The Rowayton Arts Center (RAC) is looking for well-crafted and appealing gift items at reasonable prices for its Holiday Gift Show (HGS). We are accepting small ornaments and holiday-related gifts as well jewelry, pottery and ceramics, candles, wooden objects, knitted/crocheted items, fiber art and, for Exhibiting Members only, original cards and small prints. Please see guidelines below.
Show Dates: December 4 – December 24
PLEASE NOTE: Items will be included at the discretion of our Gift Show Committee. The committee may refuse any item on the grounds of unsuitability, poor condition, inferior quality, not adhering to the prospectus guidelines, oversized for gallery space or too high of a price point.
If you are a new vendor, your items will not be accepted at drop off unless you have previously consulted with HGS committee. Please contact RAC at executivedir@rowaytonarts.org to discuss your items.
Please DO NOT submit items for consideration that did not sell in previous RAC Holiday Gift Shows.
For RAC Exhibiting Members and Supporting Members: Entry fee $25, membership dues must be current and a commission fee of 40% will be taken on your gross sales.
For RAC Non-Members: Entry fee of $35 and a commission fee of 40% will be taken on your gross sales.
Note: Participation in the HGS does not count towards the three shows needed to become a RAC Exhibiting Member.
Volunteer Hours: All participants are expected to volunteer for a two-hour shift during the course of the show. Sign up for shifts at drop off.
Vendors may opt-out of volunteer requirement for a $40 fee payable at registration.
ITEM CATEGORY AND QUANTITY GUIDELINES:
Ornaments: maximum of 5 designs, 5 pieces each
Small items: jewelry, small knits, table décor: 10 items maximum
Large items: pottery, sweaters, 3 items
Please Note: Accepted item quantities may vary from the above guidelines at the discretion of the committee.
PLEASE SIMPLIFY YOUR INVENTORY by keeping similar items at the same price point. For example, five assorted necklaces that have a price span of $30-$40 could all be priced at $35.
If your inventory begins to run low, the Gift Show Committee will reach out and ask you to replenish. Please do not replenish items without speaking to a Gift Show Committee member who will amend your Inventory Form accordingly with stock received.
For jewelry vendors: please provide forms for display of your items and label them with your name. There is limited display area for jewelry.
For Exhibiting Members Only:
Small unframed art or prints: size approximately 10” x 12”, maximum of 10
Cards: 20 individual cards or 5 pre-packaged card sets
Please provide a simple and tasteful display basket or box (no holiday embellishments) that will comfortably hold your items. Label the container with your name.
PREPARATION FOR RECEIVING:
STEP ONE: Fill out and submit online the Vendor Registration Form. RAC non-members will pre pay a $30 vendor fee upon submission of the form. Members, please make sure your dues are up to date. Vendor Registration Form deadline is Friday, November 13.
STEP TWO: PRINT and fill out your Inventory Form before arriving at RAC and bring it with you to receiving.
See example of properly filled-out form below:
STEP THREE: Tag each item with your 3 initials (to identify it as your item) the item’s number (from your inventory sheet) and the price. PLEASE LABEL YOUR ITEMS BEFORE YOU ARRIVE AT RAC. IMPROPERLY LABELED OR UNLABELED ITEMS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. For uniformity, all tags must be white. Make sure tags are visible to shoppers. See example of a properly tagged item below.
STEP FOUR: Sign up for a drop off time slot via SignUpGenius. Slots are available in half hour increments.
5. Sign up for a volunteer shift. There will be a calendar at receiving where you can sign up for your preferred time slot.
IMPORTANT DATES:
Complete Vendor Registration Form: Deadline is Friday, November 13.
Drop off days:
Monday, November 23 (10am-1pm)
Tuesday, November 24 (10am-1pm)
Show Dates: December 4 – December 24
Pick Up Unsold Work: Monday, December 28 (10am-1pm) or Tuesday, December 29 (10am-1pm). You will receive a check for your net sales, if applicable, at this time. A storage fee of $20 per day will be charged for failure to pick up your items on time.
LIABILITY & WAIVER:
Liability: Entries will be handled with all possible care, but artists submitting work agree to hold harmless the Rowayton Arts Center, their agents and employees from any claim of damage or theft that might arise from any cause whatsoever. Artists should arrange for proper insurance coverage for their work. Entry to the show constitutes agreement with all of the conditions stated above.
Waiver for Pictures Taken/Used: We document each RAC exhibition/show with photographs. Entry into an exhibition/show at the Rowayton Arts Center constitutes permission to photograph you and/or your items and to use an image of your items in the RAC newsletter, website and promotional materials for the show.
If you have any questions on the following procedures, please call RAC for clarification in advance: 203-866-2744 or email: executivedir@rowaytonarts.org