Each year Piedmont Craftsmen’s Standards Committee identifies a select number of exciting new talents to add to our distinguished family of Southeastern craft artists. As a new member you will join a group of over 350 craft professionals from throughout the Southeast who are recognized nationally and internationally for their excellence in technique and design.

As lifetime members of Piedmont Craftsmen, craft artists enjoy opportunities to exhibit and sell through the prestigious annual Fair and year-round gallery and shop, access to prominent collectors, the sustenance of an extended family of supporting members, as well as camaraderie with other high caliber professional colleagues.

Perhaps you have a place in this vital, creative organization. We invite you to take a few minutes to learn about the career enhancing benefits of Piedmont Craftsmen and to participate in the jurying process.

The Piedmont Craftsmen Standards Committee searches for new exhibiting members whose body of work, whether contemporary or traditional, one of a kind or production shows EXCELLENCE and CREATIVITY in concept, design, and technique.

ELIGIBILITY

MEDIA

Piedmont Craftsmen accepts applications for craft work in the following media: clay, fiber, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, paper, photography, printmaking, and wood.

RESIDENCE

Applicants must live and work in one of the Southeastern states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia or the District of Columbia. If an exhibiting member moves out of the Southeast after acceptance, the craft artist may retain membership by continuing to pay annual membership dues and by participating in Piedmont Craftsmen events.

JURY PROCESS

Our two-tiered jury format is designed to thoroughly review an applicant’s body of work and professional presentation before extending an invitation to become a lifetime member of Piedmont Craftsmen.

The annual selection of Piedmont Craftsmen’s new exhibiting members is made by the Standards Committee. This committee is composed of nine (9) exhibiting members working in differing media*, two (2) knowledgeable craft professionals or arts administrators, and one (1) knowledgeable Piedmont Craftsmen supporting member. The chair and co-chair of the Standards Committee are elected by and from the preceding year’s jury. The Chair and Piedmont Craftsmen’s Executive Director are nonvoting members.

* Based on: (2) Fiber: on loom and off loom, (2) Wood: furniture and turned, (2) Clay: production and one-of-a-kind, (1) Metal, (1) Glass, (1) Varies each year - paper, leather, mixed media, print, or photography

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

The selection process occurs in two phases: an IMAGE JURY and an OBJECT JURY

PHASE 1: IMAGE JURY

To apply for exhibiting membership, applicants must submit:

1. Completed Jury Application


2. Eight (8) images representing applicant’s best work produced during the last two years. Images may include detail shots or alternative views, however, a minimum of six (6) different works must be represented.


3. Artist statement


4. Application fee of $30

Submissions must be submitted by the deadline.

One reason for rejection in this first phase of the jury is image quality. Helpful hints in photographing your work:

• Keep the background plain.
  
• Avoid group shots.
  
• One object per frame is recommended.
  
• Consistency in the body of work presented is crucial.
  
• If you have two distinct bodies of work in the same medium, you may wish to make two applications, one for each body of work. To do this you will need to register and create a second CaFE profile and application submission.
  

IMAGE JURY NOTIFICATION

The results of the Image Jury will be emailed to applicants in mid-May, after the Standards Committee has made its decisions. Due to the volume of applicants, scores and comments cannot be reported.

PHASE 2: OBJECT JURY

Applicants who score above the median cutoff in the Image Jury, will be invited to participate in the object jury, held during Piedmont Craftsmen’s Fair, which occurs annually the third weekend in November. In 2009, the Fair will be held November 20 - 22.

An invitation to participate in the object jury does not constitute acceptance for exhibiting membership.

Each applicant invited to the object jury must choose one of the following options:

1. Individual Booth Fee of approximately $580 (additional $75 for corner). Booth size is 10’ x 10’ (single artist). Fee includes object jury fee, pipe, drape, and electricity. 10’ x 15’ and 10’ x 20’ booths are also available.
   
2. Participation in a Group Exhibit Booth: Fee of $125 plus a 10% commission on Fair sales. Applicant must submit five (5) objects, available for sale. Artists presenting large scale work who feel the body of their work can be represented by fewer objects, may submit a minimum of three (3) actual works.
   

OBJECT JURY NOTIFICATION

The results of the Object Jury will be mailed to applicants within three (3) weeks of Piedmont Craftsmen's Fair.

Images of work by newly accepted exhibiting members will be retained by Piedmont Craftsmen for use in promotion and publicity.

MEMBERSHIP PRIVILEGES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Piedmont Craftsmen promotes the work of member craft artists by:

1. Referrals by Piedmont Craftsmen to public and private arts organizations, museums, galleries, and shops across the country for exhibition and sales opportunities.
   
2. Exposure to new and developing markets including designers, corporate collections, national magazines and gallery owners.
   
3. Inclusion in Piedmont Craftsmen exhibitions, publications and public relations for the Fair, shop, exhibitions & special events.
   

A benefit for exhibiting members includes a 10% discount on all purchases at Piedmont Craftsmen’s gallery and shop in Winston-Salem, NC.

Exhibiting members are expected to fulfill the following responsibilities to maintain their membership good standing:

1. Pay annual dues in January of $70 for an individual or $80 for a team (two people working on the same object who were so juried).
   
2. Exhibit in New Members Show
   
3. Demonstrate ownership in the organization by participating annually in any or all of the following:
   
   
   
   • Piedmont Craftsmen's Fair
     
   • Consigning work to the gallery
     and shop
     
   • Any exhibition
     
   • Serving on the Board of Trustees or Standards Committee, or volunteering for any of Piedmont Craftsmen’s educational activities
     
   
   
4. Keep individual information files current with:
   
   
   
   • Updated resume
     
   • Business cards
     
   • Artist’s statement
     
   • Images of work
     
   • B&W photographs of the “artist at work”