Art on the Square (Belleville) Reviews.

Show Name: Belleville Art on the Square
City and State: Belleville, IL
Your Medium: Photography
Year you most recently exhibited at this Show: 2013
Your Estimated Sales at this Show: $5001-$10,000
Number of Years You have Exhibited in this Show: 1st time
Attendance: (1 is poor, 5 is great) 4
Location: 4
Facilities: 5 (great)
Ease of Participating: 4
Sales: 4
Overall: 4
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Great
Estimated Attendance: 10,001-50,000 people

Good Things about this Art Fair: They really treated us artists very well, with many opportunities for booth sitters, plenty of water, snacks brought around the show for us, and a Champaign breakfast on Sunday morning. The quality of the artists exhibiting in the show is the best I've ever seen.

Bad Things about this Art Fair: Sales were good, but not nearly as good as reported by AFSB. No one I talked to had sales even close to the 'average' of over $10,000, nor had they in past years, so I am hesitant to believe that number being an accurate 'average' for most artists exhibiting in the show. That being said, my sales were still very good and considering the booth fee, much better than most others.

Posted by: Ryan Tischer | 05/25/2013 at 09:09 PM

Show Name: Art Fair on the Square Belleville
City and State: Belleville Il
Your Medium: Pottery
Year you most recently exhibited at this Show: 2012
Your Estimated Sales at this Show: $2001-$5000
Number of Years You have Exhibited in this Show: 1st time
Attendance: (1 is poor, 5 is great) 4
Location: 4
Facilities: 4
Ease of Participating: 5 (great)
Sales: 3
Overall: 5 (great)
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Good
Estimated Attendance: Not really sure.

Good Things about this Art Fair: * They really spoil you here. Staff bring around water and food almost constantly, and are eager to help out. I think the big plus here is this show is put on by the city itself, not some third party, so it seems like everyone around there is dedicated to a good show.
Sales seemed to be mixed. Most people I talked to said it was a down year sales wise. It was OK for me, not nearly at the level I was expecting.

Bad Things about this Art Fair: Can't really think of anything to criticize. The heat and threat of rain kept the crowds on the smaller size on Sunday. People seemed to be making more smaller purchases. The painter next to me only sold prints all weekend long, and the glass artist down from me said it was mostly just small things he was selling. But I also talked to a couple artists selling high ticket things that were doing good. However I didn't talk to anyone who said they were having a phenomenal show, even the good responses seemed to be tepid.

Posted by: Gregg Rasmusson | 06/14/2012 at 11:31 PM

Show Name: Belleville Art On the Square
City and State: Belleville, IL
Your Medium: Glass
Year you most recently exhibited at this Show: 2011
Your Estimated Sales at this Show: $5001-$7500
Number of Years You have Exhibited in this Show: 5-10 times
Attendance: (1 is poor, 5 is great) 5 (great)
Location: 5 (great)
Facilities: 5 (great)
Ease of Participating: 5 (great)
Sales: 5 (great)
Overall: 5 (great)
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Great
Estimated Attendance: 25,001-50,000 people

Good Things about this Art Fair:
This year's patron program had over $104,000 committed by the show's opening. Truly amazing when you look at the size of the show (100 artists) and the size of the city.

The weather was great opening night and then left a bit to be desired. It affected attendance but we ended up having our best show in Belleville and the best show anywhere in several years. Patty Gregory and her huge team of volunteers are amazing as ever.

Advice to Other Artists Considering this Show:
As with all shows, some people do great, some don't. We've been there 8 years and have been pretty consistent with sales.

Additional Commentary on this Show:
This is the only show where people get up and hug me when checking in!!

Posted by: Renee Engebretson | 06/17/2011 at 10:54 AM

Your Medium: Photography
Year you most recently exhibited at this Show: 2010
Your Estimated Sales at this Show: $7501-10,000
Number of Years You have Exhibited in this Show: 1st time
Attendance: (1 is poor, 5 is great) 5 (great)
Location: 5 (great)
Facilities: 5 (great)
Ease of Participating: 5 (great)
Sales: 5 (great)
Overall: 5 (great)
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Great
Estimated Attendance: 25,001-50,000 people

Good Things about this Art Fair:
Support of the Community both in attendance and purchases (my best show to date)

The Art Cash Program: Before the first artist crossed the city line, more than $87,000 in pre-purchased Art Cash had been sold. So when the show opened on Friday night, 87K had already been collected and reissued to patrons for the sole purpose of art purchases at the show (turns to confetti on Monday).

The volunteers coordinating the show are fantastic, you will be spoiled.

Belleville, IL is a community that is building itself around the arts and the show is serving as the catalyst.

Feel free to click my name below to read all my comments about this show from my blog on ArtFairInsiders.com.

Posted by: Leo Charette | 02/15/2011 at 09:09 PM

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