Artwork Needed for Arts & Crafts Festival in Fairhope

The Planning Committee of the 60th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival in Fairhope is accepting submissions of artwork from area artists for the 2012 Festival artwork. All types of mediums will be accepted. The finished size will need to be 16” x 20”. The deadline for acceptance is November 1, 2011.

“Next year is the 60th anniversary for the Festival,” said Debbie Floyd, chairman. “We are looking for a piece that reflects the history of the Festival itself. We’d like it to provide both color and charm.”

In addition to being printed on the posters, limited edition prints and T-shirts, the official artwork will be featured online on the Eastern Shore Chamber’s festival site, printed on billboards, featured in newsprint, printed on festival maps, in the Chamber’s Connection newsletter, enews, sent to Twitter followers and Facebook friends.

According to Chamber records and newspaper articles, the first Arts & Crafts tour took place February 22 to February 28, 1952. All exhibits were inside store windows and consisted of a wide variety of interests. The tour schedule included entertainment and craft demonstrations and lasted for an entire week. Although some artists did sell items, the majority of the “tour” consisted of exhibits for viewing only.

As in previous years, the 2012 show is expected to be a huge event, with over 600 applicants, 245 exhibitors will be selected by an anonymous jury. The Festival dates are March 16, 17 and 18, 2012. Live entertainment will be featured on the Festival stage during the show, beginning at 10 am until 5 pm daily. A wide variety of foods will be served in the Festival Food Court. Last year an estimated 275,000 people attended the three-day Festival, which is consistently ranked among the top events by Sunshine Artists Magazine, the Alabama Department of Tourism and Southeastern Tourism Society.

Submissions may be dropped off at either Chamber office at 327 Fairhope Avenue, Fairhope or 29750 Larry Dee Cawyer Dr., Daphne. Call 621-8222 or 928-6387 for more information. The Arts & Crafts Festival in Fairhope is an Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce event.