- All artists that want to be involved in ArtsFest must complete and submit one of the online application forms accompanied by supporting material and a promotional image to be used should the application be successful.
- The application process for ArtsFest 2008 opens on 7th January.
- Artists must complete the online application form in its entirety and submit it through the ArtsFest website by 28th March 2008 for the application to be considered. Any supporting material or promotional images sent through the post must also be received by the ArtsFest team by 28th March 2008.
- Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. If supporting material and promotional images are not received the application will be considered incomplete.
- All applications are subject to ArtsFest’s selection process, the basis for which can be found within the application guidelines. (The exception to this is Paintings on the Railings. Further details below).
- Successful applicants will be informed by email by 1st June 2008.
Performing Artists – (Music, dance, drama, spoken word, comedy)
Visual Artists
Designer Makers
Film Makers
Fashion Designer Makers
Performing Artists
The performing arts are an integral part of the ArtsFest programme and make up a significant percentage of the applications received. Applications are welcomed within any performing arts genre to perform and/or to facilitate workshops. Performances and workshops take place across the various venues and stages that make up the festival site. When making their application performing artists are asked to bear in mind that the performing arts programme comprises of half hourly performances and what they wish to perform must be a maximum of half an hour in length. Many organisations perform extracts of larger pieces of work. Workshops can last for a longer duration than this and when making a workshop application artists are asked to state within the application form the ideal length of the proposed workshop.
Visual Artists
Exhibit/Sell work as part of ArtSpace – At ArtsFest 2008 a large state of the art marquee will host ArtSpace. ArtSpace will replace what has been formally known as the ArtsFest Art Gallery (previous venues including Birmingham Rep, the Mailbox and The Council House). ArtSpace will feature a selection of the regions finest visual artists exhibiting and selling their work. Buyers will be able to talk and buy directly from the creator and learn about the work and techniques used.
Artists who wish to exhibit as part of ArtSpace will be expected to hang/install their work in the space allocated (pitch sizes TBC) and to man their space during the opening hours of the event (provisional times are 7-9pm Thurs 11th September – Private View; 11am-4pm Friday 12th, midday-6pm Saturday 13th & 1pm-6pm Sunday 14th September).
Applications for ArtSpace will be assessed on individual merit and artists credentials. Artists wishing to exhibit in ArtSpace will be asked at the application stage to provide a minimum of four, and maximum of eight images of their work. These images can be general examples but must give a clear representation of the range of work the artist would intend to show at the event. Artists whose applications are successful will be informed of this by 1st June 2008. Following this, successful artists will then be asked to submit for approval and agreement, images and dimensions of the actual works to be exhibited by 1st August 2008. All work exhibited must be for sale. ArtsFest will take a 10% commission from works sold.
Exhibit/Sell work as part of Paintings on the Railings – Paintings on the Railings is ArtsFest’s outdoor art fair where artists display and sell their work on the railings around Centenary Square. Paintings on the Railings provides the opportunity for artists of any age or ability to display and sell their work. Unlike ArtSpace, there is not a selection process and Paintings on the Railings is open to all with pitches allocated on a first come first served basis as applications are received. Each artist is provided with a section of railings 2-3 metres long and is responsible for the hanging, manning and removal of their pictures (provisional times for manning pitches are midday-6pm Saturday 13th and 1-6pm Sunday 14th September). The cost for renting a Painting on the Railings pitch is £20 per day. ArtsFest will not take a commission for work sold.
Facilitate a practical arts workshop – Each year ArtsFest features a series of workshops where visitors are invited to learn practical arts techniques. These range from printmaking to painting, sculpture to pottery and applications are welcomed to facilitate workshops in any practical media. Artists who wish to facilitate a workshop must bear in mind that all materials need to be sourced and paid for by them and visitors cannot be charged to take part in the workshop. However artists/organisations who facilitate the workshops find that this cost is offset against increased attendance at classes and courses they run following ArtsFest or through the experience they have gained. Workshop space will be sited in marquees at ArtsFest 2008.
Create a Site-Specific Installation – Proposals are welcomed from artists to install site specific pieces of work at ArtsFest to help animate the festival site. Artists who wish to do this must be able to state in their application the proposed site and piece of work and ensure that whoever owns the site would be prepared for the work to temporarily be installed. Please note that all elements of the project must be managed by the artist.
Designer Makers
Sell Work as part of the ArtsFest Designer Makers Fair – The ArtsFest 2008 Designer Makers Fair will be located within the prestigious Council House on Victoria Square. The fair will feature a selection of the regions finest designer makers exhibiting and selling their work. Buyers will be able to talk and buy directly from the creator and learn about the work and techniques used. Designer makers who wish to exhibit as part of the fair will be allocated a stall (stall sizes TBC) which they must man during the opening hours of the market. The cost of a stall is £40. ArtsFest will not take a commission for work sold. Applications for The Designer Makers Fair will be assessed on individual merit and designer maker’s credentials.
Sell work & do demonstrations in the ArtsFest Designer Maker Fair – Designer makers are also welcomed to do live demonstrations of their skill. Designer makers wishing to do this will be allocated additional space within the market to enable them to.
Facilitate a practical designer maker’s workshop – Each year ArtsFest features a series of workshops where visitors are invited to learn practical designer maker’s techniques. Applications to facilitate workshops are welcomed in any practical media. Designer makers who wish to facilitate these workshops must bear in mind that all materials need to be sourced and paid for by themselves and visitors cannot be charged to take part in the workshop. However designer makers & organisations who facilitate the workshops find that this cost is offset against increased attendance at classes and courses they run following ArtsFest or through the experience they have gained. Workshop space will be sited in the Council House at ArtsFest 2008.
Film Makers
An established part of ArtsFest is the festival’s Short Cuts film programme for which applications are welcomed from local film writers and makers, or from those whose work has been shot in the region or features actors from the region. Each year Short Cuts shows a range of features & shorts from pop video’s to comedy to thrillers alongside animation and documentaries, to highlight the diversity of film making in the region. In previous years the ArtsFest film strand has also contained Q&A sessions with directors and actors, live accompaniments to films being shown, and discussions with experts from the industry. Applications to the Short Cuts strand are also welcomed for components such as these. It is imperative that when making an application to the Short Cuts strand, the application is for a short film that is completed. A copy of the short film must be submitted with the application as it would be screened. If the application is to show a section of a larger film/documentary that is still in working progress, the section that the film maker wishes to show must itself be in the completed state as they wish it to be seen at the festival. Applications will not be accepted for any film/short/documentary that can’t be submitted in the state the film maker would wish the audience to see it.
Fashion designer/makers
There are two ways in which fashion designer/makers can become involved in ArtsFest 2008. The first is to have their work modelled in the ArtsFest Catwalk Show. The second is to sell a range of their clothing within the ArtsFest Designer Makers Fair. A new initiative at ArtsFest 2007, the ArtsFest Fashion Shows at Brindleyplace proved extremely popular with visitors. Wishing to build on this success, the 2008 fashion shows will take place in a central city location. It is imperative that when making an application for the fashion shows, the application is for work that is completed and can be viewed as such through supporting images submitted. All models will be provided by ArtsFest. In addition to the fashion shows, or as an alternative, applications will also be welcomed from local fashion designer/makers to sell a range of their clothing label within the ArtsFest 2008 Designer Makers Fair. The market will be located within the prestigious Council House on Victoria Square. Fashion designer/makers wishing to sell their clothing through the market will be allocated a stall (stall sizes TBC) which they must man during the opening hours of the market. The cost of a stall is £40. ArtsFest will not take a commission for work sold. Applications for both elements of the fashion strand will be assessed on individual merit and designer/makers credentials.
