SLIDES
1.Five (5) slides, that including four (4) slides of your work and one (1) slide of your booth display (labeled specifically, as illustrated) are to
be submitted with each application.
2.If a booth slide is unavailable, a photo or detailed description with drawings should be sent. The booth slide or description must show a
clear understanding of the Festival’s requirements. (See booth display.)
3.Slides must be numbered and must show clear, close-up shots of individual pieces of work.
4.It is important that you provide descriptions for each slide, including materials, dimensions, technique and/or any other unique aspects
of the work on the designated slide description section of the application.
5.Slides must be in undamaged mounts, measuring 2"x 2", and 35mm.
6.Slides must accurately represent the body of the artist’s work to be exhibited at the ESSENCE MARKETPLACE.
7.Slides are to be sent in a protective plastic slide sleeve (available at most photographic supply stores).
8.Do NOT send loose slides.
LABELING YOUR SLIDES
• Hold the slide so you see the image correctly.
• Place an arrow to indicate top, right front of work.
• Place a large red dot in the lower left-hand corner of the plastic mount.
• The artist’s name must appear in the top horizontal area of the mount and on the
same slide mount as the dot.
• Identify the medium of the work in the bottom horizontal area of the mount.
• Slides must fit in a Kodak 140 carousel. Do not apply tape or stickers to slides.
Your Name
SLIDE RETURN
#
• Selected applicants will receive their slides at the Convention Center.
• Non-selected and wait-listed applicants will receive their slides in the mail.
• ESSENCE reserves the right to retain slides on file.
ON-SITE EVALUATION
An on-site evaluation will be conducted to ensure that vendors are in compliance with exhibition standards and rules. Non-compliance
and/or breach of contract may result in booth closure, forfeiture of all fees and/or may affect future applications.
LOAD-IN & SETUP
Upon selection you will receive a contract agreement packet and acceptance letter that will give detailed information on your assigned
load-in time. Vendors will be notified of all pertinent information in the contract agreement and acceptance packet. Please review carefully
both the contract agreement and the acceptance letter, as they will contain new and important information on letter arrival, parking, load-in
and setup at the Convention Center. Upon your arrival at the Convention Center, parking fees may be required. Please refer to credential
packets for more details on parking arrangements.
MARKETPLACE
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
FINE ART
& CRAFTS
1.Read the application in its entirety.
2.Complete and sign the attached application form.
3.Include $20.00 application fee, payable to ESSENCE FESTIVALS LLC. Money order or cashier’s check only. Personal or business
checks not acceptable. Do not remit booth fee prior to notification of your selection.
4.Enclose labeled slides.
5.Enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of slides.
6.Application must be received by March 28. Late applications will not be considered and will be returned unopened.
APPLICATION RETURN ADDRESS
CALENDAR OF IMPORTANT DATES
ESSENCE MARKETPLACE 2007—Fine Art & Crafts
336 Camp Street, Suite 250
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130–2818
March 28
Application return deadline
April 9
Notifications & contracts mailed
May 2 Contract, proof of insurance and booth fee due
July 4 Load-in & setup day
For More Information, CALL: (504) 410-6131
E-MAIL: [email protected]
WEBSITE: www.essence.com
Gina Montana, Director
Fine Art & Crafts
ESSENCE MARKETPLACE 2007
July 5, 6, 7 MARKETPLACE vending (9:30 AM–5:30 PM)
ESSENCE Cares empowerment seminars
Night concerts at Superdome
APPLICATION
ENTRY DEADLINE:
MARCH 28
THE FESTIVAL
The ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL is the largest event of its kind in the world. It is a special occasion in which families and friends come together to celebrate the rich cultural legacy of the African Diaspora. Artistic, musical, intellectual and spiritual achievements are the highlight of the annual Fourth of July “Party with a Purpose.” ESSENCE Cares Empowerment Seminars will be held daily at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center [Convention Center] in New Orleans, Louisiana, during the ESSENCE MARKETPLACE 2007—Fine
Art & Crafts [ESSENCE MARKETPLACE] sales hours. ESSENCE Cares Empowerment Seminars are free and open to the public and
seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. ESSENCE MARKETPLACE daytime activities at the Convention Center also
include food booths showcasing world-renowned New Orleans cuisine, the Festival’s book fair, author signings, celebrity meet-and-greets,
sponsor activities, the ESSENCE boutique, community exhibits and much more. Spectacular evening concerts will be held on July 5, 6,
and 7 at the Louisiana Superdome.
DATES/HOURS
ESSENCE MARKETPLACE will be from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 5; Friday, July 6; and Saturday, July 7 at the Convention
Center which is a state-of-the-art, indoor, air-conditioned facility.
FEES/INSURANCE
• Application deadline is Wednesday, March 28, 2007. Application fee: $20, non-refundable, made payable to ESSENCE FESTIVALS
LLC. Money order or cashier’s check only. Personal or business checks will be returned. Application will not be processed unless
accompanied by $20 money order or cashier’s check.
• Booth fee deadline is Wednesday, May 2, 2007. Booth rental fees for ESSENCE MARKETPLACE are $1,100 for a standard booth and $1,200 for a corner booth. A limited number of double, booth spaces will be available. Booth fee for double spaces (2 corner
booths) is $2,400.
• Do not remit booth rental fee prior to receiving notification of selection.
• Booth fee payment must be made by CASHIER’S CHECK, MONEY ORDER OR CERTIFIED CHECK ONLY and made payable to
ESSENCE FESTIVALS LLC. Personal or business checks will be returned.
• Partial payment of booth rental fee will not be accepted.
• Your booth will be reassigned if the booth rental fee and signed contract agreement are not received by the May 2 deadline.
BOOTH DISPLAY
• Individual booth spaces measure approximately 10 ft. x 10 ft, double, booth spaces measure approximately 20 ft. x 10 ft. All are located
in tent-type structures. The front opening height of each booth is approximately 7 ft.
• One (1) 6-foot table and two (2) chairs will be provided.
• Electricity is provided and artists must provide their own extension cords. Only wire, grounded plugs, with three prongs, are allowed.
Extension cords must meet OSHA specifications and must be a minimum of 14 gauge/13 amp, medium to heavy duty.
• It is mandatory that vendors provide their own back and sidewalls for display purposes. Display materials will not be provided.
• All art and crafts displays must be professional, and of high-quality exhibit.
• Creativity and uniqueness with exhibits are encouraged.
CONTRACT AGREEMENT
• Upon notification of selection, each vendor will be required to sign the “ESSENCE MARKETPLACE 2007—Fine Art & Crafts Agreement,”
containing such terms and conditions as ESSENCE FESTIVALS LLC [ESSENCE] may require.
• Notification of selection is preliminary only and is not binding on ESSENCE or the ESSENCE MARKETPLACE director and they reserve
the right to reject any selected applicant at their sole discretion.
• Signed contract agreement, proof of insurance and booth rental fee ($1,100 standard booth, $1,200 corner booth, $2,400 double booth)
must be received by the May 2 deadline.
• Until the “ESSENCE MARKETPLACE 2007—Fine Art & Crafts Agreement” is fully executed (signed by the selected applicant and
countersigned by the responsible Festival representative) and all required fees have been paid in full, ESSENCE shall have no contractual
or other obligation whatsoever to the selected applicant.
SALES TAX & LICENSE
Each vendor permitted to exhibit and sell crafts or other artwork at the ESSENCE MARKETPLACE must individually comply with all
pertinent State of Louisiana and City of New Orleans laws and ordinances and obtain all necessary permits and licenses. Vendor must
follow sales tax regulations and file such applications as are required. Vendor must handle this on-site with the appropriate city and state tax officials.
EXHIBITION STANDARDS
• ESSENCE MARKETPLACE is a competitive juried exhibition and sale. Acceptance of an applicant as an exhibitor or seller is subject to
the selection process set forth below.
• All work must be an original design, produced by hand and created by the artist/craftsperson displaying the work.
• All work exhibited in the ESSENCE MARKETPLACE must reflect the cultural influences, heritage and traditions of the African Diaspora.
• Exhibitors will be limited to artisans who produce predominantly one-of-a-kind and limited-edition works.
• Any commercially produced parts used in a work must play a subordinate role and may not be sold separately.
• No T-shirts, machine-manufactured goods, commercially mass-distributed products, factory-sewn work, pre-manufactured clothing,
commercially strung beads or commercially assembled products will be allowed.
• No imports are allowed.
• No bath/beauty products, oils, incense, soap, cut or dried flowers will be allowed.
• Manufactured light, switch plates are not allowed.
• Only handcrafted hats or caps of original design will be permitted.
• ESSENCE MARKETPLACE is an artist’s venue and is not a venue for individuals who buy wholesale and sell retail.
• Commercially made jewelry will not be allowed. Jewelry must be of original design and handmade.
• Hand-pulled copies of original art signed and numbered in limited editions of 500 or less will be allowed.
• No posters or postcards will be allowed.
• No photocopy and/or offset reproductions will be allowed. Photographers and printmakers are strongly encouraged to do their own
printing.
• Only handcrafted leather items of original design can be sold.
• All work on exhibit and for sale must accurately represent work shown in the slides submitted during the application and selection
process.
GUIDELINES/GICLÉE, PRINTMAKING, PHOTOGRAPHY
• GICLÉE: Includes any original work for which the original image, or the reproduction of the original image, was executed by computer.
Work in this category must be in limited editions of 150 or less, properly signed and numbered on archival, quality material.
• PRINTMAKING: Printed works for which the artist hand-manipulated the plates, stones or screens and properly signed and numbered
as a limited, edition print. All photocopy and/or offset reproductions will be rejected. Printmakers are required to disclose their
printmaking processes. Work in this category must be in limited editions of 500 or less and on archival, quality material.
• PHOTOGRAPHY: Prints made from the artist’s original negative and which have been processed by the artist, or under his or her direct supervision.
ESSENCE MARKETPLACE RULES
• Artist/craftsperson must be present and staff their booth for the entire event. (No managers, reps, assistants, etc.)
• Booth spaces may not be transferred or otherwise re-assigned or sublet by the vendor.
• Vendor will be contractually required to arrive promptly and remain open for the full published hours of vending.
• Late arrivals will result in a negative on-site evaluation and could result in booth closure and the loss of all booth rental fees.
• Each vendor will be required to submit accurate daily totals of gross sales for Festival records only. This is a contractual requirement.
• Loud music, television, videotape or computer setups will not be permitted in any booth.
• All vendors’ operations and booth setup must be confined to the assigned booth space. Exhibits and/or vendor activities are not to be
conducted outside of the assigned booth space unless otherwise approved by the Fine Art & Crafts director.
• ESSENCE assumes absolutely no responsibility, financial and/or otherwise, for artists’ shipping, handling and/or receiving charges.
• It is mandatory that all accepted vendors contract with an independent vendor for any shipping, handling and/or receiving services. Accepted vendors must be present at the Convention Center loading dock to receive any items shipped to the Festival site.
• Shared booths will not be allowed unless otherwise approved by the Fine Art & Crafts director.
• Failure to comply with the ESSENCE MARKETPLACE rules will result in booth closure and the loss of all booth rental fees.
SELECTION PROCESS
• Selection criteria will be based on creativity, uniqueness of design, original concept and quality of art or crafts.
• The selection process takes into consideration a balance of media categories.
• Please complete the Slide Information/Artist Statement. Each applicant is asked to submit a 20-words-or-less statement describing
technique, materials or other information on your artistic process.
• Each applicant must submit four (4) slides that accurately represent current work and one (1) slide of booth display.
• Slides submitted for consideration must accurately represent the actual work that will be available for sale at ESSENCE MARKETPLACE.
• In order for the selection panel to see your work in clear detail, it is important that you photograph clear, close-up shots of your artwork.
• If applying to exhibit and/or sell more than one type of work (for example: two different media categories), you must submit a separate
application, set of slides and application fee for each medium.
• Each Festival year, the ESSENCE MARKETPLACE opens a new application and selection process. Acceptance in previous ESSENCE MARKETPLACE exhibits does not guarantee acceptance in 2007.
• Applications not selected will not be further considered.