Be An Artisan

Products

Products submitted for consideration to our markets must adhere to the following guidelines:

• designed, created and produced by the applicant;
• not a kit craft, imported and/or mass produced.

Jury Process

The Festival Artisan Market uses a blind jury process, meaning jury members do not know the identification of the vendor submitting product for consideration. All products are reviewed and rated for creative craftsmanship, mastery of technique, originality/innovation, product presentation, saleability* and overall appeal.

Consideration will be given to the overall balance in each of the craft categories, as well as returning and new vendors*. In some craft categories the number of vendors is limited, in order to offer our vendors, the greatest opportunity for financial success.

The jury is made up of three experienced peer artists, crafters and/or designers of various mediums. Individual jury members change from year to year to ensure the Festival Art Market remains fresh and unique. The Festival staff are not involved in the jury process.

In order to ensure product suitability, quality and avoid excessive duplication, the Selection Committee for Harrison Country Craft follows a similar process to that of the Festival Art Market Jury. Two weeks after the application deadline, vendors will be notified by email of the jury/selection committee’s decision.

*Note: The jury will take into account past sales of returning vendors.

Waitlist

We encourage vendors who are not accepted or who have missed the application deadlines to consider being placed on our waitlist. In the event that a confirmed vendor in their craft category should cancel, you will be considered as an alternative.

Waitlist applications will be re¬viewed and you will be notified by May 31st for the Festival Art Market and July 31st for Harrison Country Craft.

Weather

Before you apply to the Festival Art Market, or as an outdoor vendor for Harrison Country Craft, please give careful consideration to the suitability of your product and/or display when it comes to unpredictable weather conditions.

Although the summer weather in Harrison is typically pleasant, over the years our markets have seen everything from blistering heat to torrential downpours and are more often than not at the whim of the weather gods and Harrison Lake’s notorious gusts of wind, sometimes bellowing, but always breezy. Vendors accepted into the Festival Art Market and/or Harrison Country Craft are expected to show up for all dates they are registered for, regardless of weather conditions. Vendors that do not show up will not be invited to apply again.

Overnight Security

Overnight security is provided for the Festival Artisan Market. Vendors are permitted to leave their tent and product on-site overnight. Tents must be securely walled with no product/booth items left outside or around the tent. We recommend that product be covered or packed away inside the tent as added protection against outdoor elements. The Harrison Festival Society and/or the security company are not liable for loss or damages caused by mother nature (wind, rain, etc.)

Sales Commission

In an effort to minimize the financial risk to vendors, we provide an option of lower fees with 10% commission collected on all sales.

“It takes a community to raise a festival; one that believes in live performance, in the power of literacy and visual arts, and in a desire for social change and better understanding amongst all people.” – Phyllis Stenson, Founding Executive Director
Harrison Festival Society