No. While Yamhill County is our stomping ground, we also have artists from Portland and the surrounding area, and the Oregon coast.
First thing is to reach out to us by submitting an application. We ask that you include quality photos of your artwork and booth set-up. Lauri and Lynn will evaluate the submission, and if it seems like a fit we’ll arrange to meet with you in person over a cup of coffee. We’ll get to know each other, take a look at your artwork, explain what Barn Swallow Artists is all about, and decide together if becoming a BSA artist is right for you.
This question goes to the heart of what a Barn Swallow Artists market is all about! Booths go beyond what you would see at a typical ‘craft show’. We look for artists that will create spaces unique to their personalities and artwork. Your booth should be its own visual experience-embellished with furniture, fixtures, textiles, lighting, etc. We love to see spaces that make good use of height. So get creative! Come up with a signature booth design that exemplifies and compliments your artistic style. There are no rules, the goal is to make your space an engaging and memorable shopping experience for our BSA customers.
Most Barn Swallow sales will require a 10′ x 10′ white pop-up canopy. Other things you will need to bring for a sale include a comfy portable chair, food and drinks, cell phone and charger, fully charged transaction device (square, PayPal), cashbox, wheeled trolley or hand truck. Also, a smile and your most charming self!
We will host a Barn Swallow Artists Meet and Greet in advance of each market, usually at the market venue. Artists are invited to meet each other, collaborate, check out the site, come up with booth ideas, ask questions, and get complete details of the event.
Artists interested in joining BSA are invited to complete and submit our online application. Once we have received your application and photos, we will make evaluations with an eye towards how your art fits with the Barn Swallow vision. All types of creative endeavors are welcome! We are looking for creativity in expression, originality, professionalism of finished pieces, a high level of commitment to your artistic journey, uniqueness of products, and that undefinable X factor all BSA artists possess!
We believe it is important to get to know our prospective BSA artists, so the next step may be a meeting with Lauri and Lynn. Here we will take the time to introduce ourselves to each other, learn more about your life, art, and passions, and hopefully see your artwork in person. This application and interview process has proven to be a great way to find the supportive, creative, collaborative engaging souls we seek to be part of the Barn Swallow Artists collective.
Although payment structure will depend on the venue, in most cases artists will pay a deposit to hold a space with full payment due about a month before the event. We aim to keep our entry fees affordable and artist-friendly. Because we want to allow artists flexibility in pricing their work and make it accessible to buyers, we make every effort to avoid charging a commission. The great majority of BSA events are commission-free.
During a BSA market, artists are typically responsible for handling their own customer transactions. It is important to own and know how to use a payment device. All venues will provide wifi connectivity.
Not necessarily, although having some market experience is an asset. Part of the Barn Swallow Artists vetting process involves discussing the artist’s market experience and booth design concept. We do occasionally accept artists that show good potential, even if they have no market experience. In these cases, we will coach them as needed through the BSA market process.
We have an ongoing calendar of Barn Swallow Artists markets scheduled, so if you are interested in joining us as an artist we encourage you to complete and submit an application. If it’s a fit, you’ll be in the loop for information about all upcoming BSA events. There are no applications for specific BSA events. If you decide to opt in for any given market, your booth space deposit (usually around $50) will hold your space in the order in which it was received. Once we have filled all available spaces, we will start a waiting list. To avoid getting on that list, we urge you to get your deposit in as early as possible!
Lots of people! We have worked hard to create a dedicated following, and continue to help it grow. Our customers look forward to the next Barn Swallow Artists market with eager anticipation! We find our attendees to be enthusiastic supporters of the local artistic community. Anyone who is looking for a memorable, engaging market experience will not be disappointed.
No limits on that one! We are interested in building a diverse roster of artists, so artistic expression in any media is considered. It is required that all merchandise (excluding vintage wares) is artist-produced. We are always looking for unique, well-finished artwork and talented local artists. If this sounds like you, let’s get acquainted! Apply here.
We use this online application. Please include photos of your artwork and booth set-up. All photos must be less than 500KB.