Home
>
Artist Resources, Awards and More
Artist Resources, Awards and More
Festival Info for Artists (you are now here)
Website
As an exhibiting artist the images you used on your Zapplication application will be placed on our website in the next few weeks, along with your name as indicated on your agreement, your artist’s statement and a head shot. If you have an email or web address, please be sure we have it so we can link you to potential consumers who visit the site. All of this information can be provided to us via the Information Sheet with your agreement.
Electricity
All artists will be provided a three prong outlet, 110v with a total of 200 maximum watts per artist. All electrical equipment used by the artist MUST be weatherproof and UL ready for wet locations. If you pay for additional power through Zapp, we will be prepared to meet your needs when you arrive. In case of severe weather, our electricians give artists top priority. However, should artist(s) overload the circuit, you will not be given priority and you will be charged for the electrician's visit. If you plan to utilize more than 200 watts of electricity (consider four 60 watt light bulbs equals 240 watts) you must order additional electric.
Artist Hours of Operation
Thursday, April 16, 2009 10:00a.m. - 8:00p.m.
Friday, April 17, 2009 10:00a.m. - 8:00p.m.
Saturday, April 18 2009 10:00a.m. - 8:00p.m.
Sunday, April 19, 2009 10:00a.m. - 6:00p.m.
Each artist must be present in their booth during all hours of booth operation unless on break or otherwise excused by the Director. Each morning, staff will visit each artist’s booth and check for identification to insure this rule is met.
Note that the festival continues beyond the stated artist hours with stage entertainment, and the Festival will permit and encourage any artist to remain open beyond the stated hours of artist operations. This has, in fact, become an increasingly popular option for artists.
On Sunday, you may not close or begin packing until 6:00 p.m. Set-up and tear down information is provided further along in this Guide.
Refund Policy
Accepted artists who have completed a contractual agreement with the MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival may request in writing on or before February 1, 2009, a full refund for any and all fees paid up until that time. The request must come in written form (email is acceptable) by the artist only and must state the reason for the withdrawal.
February 1, 2009 is absolutely the last day any accepted artist may receive a refund from the MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival. The policy is a result of our strict media deadlines and our need to ensure the public that the artists we are promoting will in fact be in attendance.
Parking
Parking at our Festival is very tough; however, parking in downtown Fort Worth is not a problem. With well over 500,000 spaces, there is always a place to park. Most of the time, parking is free. Due to our legal and street closure obligations and limited available parking, participants of the Festival (artists, vendors, entertainers, etc.) are not permitted to park within the festival boundaries.
You may not park on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th or 9th streets between Houston and Commerce at any time. Parking on these streets will result in your vehicle being towed at the owner’s expense. The parking policy is not negotiable. We are required by law to keep various lanes open at different times and we have service and support vehicles that come and go during the Festival.
We will be providing parking options at three key points along the festival grounds for artists. These are listed on the attached Information Form.
For the most up-to-date information about parking, please visit www.fortworthparking.com .
Another great resource to get a “feel” for the streetscapes and buildings in the downtown urban environment, as well as to help locate surface parking, please visit:
http://www.fortwortharchitecture.com/downtownfortworth/index.htm
Security
Security will be on duty around the clock April 15 – 19, 2009, and will be placed at intersections to watch each block; however, we cannot be ultimately responsible for the safety of your work. Therefore, you may wish to pack up and unload each night and morning. Please remember that you will not be able to drive your car onto the festival site during festival hours. It will benefit you to bring a handcart to assist with moving items during the event. If you choose to leave your works in your booth overnight, you must pack and cover them—– and do so at your own risk. All participants are responsible for the proper insurance and protection of their works.
We also suggest you bring a supply of “zip ties” to help secure the zippers of your booth overnight. We will have a supply as well. These are plastic ties you can get at the hardware store. You’ll need something to cut them with in the morning when you set up. This will help deter anyone wanting to quickly “open” your booth with the zipper.
Festival staff will be easily identifiable, as will Fort Worth Police officers assigned to the festival. Do not hesitate to ask for assistance. You will receive a map and schedule of events when you arrive which will show you locations for Lost & Found, First AID, Artist Hospitality and other important security information.
Awards and On-Site Jury
On Thursday, five jurors from around Fort Worth will visit every artist’s booth for the purpose of selecting our award winners for 2009. These winners will receive automatic entry into next year’s festival, and will not have to pay an application fee.
Award winners will receive $3000 for Best of Show and $1,000 each for seven additional merit award winners, for a total award purse of $10,000.
Marge Fransted is coordinating our on-site jury, and our team of volunteers will be escorting them around the event site. They will score each artist for creativity, originality, impact, crowd appeal, craftsmanship, and quality. Each juror will visit each booth.
Please note that during this process your work will be checked against the work submitted in your application process by our staff members. You are not allowed to sell work other than the work specifically identified in your application(s). We will continue to check this throughout the event to insure this is being complied with.
The awards will be announced and presented during the Artist Awards Breakfast Friday, April 16, at 8:30 a.m. at Chili’s Restaurant at 5th and Main Street.
Our Artist Relations Team:
Marge Fransted, Sandi Cochrum, Tina Mantz, Cathy Wilson
Our Artist Advisory Committee:
Pam Summers, Raymond Rains, Michael Holloway, Gregory Story. Staff liaison, Kari Brantley. For more information about our committee, please click here.
Phone Numbers:
Office: (817) 336-2787; fax: (817) 335.3113
Jay Downie, Cell Phone: (513) 615-1474
Other on-site phone numbers will be available upon check-in.
2008 Load-In Schedule
Please register BEFORE you unload your artwork.
Load-in will occur between 8:00 AM and 5:30 PM on Wednesday, April 15, 2009. Artists are permitted to set-up after hours, but must check-in prior to setting up in order to verify their space and location. For those who ABSOLUTELY cannot arrive on Wednesday, you must call the office to arrange for set-up on Thursday.
Any artist who has not either checked-in by 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15 or called our offices to make special arrangements will be assumed absent and the space will be forfeited.
All artists will be given the opportunity to select their load-in time, and you may mark this on the attached information form. This will allow you to park comfortably in front of your booth and load your art into your space. You’ll have a set time-frame to unload your vehicle and clear the space for the next group of artists. If you are not completely set-up in that time frame, we ask that you move your vehicle to make way for others, then return to your booth to complete your set-up process.
On the attached information form, mark your selection with 1st, 2nd and alternate choices and mail, fax or, if you don’t know now you’ll be given another opportunity to let us know. We will do everything in our power to make “load-in” a smooth transition and volunteers will be on hand to assist you.
After we receive everyone’s requests, we will develop a schedule that will allow you to load in without having to “compete” with your neighbor for space for your vehicle. You may not get your first request in order for us to accomplish this.
Times will be:
Early Bird: 8:00 – 10:00AM
Late Riser: 10:30 – 12:30PM
Traveler: 1:00 – 3:00AM
Last to Tango: 3:30 – 5:30PM
Registration
Please register BEFORE you unload your artwork!
Registration will occur at three locations on the street, conveniently located near where your booth will be set. Please visit the registration location prior to setting up your booth.
Registration Locations:
300 Block and Artist Square Artists: In Artist’s Square at the corner of 3rd Street and Main Street.
500, 600 Block Artists: At the intersection of 5th Street and Main Street.
700, 800 Block Artists: In the Festival Store at 8th Street and Main Street.
Please be prepared to show your driver’s license when you register. Only the Artist can register and show during the festival. Each artist will be given a packet containing their booth sign, identification badge(s), a “HOST” sign, Fort Worth visitor’s guide, Sundance Square brochure, parking map, Sales tax chart and a schedule of events.
We’ll need the following information. Please mark this on the information form and mail, fax or email it to us.
Vehicle - make, model, year, color and license number.
Address and cell phone number where you can be reached during the festival.
Early Arrivals Registration
To beat the Wednesday rush, early registration will be held in the Artist Hospitality Room, located on the 2nd floor of the Blackstone Marriott Courtyard Hotel (corner of 5th & Main) Tuesday, April 14th from 5-8PM.
Please register BEFORE you unload your artwork.
Load Out
Artists may not begin to dismantle their exhibit until 6:30 p.m. Sunday, April 19 at which time the entire middle of the festival will close. The Washington Mutual Stage, on the south end of Main Street, will remain open until 8:00 p.m. We will honor artists’ requests and allow them to monitor themselves for load out; however, please note that any artist found attempting to enter the site before clearance by staff and Fort Worth Police department will be moved to the back of the line.
Loading In During the Festival
If you need to load in and out each day, you can pull your vehicle onto Main Street each morning until 9:00 a.m. This is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please be considerate of your fellow artists and limit your time. Note: All vehicles must be off Main Street by 9:00 a.m. every morning. Any vehicle remaining inside the barricades after 9:00 a.m. are subject to towing at owner’s expense.
Lunches to Go!
We will be offering box lunches each day of the festival, exclusively for our artists. These will be distributed between 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM each day. Lunches will be top-quality, and will cost $8, inclusive of a bottle of water, delivery to your booth and gratuity. Menus will be available in March, and during on-site registration. You can pay through Zapplication. Order in advance to guarantee availability.
Artists’ Hospitality
The air-conditioned Artist Hospitality area is located on the 2nd floor of the Courtyard by Marriott/Blackstone Hotel, 601 Main Street (5th and Main). Hotel entrance is off 5th street or through the Corner Bakery on Main. The hospitality hours are Thursday – Saturday 10am – 5pm & Sunday 10am – 4pm.
Artists’ Reception
Wednesday, April 15, 2009 from 6 - 8 pm. Come join us for appetizers and fun! This is your chance to meet fellow artists, staff and volunteers of the festival. Cash bar available along with prizes and more. Located at the Constellation NewEnergy Skybox across from the Sundance Square Stage.
Artists’ Award Breakfast
Hosted by Chili’s – Friday, April 16, 2009 at 8:30 am @ 5th and Main Streets. There will be fresh pastries, coffee and juice for your pleasure. Artist Awards will be announced at 9:00 am.
Skybox Hospitality Passes
Enjoy our Main Stage entertainment – we’ll be providing complementary passes to our Constellation Hospitality Skybox to participating artists. Please let your Artist Host know if you would be interested in attending and we will provide a ticket.