Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park, March 23 - 25, 2012

Juried at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, by an invited panel of artists, collectors and industry professionals, Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park is the nation’s premier spring outdoor fine art event. The Festival has been ranked in AmericanStyle Magazine's "TOP 10 Festivals" for the past three years, has been consistently ranked among the top 15 in Sunshine Artist's "200 Best List" and kicks off the spring Texas art festival circuit.

Conveniently located five miles from Downtown, two miles from the Galleria area and neighboring the elegant residential communities of River Oaks and Memorial, Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park is an artist's dream. Bayou City Art Festival Has a demonstrated history in strong sales for artists. National studies show Houstonians consistently have twice the discretionary income that workers in similar industries have around the country. With a median household income of over $50,000 and an income growth since 2000 of 13.1% as reported in Kiplingers.com, Houston has been ranked the Number 1 city in the U.S. in which to live, work and play. “Over the last two years, Houston has enjoyed more growth in the number of High Net Worth Individuals – people with at least $1 million in investable assets (primary homes don’t count) – than any other U.S. city,” according to Forbes magazine’s Steven Bertoni. We are the first stop for fine artists on the Texas Fine Art Festival tour and we look forward to hosting you in Houston!

Visit Our Website for Festival Map and More Information

Festival Eligibility & Rules

• Returning Artists wanting same booth location are priority placed. If you are a returning artist wanting a specific booth space, please follow the instructions in the invitation email that will be sent out December 5, 2011.
• Booth spaces are assigned in the following order of priority:
• Bayou City Art Festival Award Winners in their jury exempt period (meaning artists who won an award at Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park 2008 or any Bayou City Art Festival since
• Returning Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park artists wanting the same space as 2011
• Returning Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park artists from 2011 wanting to move
• New artists and returning artists that did not show in Bayou City Art Festival 2011
• Artists admitted off of the wait list
• Artists whose payments are late will lose priority.
• Corner and double booths are limited and will be available on ZAPP on a first come, first served basis starting the day invitation emails are sent. Though we cannot guarantee all artists will receive their booth location choice, we make every effort to place the artist in the general location that is requested. Instructions on how to request a booth location will be included in the invitation email.
• The Festival is open to all applying Artists. All exhibitors are presented to the jury without distinction as having been a previous exhibitor.
• If two or more persons collaborate to produce original work, each person must be identified on the Application. No work by apprentices or employees will be accepted. Commercial agents, dealers, or manufacturers are not eligible to enter. No kits, molds, tumbled stones, embellished objects or edible art may be submitted.
• Artists may jury in more than one category, but not with the same body of work. Only one application may be submitted per body of work with a jury fee for each category. Artist must use the same name for both applications. Artists whose work is selected in multiple categories will exhibit in one booth space.
• Only artists accepted in the jewelry category may display or sell jewelry.
• All Artists must be present on site during the entire festival. Spouses or other representatives will not be permitted to substitute for the artist. A picture ID is required at time of check in.
• Artists must define “a limited edition” through their Artist Statement and must disclose their process to the buyer. Original art must occupy more than 50% of the applicant’s booth space. Postcards, books, note cards, posters and t-shirts are not permitted.
• All hanging work must be suitably framed. Prints must be appropriately matted and must be displayed in a suitable portfolio or stand.
• Prints exhibited by artists accepted in the graphics/printmaking category must be limited editions and properly signed and numbered. Reproductions of other 2-D work must be clearly labeled “Reproduction”.
• Ceramic works must be handmade by the artist. If multiple pieces of the same design are displayed, each must be signed.
• Participating exhibitors are responsible for collecting and paying current city and state sales tax for all sales made during the show.
• One exhibitor is allowed per booth showing the medium that was juried into the festival.
• Artists must comply with all staff and uniformed security regarding site safety and regulations. Vehicles must be parked only in designated areas; noncompliance will result in elimination from consideration for any future festivals.
• Each artist must supply their own 10’ x 10’ clean white tent. Exhibit space is approximately 10’ x 10’. Rentals are acceptable and available when making your booth order on ZAPP. No outside rentals will be allowed.
• The Fine Art Festival industry at large does not allow galleries or artist’s representatives to show at juried art festivals, nor do we.
• No commission on sales is collected by the Bayou City Art Festival.
• Festival Hours: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. all three days. Artists must be present in booth.
• Festival display must match submitted booth shot. Only items visible in your booth slide should appear in your festival display. This includes, but is not limited to: browse boxes, flip bins, and the like; cash carts; pedestals; display cases; signage; racks of any type; and other paraphernalia that would normally occupy the interior space of your booth or location (Chairs and other types of seating are excepted)
• The amount of inventory that you intend to display or otherwise present at the show must be clearly evident in the booth slide, and within a margin of variation of approximately 20%. For example: If you jury with five framed pieces, then we expect that only five or six framed pieces will be hung in your booth at any one time for the duration of the show.
• The different types of work(s) to be displayed for sale at the show should correspond to the work submitted in the booth slide, and in the approximate proportion that they will appear at the show and in all price points. Types of work not present in the booth slide will not be permitted at the show, nor will disproportionately larger amounts of any one body or type of work.
• Artists should not be present in their booth slides, nor should their names be visible in any of the submitted images.
• The use of panel risers or extenders to increase height is not permitted, unless your booth slide at jury has included them.
• The use of “appendages;” i.e., extra display panels that do not appear in your booth slide at jury and those which encroach upon public and/or artists’ spaces, will not be permitted.
• The only signages permitted at the show without prior approval are: The booth/artist identification sign provided by the festival; artist’s statement provided by the festival; and price and title tags. Artists whose names and/or studio names are permanently affixed to the tent or booth must obtain prior approval immediately upon acceptance. Unacceptable signage includes, but is not limited to, magazine and/or newspaper articles; banners of any type; ribbons or other documentation of past accolades and/or awards.
• Exceptions to any of the above may be requested after acceptance of invitation. All exceptions must be in place at least 30 days prior to the festival and will be documented by festival staff with approval by the Festival Director.
• All disputes that result in an artist being disqualified from appearing at our show will result in a 100% refund of booth fee (not jury fee) provided that disqualification occurs before the artist’s appointed load in time. Disqualifications that arise after the show opens will not be accorded refunds, and the artist shall have no recourse.
• Artists needing more storage than is allowed for in the booth space they have purchased must inform festival staff 30 days prior to arrival. Any storage that detracts from the overall booth or festival appearance will be considered an infraction and can result in the artist being asked to leave.
• Artists who will utilize more space than the booth they purchase allows for will need to approve the booth footprint with festival staff 30 days prior to load in. Any placement of artwork that detracts from the overall booth or festival appearance, or that infringes on another artists booth space will be considered an infraction and can result in the artist being asked to leave.

Jury Information and Policies

• Our panel consists of 7 - 10 jurors. All judges are selected based on their specific interests, professional knowledge and/or background with our festivals.
• Festival staff members are not voting members of the panel and their opinions are not reflected in final jury scores.
• Jurors change with each event.
• Work is scored on a 1 to 7 scale. Judges are instructed not to award scores of 4.
• All five slides, four shots of the work and one booth shot, are projected simultaneously. Judges have access to the artist's statement but are not shown the artist's name or any other identifying information.
• Jurors are asked to review all applications at their leisure online during the week prior to the projected jury.
• Average scores will be emailed to applicants on the Artist Notification Date. Applicants will also be notified of the score necessary to receive an invitation.
• The jury is not conducted as a personal critique and as such, individual responses are not recorded.

Set-Up

• Must adhere to specific times as directed by festival staff
• No set-up allowed after 8 a.m. opening day
• All tents must be white, professional quality, properly weighted on all 4 corners
• Artist check-in open on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Thursday, March 22, 2012 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Artists may load-in on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Thursday, March 22, 2012 from 11 a.m. to 8 a.m. on Friday, March 23, 2012.

Amenities

• Houston Police Department and Harris County Sheriff’s Department officers provide 24-hour security provided 2 days prior to load-in through complete load-out
• Patron art pick-up provided at police-secured holding area
• Booth-sitting provided
• Breakfast provided on festival days
• Asphalt and concrete surfaces
• Special large area on natural turf for Sculpture, Metal, and Yard/Garden art
• Discounted artists' rates at partner hotel
• Admission: adults $12, children under 12 FREE
• Festival features a Creative Zone (interactive art activities for kids), Performance Art from some of Houston's best nonprofit organizations, food court and beer and wine cafes.
• Booth Fees: $425 - $1200
• Electric: Available in some areas. No outside generators allowed.

Awards
Cash Prizes are awarded for Best in Show, Second and Third, as selected by our on-site judges. Ribbons are awarded for Best Booth. All winners receive jury exempt status for two years. Award winners in their jury exempt period will not be eligible to win additional awards until their jury exempt period is over.

Artist Relations Services
An Artist Hospitality Tent is provided and serves complimentary continental breakfast, snacks and beverages. Parking, laminated booth signs, promotional postcards, exhibitor identification badges, booth sitters, and hotel referrals are provided. 24-hour security is provided during the Festival weekend.

2011 Festival Map (for reference only and subject to change in 2012)

2011 Participating Artist Information Package (for reference only and subject to change in 2012)

2011 Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park Important Dates

• July 27, 2011 - Application available on ZAPP
• October 28, 2011 - Applications due; NO LATE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED
• November 16,2011 - Jury at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
• December 5, 2011 - Artist notification (your average score will be emailed to you in your notification letter)
• January 6, 2012 - Invited artists' payment deadline
• January 6, 2012 - Booth location request deadline; NO LOCATION REQUESTS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DATE.
• February 3, 2012 - Refund deadline for a full refund less $100
• February 6, 2012 - Booth placement notifications
• February 17, 2012 - Refund deadline for a 50% refund; NO REFUNDS AFTER THIS DATE

Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park & Bayou City Art Festival Downtown presented by Art Colony Association (ACA)

Both internationally award winning Festivals not only showcase the finest art in the nation and from around the world, but also feature incredible performing arts. The ACA staff is dedicated to the exhibiting artist, whose talents make this festival successful and whose contributions will meet a shared goal of promoting the arts and raising funds for local area non-profits.

Twice a year over 1000 qualified applicants from around the world submit their applications to be scrutinized by the Art Colony Association Jurors. Only 300 Artists will be selected to exhibit per festival, many of whom are featured in fine arts galleries and in prominent personal and museum collections around the world. The bi-annual festivals allow art collectors the opportunity to personally meet the artist, view original works, and purchase world class art. The experience that develops between a patron and the artist may last a lifetime.

The 17 fine art/fine crafts categories are:

• Clay
• Digital (not photography)
• Drawing/ Pastel
• Fiber/ Textiles
• Functional Art (includes furniture, wearable art, etc.)
• Glass
• Jewelry
• Metal
• Mixed Media 2D
• Mixed Media 3D
• Painting/ Acrylic or Oil
• Painting/ Watercolor
• Photography/ Digital or Computer Manipulated
• Photography/ Traditional Film (no machine enhancements)
• Printmaking/ Intaglio, Relief and Planographic
• Sculpture/ 3D - 1 medium (Clay, Glass, Metal or Wood)
• Wood

The nonprofit partners of the BCAF include a wide array of local Houston organizations. Our nonprofit partners offer the volunteer support that allows the festivals to run smoothly. Each festival requires 1500 volunteers doing everything from building the festival and greeting patrons to teaching children art projects in the Creative Zone.
The ACA relies on our nonprofit partners for the success of the festivals through patron and artist hospitality, which in turn generates more funds for their local programs.
In these times when funding from federal, state, and local government is being reduced and the philosophy of finding private avenues for funding nonprofit organizations becomes embraced, the success of the Bayou City Art Festivals for our nonprofit partners is paramount to their continued work and service in the community.
The ACA is managed by a volunteer board of directors and Executive Director Kim Stoilis.