2009 East Lansing Art Festival FAQs

Q: How do I apply to the East Lansing Art Festival, (ELAF)?

A: The ELAF is a juried fine art and fine craft show. Artists must submit an application online through www.zapplication.orgby uploading three images of their original artwork and one booth image displaying their work. Please read all participation rules carefully. No commercially made forms, products, garments or settings of any kind are permitted. No imports, factory produced or brokered items will be allowed. The application/jury fee is $30. While Zapplication is the preferred method of application to the festival, we will accept paper applications for those artists who are unable to apply online for an increased fee of $40. In order to receive a paper application you must contact the festival office at mcarlson@cityofeastlansing.com.

Q: How does the ELAF application jury process work?

A: The ELAF Board of Directors chooses a panel of experienced art experts, based upon their knowledge in specific art mediums. The jury evaluates artist images by category within their area of expertise. The application jury is comprised of working artists, studio art teachers, professors, museum and gallery directors, festival board members and members of the arts community at large. The application jury pool is revolving, so new people are added and active application jury members change yearly. Application jurors are modestly compensated for their time and expertise. For the sake of their privacy we do not publish the names of our application jurors. The festival director does not vote in the application jury process. Each artist's image, or group of images, is coded and artist's names are not revealed to the jury members. Images are viewed sequentially by category and each image is juried separately. Criteria for scoring include quality, creativity, design, technical competence and presentation. High scoring artists receive an invitation to exhibit at the ELAF.

Q: What are the costs to participate?

A: The online application fee is $30. The booth fee for a 10' x 10' space is $230 and can be purchased online through www.zapplication.org or by check to ELAF once an artist juries in and receives an invitation to exhibit at the ELAF.

Q: Does the booth fee include a tent?

A: No. The booth fee provides each artist with a designated 10' x 10' space. Artists are responsible to bring and set up their own tents and displays.

Q: Are double booth spaces available?

A: A limited number of double booth spaces, (10' x 20' for $460), are available to artists whose work is of a large scale which requires the additional space. Double booth spaces are assigned on a first-paid, first-served basis.

Q: What is the ELAF Emerging Artist Program? Am I eligible to participate?

A: The ELAF Emerging Artist Program invites current students and recent graduates of college and university art programs and art schools to exhibit and sell their art at the ELAF. Emerging artists must be a student or recent graduate of a college, university or art school, or must be within two years of graduation from an art program. If eligible, submit four (4) images of your work to be considered for exhibition, (a booth image is not required for Emerging Artist — in place of the booth shot please upload a 4th image of your work). Emerging Artists are not eligible for awards. All other ELAF participation rules apply. Apply online at www.zapplication.org or e-mail the festival office at info@elartfest.com to learn more.

Q: How is the ELAF funded and managed?

A:The ELAF is a non-profit arts and cultural event which serves the community of our region. All fees collected from artists and vendors serve to fund the event. Generous individuals and corporations sponsor the event with cash sponsorships and in-kind donations of products and services. The ELAF is also funded by grant dollars awarded to the festival from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, (MCACA), the Capital Region Community Foundation, (CRCF), and the Ingham County Hotel/Motel Arts And Tourism Tax Fund. The ELAF is governed by an all-volunteer board of directors and managed by a part time staff. The East Lansing Art Festival is presented by the Art Festival Board in cooperation with the Arts Commission and the City of East Lansing. In addition to our board and staff, hundreds of community volunteers help keep the festival running smoothly every year.

Q: How can I become a volunteer?

A:The ELAF is made possible thanks to the hundreds of community volunteers who come out and lend a hand during the festival weekend — there are many options for service. Volunteering is a lot of fun and each volunteer receives a free festival t-shirt for their invaluable service. Contact the festival office at info@elartfest.com to sign up as a volunteer!

Q: How can I become a festival sponsor?

A: We appreciate our sponsors — their generous donations allow us to bring this beloved event to the community! Festival sponsors receive many recognition benefits. Please contact our office for more information, info@elartfest.com or call festival coordinator Corinn VanWyck at 517.319.6804.

Q: Is the craft fair on Michigan State University's (MSU) campus part of the ELAF?

A: No. The MSU Spring Arts and Crafts Show is a non-juried arts and craft show held outdoors on the campus grounds of the MSU Union. Although both fairs are held on the same weekend, the MSU Spring Arts and Crafts Show is not part of the ELAF. It is a separate event produced by the Michigan State University Activities Board (UAB). Call 517.355.3354 or e-mail the UAB at artsandcrafts@uabevents.com.

Q: Does the ELAF offer cash awards to exhibiting artists?

A: Yes. Artist awards are sponsored by the City of East Lansing and a group of area businesses and individuals. These dedicated friends of ELAF sponsor cash and purchase awards, ranging from $5,000 to $7,000 in total prize dollars awarded to our exhibiting artists every year. In addition to cash prizes, award artists receive invitational status and are invited back to exhibit and bypass the jury process for three consecutive years.

Q: How are artist award winners chosen?

A: The ELAF Board of Directors chooses a panel of experienced art experts. The site jury is separate from the application jury and is comprised of a totally different group of working artists, studio art teachers, professors, museum and gallery directors and members of the arts community at large. Qualified site jurors review all artists' work on Saturday, based on their knowledge in specific art mediums. These site jurors score each booth and identify award recipients. Artists receiving an award from the site jury become "invitational" for three (3) consecutive years after their qualifying year and receive cash prizes. The site jury pool is revolving, so new people are added and active site jury members change yearly. Site jurors are compensated for their time and expertise. For the sake of their privacy we do not publish the names of our site jurors. The ELAF festival director does not vote in the site jury process.

Q: Can I see a list of past award winners?

A: Yes. Check out our web site for a list of past award winners, or to view the archived PDF of last year's program brochure, which lists returning invitational award winning exhibitors.

Q: Should I bring my pet to the ELAF?

A: No. The festival grounds are bustling with activity. There are thousands of people, small children, live music, enticing food aromas and fragile works of original artwork. Please be considerate to artists and festival patrons, and please be kind to animals, by leaving pets at home.

Q: Where is East Lansing?

A: East Lansing, Mich. is centrally located right in the palm of the Michigan mitten. East Lansing is the home of Michigan State University and is also in close proximity to the City of Lansing, home to the Michigan State Capitol. Visit the City of East Lansing Web site for maps and more information about this beautifully tree-lined, culturally and demographically diverse community at www.cityofeastlansing.com, or check out the ELAF Web site at www.elartfest.com.

Q: Is the ELAF a well-attended event?

A: Yes. The ELAF attracts an estimated 70,000 to 80,000 art lovers from across the region. Nationally renowned as one of the top-ranking fine art and fine craft fairs in the nation, this festival consistently appears in the top 200 shows ranked by Sunshine Artist Magazine. More than 200 gifted artists from across the nation and Canada exhibit and sell their work to the thousands of knowledgeable and dedicated art patrons who enjoy this show every year.

Q: How can I become a food court vendor at the ELAF?

A: The ELAF was established to enhance the sense of community and appreciation of artistic activity in the City of East Lansing and the Greater Lansing Area. With that in mind, our food court highlights the fare of our favorite local restaurants. Spaces in our food court are limited, as we offer first right of refusal to the dedicated businesses who participate yearly. However, we are open to accepting new vendors when a space comes available. If you would like us to keep your information on file for possible future placement please mail your company information to: ELAF, 410 Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI 48823.

Q: How can I become a musical performer at the ELAF?

A: Musical performers interested in being considered may contact ELAF Performance Coordinator Wanda Degen at wandadegen@att.net . Interested performers can also send artist information by mail to: Attn: Wanda Degen, ELAF, 410 Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI 48823.

Q: Can artists set up their booths on the Friday before the festival?

A: No. Since this festival is held in the downtown city streets of East Lansing, we limit road closures to the weekend days of the festival. Artists are allowed to set up beginning at 6:00 a.m. Saturday morning and are asked to tear down as soon as the festival ends at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Exhibiting artists will receive detailed instructions regarding festival procedures once they have achieved invited status.

Q: As an ELAF artist, how will I know how to load in/load out and where to set up my booth?

A: Exhibiting artists are assigned a booth number and will receive detailed instructions regarding festival procedures once they have achieved invited status.

Q: What if it rains or the weather is severe?

A: The ELAF is a rain-or-shine festival. In its 46 years the festival has not had to shut down due to weather conditions. Michigan weather is unpredictable, so be prepared to dress accordingly and protect your work. Artists are strongly encouraged to weight their tents against blustery conditions, as the ELAF cannot provide sand bags and cannot be held responsible for lost or damaged artwork. In the case of severe weather, the ELAF has an emergency plan that will be implemented if necessary. The ELAF Board of Directors and staff will monitor weather conditions and make announcements from our performance stages should it become necessary to shut down the festival.