Applications are open for the first annual Folksy Summer Exhibition
We are delighted to announce that this August we will be hosting the first annual Folksy Summer Exhibition. This is a very exciting event for us, and one that we hope will become a fixture of the art and craft calendar.
We firmly believe that Folksy is the best place to buy handmade online in the UK, and every week we discover new makers and new pieces that astound us with their skill and craftsmanship. To celebrate all that talent, we want to put together a show that really highlights the depth and range of art and craft created by our makers. Enter the Summer Exhibition!
This will be an opportunity to see the very best of Folksy. It will include pieces you can buy, original art and craft that may never appear for sale (perhaps because the maker can’t bear to part with it!) and other work that sold out before it was even listed. If you like what you see, you’ll be able to go straight from that piece to the artist or maker’s Folksy shop where you can explore all the pieces they currently have for sale, or commission them to make something especially for you.
Scroll down to find out how you can apply to be an exhibitor in our inaugural event…
How to enter
The exhibition is open to everyone – you just need to have a Folksy Plus account to apply – become a member here or upgrade in your Folksy dashboard. All entries will be reviewed by our judging panel and the selected pieces will go on show in our online Summer Exhibition in August 2023.
Information for exhibitors
- The exhibition is open to all Folksy Plus members. (Not Folksy Plus? Sign up here)
- It is free to apply.
- You can submit up to three different pieces.
- All pieces submitted must be original and made by you.
- The work submitted does not have to be available for sale.
- Entries close at midnight on Sunday 23 July 2023.
- All entries will go in front of our judging panel, who will choose the final pieces to go on display in our online exhibition during August 2023.
- The selected entries will be displayed in a dedicated exhibition page online at Folksy.com with the title of the piece, the name of the artist or maker and a link to their Folksy shop.
Submit your pieces using this form.
Good luck! Any questions, email us at events@folksy.co.uk.
FAQs
Q: Do I have to submit all my pieces in one go? Can I submit one now and maybe submit another later if it’s finished in time?
A: You can go back and add additional pieces to your submission at any point before the deadline. However, you may only submit a maximum of three pieces in total.
Q: How do I edit my entry or submit an additional piece?
When you have submitted your entry, you will receive an email confirmation, which includes a button to “Edit Your Response”. Click this button to make changes to your entry and/or submit an additional piece for consideration (up to a maximum of three pieces per artist/maker). You can make changes until the submission deadline.
Q: I submitted three pieces but now I’ve changed my mind. Can I change my entry?
A: You can. Use the “Edit Your Response” button in the confirmation email as outlined above. However, you will not be able to delete any images already submitted, and you may only submit three entries in total. So after adding your new entry/entries, contact us at events@folksy.co.uk telling us which images you would like us to remove.
Q: What image formats do you accept?
A: Please submit your images as either jpgs or png files. Upload the highest-quality image you can. Consider that your photo is your opportunity to showcase your work at its best, so make it as good as you can! Do not use collages, add watermarks (that obscure the image) or borders or any other filters/graphics to your photographs.
Q: What name should I give my image files
A: Title your image files with the name of your Folksy shop and submission number so we can easily identify them – eg: “craftshop-1”
Q: Help! I’m having problems uploading my images.
A: Don’t worry! You can always email your images to us at events@folksy.co.uk instead. Just remember to include your shop name and the titles of each piece.
Q: Who will be judging the entries and what is the criteria?
A: This year the judging panel will be members of the Folksy team. In the future we hope to invite a panel of industry experts as judges. We will be looking for examples of art and craft that showcase skill, creativity and craftsmanship.
Q: How many pieces will be included in the exhibition?
A: At the moment, we have do not have a set number in mind.
Q: Do the pieces need to be available to buy on Folksy to be considered for the exhibition? What if the work has already been sold?
A: The entries you submit for the exhibition do not need to be available for sale. They can be pieces you are particularly proud of that you either don’t want to sell or that have already been sold. All pieces included the exhibition will include a link to your Folksy shop, so visitors can buy other pieces that you do have available.
Q: Do I need to have an active Folksy shop to apply for the exhibition
A: Yes. You will need to have at least some items available for people to buy in your shop when the panel is judging the entries and when the exhibition launches in August.
Q: Do I need to be a Folksy Plus member to be included in the exhibition?
A: Yes, you need to be a Folksy Plus member to apply. The exhibition forms part of the benefits Folksy Plus shops receive as part of their membership. Unfortunately if you are not a Folksy Plus member at the end of July when the judging panel meets, your entry will not be considered. You can upgrade to Folksy Plus quickly and easily here – https://folksy.com/selling
