Holiday Arts Festival 2023 – Vendor Information

Posted on August 28, 2023

Calling all artists, artisans, crafters and makers! Be part of Richmond Art Center’s 61st Annual Holiday Arts Festival!

Deadline to Apply: Monday, October 2, 2023, 11:59pm

Event Details

61st Annual Holiday Arts Festival

Sunday, December 3, 2023, 10am-5pm | Free Entry
Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond
More info: richmondartcenter.org/haf

Unique, Handmade Gifts by Over 50 Local Arts & Crafts Vendors
Famous Ceramics Studio Sale
Free Art Activities
Community Partner Pop-Ups
Raffle, Food and Drinks, and More!

Schedule / Important Dates

Vendor Application Deadline: Monday, October 2, 2023, 11:59pm
Vendor Notification: Thursday, October 12, 2023
Vendor Set Up: Saturday, December 2, 10am to 5pm OR Sunday, December 3, 8:30am-10am
Holiday Arts Festival: Sunday, December 3, 10am to 5pm
Vendor Deinstall: Sunday, December 3, 5pm to 6:30pm

Participating in the Holiday Arts Festival

Each year the Holiday Arts Festival offers over 1,000 visitors a chance to buy unique gifts from local arts and crafts vendors, enjoy food and beverages, and participate in art-making activities for the whole family. The Festival’s gift sale runs from 10am to 5pm at Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond.

Call for Arts and Crafts Vendors! Richmond Art Center is now accepting applications from local artists, artisans, crafters and makers to sell their work at the Holiday Arts Festival. This shop-local event is a great way to expose your work to a creative audience that appreciates hand-crafted gifts. The deadline for vendors to apply is October 2. Applications are juried and selected vendors will be notified by October 12. There is no application fee and first-time vendors to the Festival are encouraged to participate.

Richmond Art Center provides: Vendor contract, table, chair/s, vendor sign (if needed), wall space (as requested/as available), electrical outlet (as requested/as available), time for set-up and deinstall, online vendor listing

Promotion: During the holiday season, Richmond Art Center will be promoting The Holiday Arts Festival via online and print advertising, social media, our e-newsletter, via community partnerships, and at community events. Vendors will also have the opportunity to promote their websites in our online Arts & Crafts Hub on Richmond Art Center’s website.

Jurying Process: Unfortunately we don’t have space to accept all vendors who apply for a table at the Holiday Arts Festival. As a result applications are juried by a panel made up of RAC staff. Things we look for when reviewing applications include: Artistic Quality; Sales Potential; Media Range Across Vendors; and Community Connection.

Fees

6 Foot Table Fee: $190 for RAC members; $200 for non-members*

4 Foot Half Table Fee: $110 for RAC members; $125 for non-members*

These are flat fees. No sales commission is charged.

Not a member? Become a member today!

APPLICATION (NO FEE TO APPLY!)

Applications are now closed.

MORE VENDOR INFO

Set-Up, Vendor Hours, Load-In/Out Information:

Set-Up: Saturday, December 2, 10am to 5pm OR Sunday, December 3, 8:30am-10am (if extra time needed)
Parking and Load-In: The large parking lot at 25th Street is always available (across the street from Richmond Art Center). Enter RAC from either the 25th Street entrance (top of loading ramp) or the Barrett Avenue entrance (front door). We will have a couple of carts available.
Holiday Arts Festival: Sunday, December 3, 10am to 5pm (Doors open for vendors to arrive at 8:30am. The public hours are 10am to 5pm.)
Load-Out: Sunday, December 3, 5pm to 6:30pm (All items must be removed on Sunday.)

Tables, Signage, Installation:

You will be provided a whole or half table as specified in your vendor agreement.
We will provide 2 chairs unless you specified one or none. We may not be able to provide you with additional chairs due to space limitations.
Tables will be covered with white paper.
You are welcome and encouraged to bring table coverings and cloths to drape your table. We cannot store items or packing materials for you. All items should be stored under your table if you need access to them.
Artisan Vendors will be in the Main, West, South and Community Galleries, and in the Paint Studio.
Signage indicating your table space will be on the wall or table so you can easily find your location.
If you requested wall space, you are welcome to hang art work and signage on the wall directly behind your vendor table. Please bring your own tools, hanging hardware as we will not be able to provide staff or tools. Remove all hardware, tapes, etc when you load-out. Richmond Art Center will patch and paint the walls.

Wifi:

Vendors will have access to Richmond Art Center’s WiFi, however we cannot guarantee flawless WiFi coverage. We would suggest adding a hotspot to your cellphone if you will be processing payments via Square or Venmo. (Hot spots via your carrier can cost as little as $10 a month and can be cancelled at any time.)
We highly recommend vendors test their wifi connection and payment systems are working during set-up on Saturday, December 2.

Arts and Crafts Hub (online vendor listing)

Hosted on Richmond Art Center’s website, the Hub serves as a gateway for artists to share their work during the Holidays and direct folks to their online stores. CLICK HERE to see a sample Artist Listing.
Artists participating in the Arts and Crafts Hub will have the opportunity to preview and request edits to their listing.

Event Promotion

We invite event participants to help us spread the word about the Holiday Arts Festival:

Post or share a story on Instagram:
- Tag: @RichmondArtCenter
Post on Facebook:
- Tag: @Richmond Art Center
- And don’t forget to link to the event webpage and your individual listing
Update your website:
- Include information about special merchandise you’ll have at the Holiday Arts Festival
Email your friends and network:
- Include the Holiday Arts Festival in your newsletter
- Send special invites to your friends and supporters
Help distribute our printed materials (available for pick up at RAC – contact us to work out a good time to pick things up)
- Ask a local business to display a HAF poster in their storefront
- Drop off a stack of flyers to your local community gather spot
- Deliver flyers to your neighbors