2010 Festival Application period closed on January 30
Information below is for reference only
The application deadline was January 31. If you'd like to be notifed when next year's applications are available, please send an inquiry to artistsliaison@franciscosfarm.org.

Please Read - '2010 Prospectus', 'Frequently Asked Questions',
Problems with the Application?, and Calendar for 2010 Festival

Prospectus for June 2010 Festival (download and save PDF)

Francisco’s Farm Arts Festival at Midway College will feature the work of a minimum of 125 and a maximum of 150 juried fine art and craft artists. The primary focus of the event is the outdoor exhibition and sale of juried fine art and fine craft. This venue gives our audience the opportunity to meet and interact with artists, and to purchase directly from the creators. The Festival is a two-day outdoor event, held RAIN OR SHINE on the campus of Midway College— just a few blocks from historic downtown Midway. Only in the most extreme weather conditions will management close the event. Complementing the artists’ booths will be food concessions, live music, public art projects, artist demonstrations, Francisco’s Gallery and other special exhibits. Attendance in 2009 was approximately 9,000 and is expected to increase in 2010.

Awards
☼ Kentucky League of Cities—Enterprise Cities Award
☼ Kentucky Tourism Council—Top 10 Events
☼ Southeast Tourism Society—Top 20 Events
☼ AmericanStyle Magazine—Top 10 Art Festivals - three years in a row

Exhibit Location
Exhibits are set up on grassy ground and sidewalks in the center of the park-like campus. Booth spaces are located near campus lodging, food concessions, loading areas, exhibitor parking, indoor and outdoor restrooms. Note to Previous Exhibitors - A large campus construction project will require we locate no booths west of Memorial Library (the areas between Pinkerton and Marrs Halls), and the Music Stage will return to the Amphitheatre. Click here to view map of exhibit area on campus

Exhibition Categories include 2-Dimensional Art (oils, acrylics, drawings, pastels, watercolors, photography— originals and prints) and Fine Craft in all media. Categories are used by the Festival as a tool for organizing artists’ images into logical, related groups for the panel’s review and for optimal booth layout. A balanced show that equitably showcases both works of fine art and fine craft as well as diversity among media is a principal objective.

Artist Amenities –
☼ Unparalleled assistance with unloading & loading at multiple access points ☼ Volunteers for booth sitting—Water delivery
☼ Unequaled hospitality – Artist Hospitality Suite, Artist Welcome Dinner ☼ Affordable overnight accommodations on campus
☼ Extensive regional marketing and promotion ☼ Corporate and media sponsorships ☼ Postcard invitation mailing to select patron lists ☼ Promotional materials provided to artists ☼ 24-hour security presence on campus ☼ Competent & accessible management
☼ Extraordinary outdoor setting

Invitation Process
Juried Artists - Artists and artisans (18 years and older) who are juried members of state, regional, and professional guilds, societies, organizations and programs are invited to apply. Artists and artisans who have successfully participated in recognized juried art shows and events and/or gallery exhibitions are invited to apply. Starting in 2010, artists receiving the top scores in the previous year's on-site jury were invited to return for three years.

Emerging Artists - This is a very limited category representing no more than 5% of the show. An emerging artist must have a solid body of work, completed in the last 2 years. An emerging artist applicant, while having a developed and cohesive body of work (not a beginner), should not currently be earning a living as a professional artist. This should be viewed as an opportunity to “jump start” a professional art career. An artist may be selected to exhibit under this category for up to two consecutive years.

Sales and Taxes -
Artists retain all revenue from the sale of their work with no commission on sales due the Festival. Kentucky sales tax is 6%. The KY Department of Revenue imposes this tax upon all retail sales made within the state. Exhibitors will be given an official form at the event with which to remit taxes.

Eligible Work
All work exhibited must be original, designed and produced by the artist. Reproductions in two-dimensional art must be of high quality, be marketed as such, and preferably be numbered in a limited series. Artists selling reproductions of their work are required to also sell originals.

Awards
Prize money will be available for Artistic Awards. Judging for cash prizes takes place on Saturday and award winners are announced at breakfast on Sunday. Artistic excellence is the criteria.

Ineligible Work
Work made from, or based on, commercial patterns, molds, stencils, or kits purchased or copied from a publication. Work made from combining purchased commercial objects, unless commercial objects are minor, functional components of the overall design. (Note: Assemblage of commercially produced items is generally not considered to be handcrafted work and is discouraged; however, strong
overall design, interpretation, and originality can affect the end result.)

‘Consumable Art’ – soap and bath products, candles, food products

Booth Fee Schedule & Assignments
☼ Single booth space is 10’ x10’ — $200
☼ Double booth space is 10’ x 20’ — $400
☼ Applications date-stamped* by 11/30 deduct $50
☼ Applications date-stamped* by 12/31 deduct $25
☼ Ample space is provided for storage behind booths
☼ Booth layout is made with consideration for traffic flow, good balance of media, special health-related needs of exhibitors, and underground utilities.
☼ Space assignments are at the sole discretion of the Festival and are not interchangeable. The Festival will attempt to honor requests for specific booth locations in the order applications are date-stamped*.

Options for Rental Tents
☼ Francisco’s Farm has contracted with a rental company for a limited number of tents available on a first-come, first-served basis when reserved with your application. Rental fees are $200 for 10x10 ~ $400 for 10x20 ~ in addition to booth fees. Rental tents include solid side walls, set-up and tear-down.

Electricity
☼ The event does not provide electricity to exhibitors. Artists may bring quiet, odorless generators to supply electricity to their booths, however if Festival staff determines a generator presents safety issues or is noncompliant with rules its use will be disallowed.

Optional Lodging in Campus Residence Hall
☼ Midway College offers affordable on-campus lodging for exhibitors
☼ Intoxicants, intoxication, and smoking are prohibited on campus
☼ All rooms are air conditioned and have ceiling fans
☼ Laundry facilities on each floor
☼ Wheelchair accessible
☼ Separate Men’s, Women’s, and Co-Ed floors. Some Co-Ed lodgers may need to travel up or down one floor, by elevator or stairs, to gender-restricted bathrooms.

Lodging Rates
☼ Single (one person) - $35/night
☼ Double (two persons) - $45/night
☼ Triple (three persons) - $55/night
☼ Lodgers receive complimentary Continental breakfast in the Student Center Cafeteria on Saturday and Sunday
☼ Rooms are dorm style rooms with twin beds
☼ Triple room has bunk beds and a twin bed
☼ Bring your own sheets, blankets, pillows, towels
☼ Smoking is not permitted anywhere on College property

Images -
☼ Submit three professional quality, high-resolution digital images, slides, or photographs of your work and one of your booth.
☼ Digital images (jpg or tif) are strongly preferred, however we will scan photographs or slides into high resolution digital images. The fee for this service is $25.00, in addition to the Application Fee. In return for this fee, you will receive your digital images on CD.
☼ Minimum image size is 4”x 4” – Resolution 300ppi
☼ Enclose a self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage if you wish your images returned.

Complete Application
A Complete Application includes the application fee, the image processing fee if applicable, four images that comply with the requirements, the completed and signed Agreement, and your artist statement or bio. You will receive an email or postcard notification that your materials have been received, and *your application will be date-stamped when it is Complete. Amount of Booth Fee and request for booth location depend upon date-stamp.

Rules –
1. All artists are required to register in the Anne Hart Raymond Center on campus on Friday, June 25 between 1pm and 6pm prior to setting up their booths. No early check-in or set-up is available. (Lodgers arriving Thursday will be provided check-in instructions.)
2. Artists must be present with their work for the entire show – packing up before 5pm on Sunday is unacceptable; any artist leaving early will not be invited to future shows.
3. Artists may only exhibit the category of work for which they are accepted to Francisco’s Farm 2010. Francisco’s Farm Staff will check all booths and artwork for adherence to rules and advise exhibitors of infractions that require immediate attention. Non-compliant artwork must be removed from booth.
4. Exhibitors may not sell promotional items such as postcards, calendars, t-shirts, and other non-original, mass-produced promotional items.
5. Vehicles and Trailers may not be parked within the exhibit area or visitor parking areas during the show. Exhibitors must park only in areas designated for their use.
6. Extension to the rear of booths for storage is permissible to the extent that it does not interfere with adjacent exhibitors or traffic flow.
7. Exhibitors are responsible for event-quality 10’x10’ or 10’x20’ tents that will protect their contents in the event of inclement weather. Tents and display materials must be constructed in a safe and stable manner.
8. Tables must be draped to the ground unless table legs are an essential element of the display.
9. Boxes, wrapping paper, bags, and general clutter must be concealed from view.
10. Exhibitors are responsible for maintaining and leaving their assigned areas free of refuse and in good condition.
11. Devices that produce sound must be operated in a manner that does not infringe on the rights of neighboring exhibitors. Francisco’s Farm Staff reserves the right to determine the acceptable sound level.
12. Intoxicants, intoxication, and smoking are prohibited on campus.
13. Exhibitors may not bring pets to the Festival.
14. Exhibitors using generators must ensure quiet, odor-free operation that presents no safety issue nor imposition on neighboring exhibitors or visitors. Festival staff will determine whether generators are compliant and will disallow use of noncompliant generators.

Non-compliance with any Rule may result in expulsion and/or ineligibility for future participation

Application Review and Notification Process –
☼ A potential 150 exhibit slots will be determined by the Francisco’s Farm panel. The panel is composed of Festival staff, non-applicant professional artists, and other arts professionals.
☼ Artistic excellence is the sole criteria for selection of exhibitors. In a blind jury process, the panel will view each artist’s set of three images in a horizontal format. The artist applications will be made available to the panel upon request. The top applicants will be accepted. Decisions of the jury panel are final.
☼ A limited number of artists who advance to the final round of jury selection will be placed on a Waiting List. Acceptance of this status, and agreement to exhibit, shall be at the artist’s sole discretion.

Cancellation Policy
Cancellations must be made in writing to: Francisco’s Farm, PO Box 4354, Midway KY 40347- 4354 or emailed to artistsliaison@franciscosfarm.org. There are no refunds of application fees or image processing fees.
☼ Cancellations postmarked through April 15, 2010 will receive a 50% booth fee refund and full refund of lodging and/or tent rental fees.
☼ Cancellations postmarked between April 16 and May 31, 2010 will receive lodging and/or tent rental refund only.
☼ Cancellations postmarked after May 31, 2010 will receive no refund.
☼ Lodging reservations cancelled after May 31, 2010 will receive refunds only if we rent the room to another artist.

Mail Completed Application, Attachments, and $30 Application Fee (or $55 if submitting slides or photographs) to:
Francisco’s Farm Arts Festival at Midway College ~ PO Box 4354 ~ Midway, KY 40347-4354 ~ 859-846-4049

End of Prospectus - back to top

Questions not answered on this page or the FAQ page?
Call 859-846-4049 and leave a brief message. We'll return your call promptly.
For a quicker response, email the Event Coordinator

Some exhibitor comments:

“We very much appreciate the volunteers. They go out of their way to be helpful. This is the best managed festival we participate in.  Thank you for all your efforts.”

As always, FF is among my very favorite shows! Well directed, advertised, and the staff & volunteers are incomparable!
Thank you for your gracious hospitality!

The entire show was a very, very positive experience. The volunteers were so great! Good variety & high quality work from exhibitors. The entire staff of volunteers is truly amazing - what a thoughtful, considerate, and helpful group - always eager to help & smiling!!!

“All of you should be proud of this show. I truly believe it is one of the very best. The volunteers are the kindest people who really express their love and commitment to their community by the hard work they put forth every year. The quality of artwork was stellar this year! Francisco's is truly setting the bar and I think it shows. Artists from across the country are taking notice.”

“I don't know how you could be better, but I know you will try.”