The Snake Alley Art Fair is a daylong celebration of creativity and community, centering on a love for the visual arts. Growing from a start more than 40 years ago as a small gathering of local artists who set up for the day along Burlington’s Snake Alley — the crookedest street in the world! — the fair is now an annual event with an estimated attendance of more than 10,000 people.
SAAF encompasses much to see and buy from more than 100 artists and craftspeople from all over the United States, plus strolling musicians and art-making activities for children. The fair happens along the block-long Snake Alley and residential streets just north of the alley, in the Heritage Hill Historic District.
The date for SAAF 2008 is Sunday, June 15. In keeping with long-standing tradition, the Snake Alley Art Fair coincides not only with Fathers Day, but also with the final day of the Steamboat Days American Music Festival on Burlington’s Mississippi riverfront, bringing thousands of additional visitors to the area.
RAIN OR SHINE, THE FAIR GOES ON! In case of truly inclement weather, the Snake Alley Art Fair moves to its alternate site, the Des Moines County Fairgrounds at Southeastern Community College’s West Burlington campus, approximately 3.5 miles west of Snake Alley.
The Snake Alley Art Fair is organized and staffed almost wholly by volunteers from the community, many of whom have dedicated hundreds of hours to the enterprise over the decades of its existence. SAAF is a program of the Art Guild of Burlington, a community-based arts center located in the historic Arts for Living Center, a block west of Snake Alley.
SAAF 2008 RULES FOR EXHIBITORS For SAAF 2008, artists who exhibited at the previous year’s fair are allowed to participate without going through the application process again. Artists who did not exhibit at SAAF 2007 must apply and be juried for this year’s fair.
Eligible ARTWORK—Only original artwork and crafts are allowed. Work must be the original work of the individual displaying it.
Work not eligible for SAAF includes: Ceramics made from commercial molds, Commercially fabricated jewelry, Items from kits. Note to printmakers: Prints must be labeled with edition numbers, and the method of reproduction should be noted. The SAAF committee reserves the right to remove works — and exhibitors — not in compliance with fair rules or instructions.
Set-Up and Display—Sensitivity to the historic neighborhood where SAAF is held and respect for adjacent property is a necessity. Exhibitors must be present during the day of the fair. Sales representatives are prohibited. Exhibitors set up between 6:00 and 8:00 on Sunday morning, and the fair runs from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm. Checkout begins after 4:00 pm. Booth spaces on Snake Alley proper are approximately 8 feet deep and 12 feet wide. Booth spaces on North 6th Street are approximately 10 feet deep and 12 feet wide. Canopies are recommended, but cannot be staked and must not exceed space size. The SAAF committee assigns booth spaces based on seniority and other factors. Upon request and at the Art Guild’s discretion, two adjacent booth spaces may be assigned, in which case the exhibitor will pay two booth fees.
Fees and Commission—Fees for SAAF 2008 are as follows: $15 nonrefundable jurying fee, $50 booth fee for Art Guild members or $60 booth fee for nonmembers. Booth fees are refunded for artists who are not accepted. In addition to the jurying and booth fees, exhibitors are required to pay the Art Guild a commission of 10% of their gross sales for the day, minus the amount of their initial booth fee. This commission should be paid by check or cash during checkout at the close of the fair day on Sunday, June 15. Promotion—Funding for an SAAF regional paid-advertising campaign is provided by funds raised through SAAF exhibitors’ commissions. State and Local Sales Tax—All sales by exhibitors are subject to a 7% sales tax — a 5% state of Iowa sales tax plus a 2% local-option tax. Exhibitors who do not have a permanent Iowa sales tax number assigned by the Iowa Department of Revenue will be given a temporary number, valid only for the day of SAAF 2008. APPLICATION Process—Each artist applying for SAAF 2008 must submit:
The SAAF 2008 application form, Images on three slides or three images on a CD that represent the artist’s work, A written description of the work, Checks for the nonrefundable jurying fee and the booth fee. The deadline for all material to arrive at the Art Guild is April 18. Note that the SAAF committee will view no more than three digital images or slides. The artist’s written description should include: The category the work fits into or the medium the work is done in. Typical sizes for the work, the artist’s typical prices. IMPORTANT DATES—April 19: Deadline for application, fees, images, and written description to arrive at Art Guild. April 30: Notification of acceptance or rejection sent to artists. May 1: Last date to cancel without forfeiting booth fee. There will be no refunds for cancellations made after this date. Note that day-of-fair “no-shows” will be refused application for future fairs. May 15: Booth space assignments will be sent to artists. | |
