Primary Artist or Demo Artist: Which is right for me?
As an artist there are two ways to be part of this summer’s art fairs; as a Primary Artist or a Demo Artist. The Primary Artists apply with pictures of their work and are selected by a jury. They are expected to be present for all days of the fair and need to have enough inventory to keep their display stocked.
If you are just starting out and want to get a taste of what art fairs are all about, or if you don’t have the time to dedicate to a 2 or 3-day fair, or if you don’t have a large inventory, a Demo Artist may be the perfect choice.
The Demo Artist submits a detailed explanation, including pictures, of what they plan on demonstrating. Demonstrations do not need to be complicated; a technique can be repeated as spectators come and go. Demos that involve hammers and/or noise or that are highly interactive are especially well-received. It should be noted that open flames are not allowed, which means no torches. Demo Artists can display (and hopefully sell) 20 items; these items need to be related to the technique being demonstrated.
Primary Artist | Demo Artist | |
Number of Artists | 4 to 10 | 2 to 4 per day |
Booth Setup and Teardown | Must be present for both | If available |
Art fair hours | All 3 days | Entire day of demo |
Display of Artwork for Sale | Dedicated 22 x 17 display case | Shared Demo Artist case on the day of demo |
# of items for sale | Enough to keep display stocked | Limited to 20 at a time |
Demonstrations | Secondary Role, if any | Primary Role |
Booth Sitting | Primary Role | Primary Role |
Advertising | Name and picture of artwork on post card, bio and picture included in brochure | Name on demo schedule |