Application

2009 Show Application

Applications for the current 2008 show are closed. Please the Show Committee to request an application for the 2009 Show. Applications for the next show will be available in early December.

Two ways to apply:

 
Application Requirements
Each entrant must submit five (5) images for consideration by the jury. Images must be of current work and representative of work entrant plans to exhibit at the show. Do not submit a booth display image. Only one submission per media will be accepted.

Emerging Artist Category
To encourage the participation of craft artists who are beginning their careers, an Emerging Artist category is now available. This option is open only to those who have been practicing their craft for six (6) years or less and are applying to the PMA Craft Show for the first time. The application procedure and fees are the same as above. However, those who check the emerging artist category will be juried separately from the other applicants. If you choose to apply as an emerging artist, you must do so exclusively. Those who are accepted will have the option to share a booth with one or two other emerging artists, thereby reducing their booth expenses.

2008 Show Dates
November 13-16 with a Preview Party on November 12th
Move-in starts November 11th

2009 Show Dates
November 12-15 with a Preview Party on November 11th
Move-in starts November 10th

Location
Pennsylvania Convention Center
12th & Arch Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Eligibility
The Show is open to all craft artists who are residents of and working in the United States. All work, whether one of a kind pieces or limited editions, should be well conceived and expertly executed without technical faults; works should be made by hand or with the use of appropriate tools, showing imagination and the mark of the craft artist's individuality. The categories are basketry, ceramics, fiber, furniture (includes all media), glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, handmade paper, wearables and wood. Categories not included: calligraphy, fine arts such as painting, photography, lithography, etc., except when incorporated into an otherwise acceptable craft category; candles; dried flower arrangements; pressed flowers; seed and pod decorations; commercially made objects which have been embellished such as bottles, boxes, bowls, eggs, weather boards, stones, shells, buttons, decorated furniture and handmade reproductions. Objects made from commercial kits or commercially available plans are also not acceptable.

Awards
In addition to the Best of Show award, there are eight (8) cash awards for excellence selected and sponsored by foundations and corporations. These awards are presented at the preview party.

Definition Of Media Categories

• Basketry — Functional and sculptural works where the material used is woven or plaited.
• Ceramics — Functional and sculptural work where the primary material is clay.
• Fiber Decorative — Wall hangings, quilts, rugs, etc., where the primary material is fiber.
• Fiber Wearable — Work where the primary intention is to be worn and where the primary material is fiber (not including leather).
• Furniture — Work where the primary intention is furniture, including clocks and lamps. All media are included.
• Glass — Functional and sculptural work where the primary material is glass that has been handformed, handworked, handblown and or handcast.
• Jewelry/Precious — Work primarily made from materials including 14k gold, 14k gold & precious stones, sterling silver & precious stones, and, enamel on 14k gold or sterling silver.
• Jewelry/Semi-Precious — Work primarily made from non-precious metals and or other materials such as glass, clay, paper, fiber, wood, leather, and polymer clay.
• Leather — Work where the primary material is leather, including belts, handbags, wearables and sculptural work.
• Metal — Functional and sculptural work where the primary material is metal.
• Mixed Media Where the primary intention of the work is the union of two or more media. Soft sculptures and musical instruments are included in this category.
• Paper — Functional and sculptural work created primarily from handmade paper.
• Wood — Functional and sculptural work where the primary material is wood.

Completing The Application
When choosing media category, allow the function of the work to determine the category rather than the material (i.e. metal furniture should apply in furniture and not in metal). For further information, see media definitions. When preparing images remember it is the majority of work that determines media category. Do not send booth shots. If an individual craft artist wishes to apply in two different media categories, two separate applications must be submitted. If only one application is accepted, only work in that medium may be exhibited. If an individual is working in a variety of styles within one medium, then he or she should submit only one (five images) application reflecting these various styles. If an individual does both one of a kind and production work, for example, images of each kind of work must be shown in the same proportion to be exhibited at the Craft Show. Craft artists working together may apply as one if they collaborate on every piece. If accepted, they may exhibit only pieces that are a collaboration.

LIABILITY & INSURANCE
The Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show will provide security on the grounds both day and night; however, each craft artist exhibits at his or her own risk. Neither the Women's Committee of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art nor Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show is responsible for damage, theft or loss of an individual's work.

ACCEPTANCE
Notification will be sent no later than June 15, 2008. The top 195 craft artists will be accepted. There is no quota system for each medium, however, the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show reserves the right to create balance for the show.

INQUIRIES
All correspondence and inquiries should be addressed to:

PMA – Craft Show
Philadelphia Museum of Art
P.O. Box 7646
Philadelphia, PA 19101-7646

or for overnight mail service:

PMA – Craft Show
26th Street at Ben Franklin Pkwy
Philadelphia, PA 19130

telephone 215.684.7930 or
e-mail

JURY
The Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show is pleased to announce the names of the following distinguished persons who agreed to serve on the jury in 2008.

Elisabeth Agro
Nancy M. McNeil Associate Curator of Modern & Contemporary Decorative Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art
Philadelphia, PA

William Hunter
Artist
Long Beach, CA

Elizabeth Shypertt
Co-owner Velvet da Vinci Gallery
San Francisco, CA

Franklin Silverstone
Chairman and CEO of Collectify Collections Management software and the Charles Bronfman Curator New York, NY

David Willard
Executive Director, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
Gatlinburg, TN

EXHIBITION AREA
The Pennsylvania Convention Center is a facility with one large unencumbered exhibition space. There is ample room for booths and large crowds, and it is conveniently located to restaurants, shops and public transportation. (Rates listed are subject to change in 2008.)

Requests considered on a first come, first served basis.
Booth fee does not include electrical service.

Craft artists juried separately must pay a full booth fee even if they choose to share a booth with another craft artist.

2008 SHOW SCHEDULE

November 11 and 12
Exhibitor Set up days

November 12
4:00 - 9:00 pm
Preview Reception

November 13 and 14
11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Open to the public

November 15
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Open to the public

November 16
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Open to the public

Checklist
Have you?

• Completed the application form?
• Sent appropriate processing payment?
• Sent five images and clearly identified them?

The Show 2008
The 32nd Annual Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, a juried exhibition and retail sale, will be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center from November 13 to 16, 2008, with a preview party on November 12. The jury will accept 195 craft artists. The show serves as the Museum's largest yearly fundraising event and is devoted to bringing wide public attention to the field of craft art. Cumulative 30-year contribution: $8 million. Funds raised are used to purchase works of art and craft for the permanent collections of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, to support exhibitions and education programs and to contribute to conservation and publication projects. At the 2007 show, 24,000 visitors generated estimated exhibitor sales of $3.4 million.

Contact Info

Email:  
Telephone: 215-684-7930

Mailing Address:

PMA Craft Show
P.O. Box 7646
Philadelphia, PA 19101-7646