Artists

NW Art Beat Open Studios Tour presented by Skagit Artists

Please read the entire call carefully before submitting.

Skagit Artists, a 501 c 3 corporation invites artists from Skagit, Island, San Juan, Snohomish, and Whatcom counties to join our 15th annual open studios tour. NW Art Beat is a free, self-guided tour of Skagit County art studios featuring juried artists from these five counties. This event showcases the extraordinary talent of local artists and gives the public an insider view on how it all happens. Art must be shown in a working studio located in Skagit County. The artist’s studio or place used for display must be appropriate for public visitation. If you do not have a studio in Skagit County, or your studio is not appropriate for public traffic, please include a request to be hosted by another artist as part of your application. If your application is accepted and a suitable studio in which to show your work is not available all fees will be refunded. Artists are responsible for insuring their own work and space for the tour. Galleries or other rented spaces will not be accepted. Active, working studios that share space with a gallery may be included, but work must be presented in the studio space itself.

Studio Tour dates: July 21 and 22, 2018, 10am to 6pm

Application Information:

Applications may only submit through Café at www.callforentry.org

Applicants submit 3 jpeg images per Café’s requirements that represent actual work that will be offered for sale.

Fees:

Non-refundable application fee for Skagit Artists members and non-members is $35. If invited, the participation fee is $175 for Skagit Artists members and $250 for non-members (plus a refundable sign fee).  Participation fees must be paid by March 15, 2018  Skagit Artists members may obtain a Sponsorship offset (see below) to lower participation fees. The fee for Skagit Artists membership is $55 a year and can be paid at Skagit Artists.com.  You must join prior to the Application Deadline to be considered a member for this event.

Sponsorship Offset:

The cost to put on and promote NW Art Beat is approximately $350 per participant.  Sponsorship donations are needed to keep participation fees affordable. Skagit Artists members can offset participation fees by obtaining Sponsorship donations.  For each Sponsorship dollar obtained by March 31, 2018, 50 cents of the participation fee will be refunded.  Refunds for Sponsorship offset will be issued after March 31, 2018.  Details on how to obtain refunds will be provided to accepted artists.

Required Time Commitment:

NW Art Beat is put on by its participants.  Each participant, Skagit Artists members and non-members alike will be expected to attend 3 to 4 planning meetings prior the event, distribute brochures and posters, put out signs and do 10 to 20 hours of support work.

Important Dates and Deadlines:

Deadline for Application is 11:59 SMT January 31, 2018.

Notifications of accepted artists on or before February 20, 2018.

Participation fees and sample images for the brochure submitted by 11:59 SMT March 15, 2018.

Sponsorships eligible for offset must be obtained on or before March 31,2018.

Please select one of the following:

__ I have a studio in Skagit County and I am willing to host another artist.

__ I have a studio in Skagit County and I am not able to host another artist.

__ I am requesting to be hosted at a studio in Skagit County.

Jurors: Skagit Artists has retained three art professionals to jury the studio tour.

Lucy Mae Martin manages Smith and Vallee Gallery in Edison. She lives and works in Skagit Valley, WA. She has owned and ran her father's headstone business for 10 years in Conway. Lucy Mae is an artist herself, and has been a lover of the arts her entire life.

Jasmine Valandani is the Education Director for the Museum of Northwest Art in La Conner, leading community and school programs for youth and adults. She holds a BFA degree in printmaking from the University of San Francisco and an MFA in fiber from Cranbrook Academy of Art. Her work crosses disciplines and media to explore the margins of experience, drawing attention to the under-valued or over-looked through subtle re-imaginings of material and space. She has exhibited in the U.S., Canada, and South Korea. Jasmine has taught fine arts and art history at Whatcom Community College, Western Washington University and the Anacortes Senior College. Jasmine lives on Samish Island where she finds inspiration through contact with the elements and other living things.

Katherine Khile is the owner/manager of Scott Milo Gallery at the Framemaker in Anacortes.  Scott Milo provides custom picture framing and puts up 8 – 10 shows a year featuring all regional artists.  They have over 50 artists on contract to show throughout the year. Katherine also manages the monthly First Friday Artwalks and the June and December Chamber of Commerce Merchant Artwalk.

Questions:  If you have any questions about this call, please email Sarah at sarah@simplyimagesbysarah.com

Application Requirements

Eligibility Criteria