CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Support available to be an exhibitor at the Spring 2009 One of Kind Show and Sale (deadline Sept. 23)

Opportunity for Rural Eastern Ontario Artists and Artisans to Reach a Larger Market.

Support available to be an exhibitor at the Spring 2009 One of Kind Show and Sale.

The deadline for applications is September 23rd. 2008.

The Community Futures Development Corporations of Eastern Ontario are offering support for artists and artisans in rural Eastern Ontario to display and sell their work at the Spring 2009 One of a Kind Show and Sale at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place in Toronto. The One of a Kind Show is Canada's largest and most prestigious retail show featuring the work of artists and artisans from across Canada. www.oneofakindshow.com

Twenty-four artists and artisans from rural Eastern Ontario working in the areas of visual art, craft, photography, fashion design, artisanal food and more will be featured in a special Eastern Ontario Artists Marketplace within the One of a Kind Show.

The Eastern Ontario Artists Marketplace will be a featured 1000 square feet of show space that will include:

• A free standing display and sales area for each artist/artisan.
• A central booth and display area promoting all of the Eastern Ontario artists/artisans at the One of Kind Show and Sale
• A demonstration area for Eastern Ontario artists/artisans.

The Eastern Ontario Marketplace will be highlighted in the One of a Kind Show program book, on the One of a Kind website and in the One of a Kind media kit and e-mail blasts.

Participation by an artist/artisan in the Eastern Ontario Artists Marketplace will include:

• Up to $1000 for each artist/artisan towards the purchase of materials and construction for a free standing display for their work and signage. This display will be owned by the artist and can be used by the artist for future shows. (The free standing displays will be similar to those created by the artists/artisans for the Rising Star section of the Show.)
• Coverage of all space rental fees at the show.
• Design and printing of "booth cards" for each artist/artisan for promotion at the show.
• Inclusion in a Eastern Ontario Artists Marketplace website promoting the artists/artisans at the show.
• Inclusion in the One of a Kind website.
• Support from a professional booth designer in the design of the freestanding display.
• Opportunity to attend a market readiness workshop (to be held in the fall of 2008 in various locations in Eastern Ontario.
• Opportunity to do an artist demonstration in the demonstration area in the Eastern Ontario Artists Marketplace.

Each artist/artisan will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation and for the staffing of their area during the show.

Participating artists will contribute 4% of their gross sales (up to a maximum of $800) to the Eastern Ontario Artists Marketplace. This will be calculated at the end of the show.

To be eligible an artist/artisan must:

• Be the designer, creator and producer of his/her art or craft.*
• Have not previously been a participating artist/artisan at the One of a Kind Show.
• Demonstrate that he/she is actively involved in the production of art or craft as a business.
• Demonstrate quality of product suitable to the One of a Kind Show.
• Demonstrate capacity to produce the volume of product required for a five day retail show.

The deadline for applications is September 23rd. 2008.

To be eligible an artist/artisan must reside or have their place of business in the catchment area of one of the 15 Community Futures Development Corporations in Eastern Ontario. Please see the map at www.ontcfdc.com click on map and then Eastern Ontario to see the area covered by this initiative.

To inquire about this opportunity or to get the criteria and application form artists/artisans can contact Jim Blake - Eastern Ontario Artists Marketplace Coordinator at jblake@haliburtoncdc.ca or 705-457-3555 or visit www.haliburtoncdc.ca click on the link on the front page.