Manayunk Art Festival Reviews -

Welcome to the Art Show reviews for Manayunk Art Festival

Art Fair:  Manayunk Art Festival

Location:   Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Held on Main Street in Manayunk -
Northwest District of Philadelphia

Dates:  Held toward the end of June

Presented By:   Manayunk
Development Corporation

Founded:   1989

Show Type:  Outdoor

Expected Attendance:    150,000 people

Exhibiting Artists:   300

Artist Application Deadline: The beginning of June

Jury Fee:   $30

Booth Fee:   $495

Web site:   www.manayunk.com

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Comments

[Sandy Calderone]

Medium: Jewelry
Year you most recently exhibited at this Show:
2022
Your Estimated Sales at this Show: < $500
Price Range of your Work: 75 - 350
Number of Years You have Exhibited in this Show:
1st time
Number of Years You have been doing Art Fairs overall: 5-10 years
Attendance: (1 is poor, 5 is great) 5 (great)
Location: 4
Facilities: 1 (poor)
Ease of Participating: 4
Sales: 1 (poor)
Overall: 2
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Poor
Estimated Attendance: 50,001+ people

Good Things about this Art Fair:
Packed with people, but they weren't buying.

What could this Art Fair have done better?:
Booth fee is at least 2xs what it should be for the quality of vendors. I was warned to steer clear. I tried it, should've saved my money. I ended up -350$ after hotel, booth fee, jury fee, food, gas and tolls!

Advice to Other Artists Considering this Show:
Don't do it

[Carrie Jacobson]

Medium: Painting
Year you most recently exhibited at this Show: 2014
Your Estimated Sales at this Show: $501-$2000
Number of Years You have Exhibited in this Show: 1st time
Attendance: (1 is poor, 5 is great) 4
Location: 4
Facilities: 3
Ease of Participating: 4
Sales: 3
Overall: 4
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Okay
Estimated Attendance: 10,001-50,000 people

Good Things about this Art Fair:
Lots of people, many of whom were interested in buying art.
Potential buyers seemed to have pretty good funds, and were undaunted by price.
Cool neighborhood with funky/fun stores, restaurants, bistros.

Bad Things about this Art Fair:
Saturday morning set-up
A surprising amount of not-so-good craft - and art, really. The high-end work that I see at many shows was not present at this one, at least not in my area.

Advice to Other Artists Considering this Show:
I've heard that this show is uneven in terms of sales, and from my experience, that was true. I did OK - not great, but OK. I had other reasons for being in the area that weekend, so it worked out for me. I do think that more high-end work would bring out more high-end buyers. I know that there are well-heeled buyers in the area.

[Sandy Gold]

Medium: Mixed
Year you most recently exhibited at this Show: 2014
Your Estimated Sales at this Show: < $500
Number of Years You have Exhibited in this Show: 1st time
Attendance: (1 is poor, 5 is great) 5 (great)
Location: 4
Facilities: 2
Ease of Participating: 2
Sales: 1 (poor)
Overall: 2
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Poor
Estimated Attendance: 501-10,000 people

Good Things about this Art Fair:
Lots of communication from the organizers. There is certainly a lot of publicity in the area - EVERYONE knows about the show and they come. Snacks for the artists - VIP show and at check in. Big crowds of people. Plenty of on-site security and EMS during the show hours.

Bad Things about this Art Fair:
Set up is ridiculous - way too early - why set up at 5 for a show that starts at 11? Narrow street, so artists' cars and vans competing with huge trucks - coming in every direction. No one directing traffic.

I could not find a bathroom other than Starbucks and local restaurants. I know there were port-a-potty's but they were far from my tent. If there are tent-sitters, no one ever asked me if I needed one.

Probably a certain amount of buy/sell and low end items. The organizers are asking for feedback to eliminate them, but not sure that it makes a difference during the actual show. I only noticed clothing manufacturers and some low end crafty stuff... and low end jewelry.

I have a saying about shows like this - the crowds come, but not to buy art - they come for the "event" itself...you'd think someone is giving away free donuts at either end, people are walking so fast. Not really even looking at the art.

I have a pet peeve with shows like this on a street... when people are walking the show hours before it opens... its not like the businesses are open. It should have been closed off until the opening of the show.

Lots of bike riders, lots of skateboarders and lots of people walking their dogs.

There are a lot of vendors and sponsors tents. I don't know that it hurt business.

I did not see a lot of art going by other than garden stakes, a few prints and probably plenty of jewelry.

I did not put any business cards out the first day, but was asked for them from a few people who didn't even look at my art. On the second day, more people asked for cards - saying the didn't have time to look at the art I had for sale in the show, but would look online. I expect to get a lot of spam in my inbox...

Advice to Other Artists Considering this Show:
Unless you sell low-end crafts and/or jewelry, don't do it.

[Teresa Haag]

Show Name: Manayunk
City and State: Philadelphia, PA
Your Medium: Painting
Year you most recently exhibited at this Show: 2013
Your Estimated Sales at this Show: < $500
Number of Years You have Exhibited in this Show: 1st time
Attendance: (1 is poor, 5 is great) 5 (great)
Location: 3
Facilities: 5 (great)
Ease of Participating: 4
Sales: 1 (poor)
Overall: 2
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Poor
Estimated Attendance: 50,001+ people

Good Things about this Art Fair: The staff was very helpful and very friendly.

Bad Things about this Art Fair: Lots of sponsored vendors, vodka booth, insurance booths, corporate stuff. Tons of traffic, but not the kind that are there to purchase fine art.

Advice to Other Artists Considering this Show: If you sell functional items in a lower price bracket, this may be a good show for you. A woman across from me selling rocks with duck heads and feet practically sold out. If you are a fine artist, this may not be the show for you.

Additional Commentary on this Show: the set up was on the morning of the show...5:30 am was our slot. Easy to get in. Parking in front of booth to unload. Parking lot just a block away. Hours were 11 to 7 sat and 11 to 6 on sunday. People began walking the show at around 10am both days. Tear down was pretty easy...only a few issues with vendors elbowing their way through to race out. Good restaurants in the area for food. Very hot. The "even numbered" side of the street sits in sun all day. Good for tent light, bad for the heat. Tents all line one street for maybe 10-15 blocks. There really isn't a "bad" location unless you get stuck next to one of the MANY corporate sponsored booths. Some even had generators blasting...but I think many complained and they came up with a different solution. Aside from dismal sales - it was a well run show. My work just wasn't a good match for the crowd.