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Community Supported Art (CSA): Ten Tips for a Successful Artist Proposal

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Its time for another season of the extremely popular Community Supported Art CSA Program.  We get a lot of questions regarding what makes a good proposal, what are the jurors looking for and what should be included as work samples.  In an effort to address these questions and to get better proposals, I thought it [...]

Its time for another season of the extremely popular Community Supported Art CSA Program.  We get a lot of questions regarding what makes a good proposal, what are the jurors looking for and what should be included as work samples.  In an effort to address these questions and to get better proposals, I thought it was a good time to repost and update a list of tips. While this list is specific to the CSA call, most of it applies to any open call process.

If you prefer a more personal session we are presenting an info session Thursday, December 22nd at the East Lake Library (2727 East Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN ) at 6pm.  The session is free and hosted by Springboard for the Arts Andy Sturdevant and myself. (Scot Stulen from mnartists.org).  No RSVP needed.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS JANUARY 13, 2012

Proposal Tips and Frequently Asked Questions

Based on the four CSA cycles we have organized, here are some tips and other advice for crafting your proposal. Each panel is different, but this tips should help you craft a more competitive proposal. For full information about the program and application visit the submission website.

1. Be clear and specific in your proposal. Do not submit a vague proposal or one which has several projects within it. Pick one, and explain it well.  The jurors do not response well to multiple choice proposals.

2. Be clear with your language. This is not a contest awarding your writing sample…so simplify and make sure your ideas are coming across directly.  A good proposal is written in language that non-artists can understand clearly.

3. Your proposal does not need to be a functional item or have anything to do with agriculture. While the idea for the program is based on a farm CSA model, the art work does NOT need to reference its roots. Likewise, preference is not given to any work that references food culture or agriculture.

4. Can you execute your proposal within the budget, time and scope outlined? Your work samples will be used to judge not only artistic merit, but your ability to reasonably execute your proposal. For example, if you are proposing to make 50 stained glass pieces and your proposal contains work samples of book art projects, the panel will question if you can pull it off a labor intensive project in another medium.  Be realistic.

5. Be reasonable. A thousand dollars is a modest stipend. Be smart and creative in your proposal. Nobody is getting rich by making 50 pieces for $1000. However, this is an amazing marketing vehicle and opportunity to place your work in the hands of paying, eager collectors. View this as a prime marketing device and think of how you can grab a collectors attention and wet their appetite for more.

6. The most successful proposals have offered:

A. High perceived value: The shareholder feels they are getting an amazing piece for the price.

 B. Representative: The proposal relates to the artists main body of work (the shareholder feels they are getting a small piece, which is representative of the artist’s overall work). This also works to your advantage as you are hoping to reach new patrons and sell the type of work you want to produce.

C. Access: The proposal offers access or insight into the artist’s creative process. This is where several of the performing arts proposals have succeeded.

D. Exclusivity: Ignore the word commercial in the description. Its confusing in this context. What we are referring to is some artists who produce multiples in a more production sense (for example a mass produced set of greeting cards). The jurors and shareholders have responded very well to pieces that are fine art objects, unique and not something that they can easily get at another venue. So a unique edition that is exclusive or in some other way unique.

7. Successful proposals consider use and/or presentation. For example, functional ceramics, 2-D work, small sculptures all are easily understandable as to how they will be displayed or find use for the shareholder. A piece that is more un-traditional can be a successful proposal, as long as its use is at least suggested. For example, a selected proposal from last cycle was a collaboration between a textile artist and a photographer to create a bolt of fabric with fruit and vegetable PLU stickers as the pattern. This unique proposal succeed because it was an interesting artwork it left in its raw format, but the artists also included instructions for sewing the fabric into several creations, thus creating a direction for further use. Basically, if you can’t think about how it would be displayed in your home or used as a functional piece it will be problematic for most shareholders.  You want your piece to be the object they want to show all their friends.

8. Consider the presentation. Work does not need to be matted, framed or otherwise finished…and actually for the stipend it would a waste of time and money to do so. What you should consider is creative ways of presenting the pieces that may also function to protect the works. For example, a simple plastic or brown paper wrapper for prints, or foam padding around a ceramic piece with a hand tied bow. These details present well to the panel and also to the shareholder. Don’t confuse these with gimmicks, it’s still about the main work, but consideration of presentation is a part of the overall package.

9. Work Samples. The documentation portion of the proposal can be past work and does not need to be the actual offering. If you have an example of the piece…great, but if not other work samples are fine. A mockup is only needed if you think the proposal needs it and the description is not clear. This is primarily for artists proposing something very different from their regular work and the work samples are not clear.  However, your work samples should support and illustrate your proposal and not confuse the jurors.  For example, if the work samples are all watercolors and the proposal is to do ceramics that would not be a helpful presentation for the jurors.

10. In the end its about the work. Be creative and think about how you would feel if you received your proposed work as part of a share. Maximize the potential of the format, and don’t bite off more than you can handle.

 

MN-Made Holiday Shopping Cheat Sheet: Pop-up shops and last-minute art fairs

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Are you starting to panic? Do you have more names than not yet to check off your holiday gift list? Have no fear. I’ve got some last-minute art fairs and pop-up shops that will help you fill those stockings and deck the halls with cool, one-of-a-kind, locally made wares, even if you’ve saved your holiday [...]

Are you starting to panic? Do you have more names than not yet to check off your holiday gift list? Have no fear. I’ve got some last-minute art fairs and pop-up shops that will help you fill those stockings and deck the halls with cool, one-of-a-kind, locally made wares, even if you’ve saved your holiday shopping to the last minute.

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Local Designer Sample Sale
Friday, December 16, 7 – 9 pm
Cliché, Minneapolis

For one night only, you can pick up chic, local fashions for a steal – find samples from area designers for up to 50% off retail — at this popular Uptown clothing store.

 

Midway’s Monster Drawing Rally
Saturday, December 17, 6 – 10 pm
Midway Contemporary Art, Minneapolis

Okay – so you can read all about this annual blow-out and its stellar line-up of participating local artists elsewhere on the blog. But keep in mind: this isn’t just a fabulously art-filled evening in support of one of our state’s most lauded contemporary art galleries, it’s also an opportunity to score an original piece by some of the scene’s most accomplished makers for a mere $35. Now that’s a swank stocking stuffer.

4th Annual Vine Arts Center Holiday Sale
Saturday, December 17 (10 am – 5 pm) and Sunday, December 18 (noon – 5 pm)
Vine Arts Center, Minneapolis

You’ll find an eclectic variety of fine art and craft made by scads of Vine Arts Center member artists and guests, including sculpture, paintings, jewelry, photos, textiles, cards and more. Meet the many artists who’ve contributed goods to the sale, have some refreshments and check off a few names from your gift list.

 

Entanglement – Holiday Sale and exhibition opening
Saturday, December 17, 6 – 9pm
Fox Tax Gallery, Minneapolis

The artists whose work is featured in Fox Tax’s soon-to-open show of collage have each contributed pieces, selling for less than $100 each, which will be available for purchase during the exhibition’s opening reception this weekend. It’s a great chance to get a lovely and affordable original work, and support a good cause at the same time; all proceeds from the night’s sales go to the Children’s Cancer Research Fund. Artists include: Beth Bowman, Allen Brewer, John Diebel, Jesse Draxler, Josie Lewis, Rob McBroom, Jessica Slagle, Iam Sorlie, Vanesa Windshitl, and Hannah Frick.

Last-minute Handmade Gift Market
Monday, December 19, 5 – 9 pm
Modern Times Café, Minneapolis

Find an assortment of homewares, fancy edibles, paper goods, ceramics, clothing and other crafty doodads made by local artisans at this holiday art fair hosted by Modern Times café. Find a full list of vendors here.

 

mnartists.marketplace at the Walker Shop
Walker Art Center, Minneapolis
Ongoing

You likely heard us crowing about our limited edition sets of MN artist-designed pint glasses, but get a load of the other cool things, all made by local artists, that we’ve handpicked for you: sweet handmade felt and wooden toys, and high-design tchotchkes for every occasion.

 

Soo VAC’s local artist-made prints
Soo Visual Arts Center, Minneapolis
Ongoing

Soo VAC has created gorgeous prints of work by some of the gallery’s most acclaimed local artists: including Andrea Carlson, Joe Sinness, Jennifer Davis, Amy Rice, Deuce Seven – priced from $25 and up.

 

White Rabbit Variety Pop-up Shop
Open daily, 10 am – 8 pm through December 30 (closed Christmas)
2520 Hennepin Avenue South, Minneapolis
Get the latest info via their website or Facebook page

For the month of December, you can pick up a wide array of locally made art and craft – from collage, photography, baubles and ornaments to paintings, sculpture, ceramics, and much more. Lots of up-cycled and repurposed items at every price point, representing work by more than 20 Twin Cities-based artists.

What Do Artists Need?

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As mnartists.org works towards rebuilding our website in the coming year, we are also in an opportune position to refocus and reappraise how we, as an organization, can best serve artists. When my colleague, Scott Stulen, and I sat down to revisit our mission statement, we agreed benefiting artists will always be central to our [...]

As mnartists.org works towards rebuilding our website in the coming year, we are also in an opportune position to refocus and reappraise how we, as an organization, can best serve artists. When my colleague, Scott Stulen, and I sat down to revisit our mission statement, we agreed benefiting artists will always be central to our mission. As we move forward with planning for the new site (new bells and whistles aside), Minnesota artists and their needs will remain core to our mission and our focus as an organization. No easy task, as artists needs vary depending on the stage they are in their career, their location, and have different needs associated with their discipline of focus.

So what is it that all artists need?

I can speculate; I’m an artist too.  Let me introduce myself: I’m Jehra Patrick and I work as Project Coordinator for mnartists.org.  I do everything from answering help-desk questions, to planning, promoting and managing our off-line programs like Drawing Club, CSA: Community Supported Art, MN Made, and mnartists.markerplace; I also assist in managing the McKnight Photo Fellowship for Photographers and work to direct artists and arts enthusiasts to the resources they need – online and otherwise. I am also a visual artist.  I’m an artist who loves to support other artists. In thinking about what artists need, I can speculate as both an artist and as someone who supports artists and interacts with artists regularly.  Here’s what I’ve got, but please feel free to chime in:

Artists need:

• Exposure Artists need their work to be seen; they need an audience, they need coverage and feedback

• Community Whether it’s camaraderie with other artists, support from their local community or a network of followers

• Resources Space to produce, the materials or expenses that make your work a reality and the time to make it

• Professional development Artists need a plan, a business strategy to market themselves as professionals; they need the tools meet their ambitions

All of these ‘needs’ vary – and may mean different things – depending on the artist’s stage in their career. The form that each of these needs takes also varies by the artist’s discipline of focus, and another thing: What artists want. What artists want depends on their own goals, which also vary depending on where they are in their career.

Back in 1999, McKnight Foundation issued a survey to gauge the needs of artists, out of which mnartists.org was developed. So how does mnartists.org continue assess artist’s needs? Over the next year, I will continue to reach out through topical blog posts to gauge varying needs of Minnesota artists and post to respond to these needs. While there will be more formal surveys, we also welcome candid feedback and encourage you to respond!  We want to hear from you!

What do artists need? What do you need as an artist? What do you need to continue to produce your work?  To make a living?  To take your work to ‘the next stage’?

Also, how do artists’ needs differ based on what you have? What is already available to you? What is missing?

Monster Drawing Rally IV Approaches (full list of artists released)

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Just in time for the holidays the annual Midway Contemporary Art Monster Drawing Rally arrives on December 17th for a night  of community art making (mixed with some gawking) and an amazing opportunity to purchase  art by local artists. For the last three years The Monster Drawing Rally has given artists living in the Twin [...]

Just in time for the holidays the annual Midway Contemporary Art Monster Drawing Rally arrives on December 17th for a night  of community art making (mixed with some gawking) and an amazing opportunity to purchase  art by local artists.

For the last three years The Monster Drawing Rally has given artists living in the Twin Cities the opportunity to support Midway while simultaneously gaining exposure within the community. Over 60 artists generously donate their time and talent by drawing live at the event during three one-hour rounds beginning at 6pm, 7pm and 8pm.  Each of their drawings is available immediately for sale (first come/ first serve) for a flat price of $35.  The casual atmosphere lets visitors watch the art making process while keeping a close eye on the walls filled with finished drawings available for purchase.

For those not familiar with the event…here is what to expect.

1. There are three one-hour rounds with approximately twenty local artists working each shift.

2. This is a rare opportunity to watch and interact with an artist as they are working. As a past and current artist myself, I can say it is an interesting experience from the other side of the table as well. No hiding your miscues with an attentive audience.

3. All the work is a flat fee of $35. However, drawings may not be purchased, claimed, or snatched prior to hitting the wall. Conflicts or ties for purchasing a work will be resolved by drawing cards. Fighting, hoarding, hovering, or any other bad collector behavior will be sternly frowned upon.

4. Impulse purchasing is encouraged.

5. When you purchase the piece you will also get the contact information for the artist. If you don’t get a chance to meet them or talk to them at the event…contact them and let them know you bought their work. Artist love to meet people who  invested in their work.

some of David Leftkowitz's contributions

6. This year features an artist designed glass to hold your beverage as you mingle around the event for only $5. So there is no good excuse not to leave with at lease one artwork.

7. This is one of the most community driven and artistic centric fundraisers in the city. Not one to be missed.

Over the next few days we will release the names of all the participating artists with links to their websites so you can do a little pre-rally research and maybe discover some new talent in your community.

Here is full list of participating artists.

Jehra Patrick
Natasha Pestich
David Petersen
Christine Peterson

Allen Brewer, Famous, colored pencil on paper


Saturday, December 17, 2011
6 – 10 PM
Free admission
Midway Contemporary Art
527 Second Ave SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414

For more information please visit: www.midwayart.org/events/mdr4/

Drawings are $35 each

Souvenir cups are $5 each

Thank you to our sponsors: mnartists.org and JOIA All-Natural Soda

MN-Made holiday shopping cheat sheet: craft fairs, art sales and trunk shows

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This isn’t a holiday gift guide with specific suggestions for what to get Mom, Dad, your S.O., the kids, Nana, Grandpa and that coworker-across-the-cubicle-you-chat-with-sometimes-but-don’t-really-know-so-well. (If you’d like ideas, though, you can find a few local gift guides out already this year, courtesy of the folks at Vita.mn, Minnesota Monthly, METRO magazine, or the Duluth News-Tribune. [...]

This isn’t a holiday gift guide with specific suggestions for what to get Mom, Dad, your S.O., the kids, Nana, Grandpa and that coworker-across-the-cubicle-you-chat-with-sometimes-but-don’t-really-know-so-well. (If you’d like ideas, though, you can find a few local gift guides out already this year, courtesy of the folks at Vita.mn, Minnesota Monthly, METRO magazine, or the Duluth News-Tribune. No doubt more such lists are on the way shortly.)

Instead, what you’ll find here in the coming days is a brief rundown of craft fairs, pop-up shops, mom & pop independents, and various and sundry art sales and trunk shows, and online shops where you can find kick-ass, locally made art and craft. We’ll point the way to some of the best spots for buying from Minnesota artists this season, and leave figuring out what to get Auntie Whosit to you.

This weekend:

No Coast Craft-O-Rama
Friday (3 pm – 8 pm) & Saturday (9 am – 5 pm), December 2 & 3
Midtown Global Market, Minneapolis

For me, it just wouldn’t be the holidays without this, the most fabulous of the Twin Cities craft fairs. From crazy-cute duds for kids, to cheeky baby gear, and ingenious toys and stuffed critters; stylish handbags, beautifully crafted jewelry, and handmade accessories, fancy soaps, candy, and punk paper products, awesome prints, posters, letterpress, and household doodads at every price point – I swear, this well-curated local craft fair gets bigger, and more bustling every year. If you’re in town and looking to check some of your near and dear off the holiday gift list, you should go. It’s a delight to browse, and I guarantee you’ll not leave empty-handed. (You can check out all the vendors online here)

 

College of Visual Arts’ Holiday Art Sale
Preview party December 2 (5 – 8 pm, $30 admission at the door)
Sale, Saturday (10 am – 4 pm) & Sunday (noon – 4 pm), December 3 – 4
College of Visual Arts Gallery, St. Paul

This year’s 6th annual holiday art sale boasts more than 2000 pieces of original work by CVA students, faculty and alumni – most of which will be priced at less than $100. Like all student-centric events of its kind, this art sale offers budget art collectors a great shot at affordable pieces by emerging artists, not to mention the satisfaction of putting your consumer dollar toward a good cause. Word to the wise: if you’re serious about making a purchase, it’s probably worth the price of admission to stop by the preview party. The really good stuff tends to get snapped up early. If you’ve got a bit more scratch to spend, you could also bid on work in the silent auction of pieces made by friends of CVA. All proceeds from both the silent auction and sale go to support the college’s scholarship programs.

 

Color Wheel Gallery’s Holiday Bazaar
Color Wheel Gallery, Minneapolis
Saturday (6 – 10 pm) & Sunday (noon – 6 pm), December 3 – 4

Gallery proprietor and artist Tammy Ortegon is hosting a local art and craft fair at her shop, including paintings, prints, collages, photography, and mixed media work by a bunch of Minnesota artists, but also crafty stuff by local folks, like handmade jewelry, knitted winter things, baby gear, and the like.

 

Rochester Art Center’s Gallery Shop Holiday Sale & Trunk Show
Rochester Art Center, Rochester
Sunday, December 4, noon – 5 pm (admission is free)

For its 6th annual gallery shop and trunk sale, the RAC is offering art and craft by a variety of regional artists, including glass & beaded jewelry, handmade housewares and kitchen vessels, fiber arts, Amaglyphe art packs and books, and deals on the usual cool stuff on sale in the gift shop.

 

The Grand Meander
December 3, 8:30 am through 5 pm
Along Grand Avenue in St. Paul

Start the day with breakfast with Santa and a visit with the big man’s reindeer; the kids will be thrilled by the fire truck and trolley rides, hayrides, caroling, and a community Christmas tree-lighting later in the day. While you’re in the neighborhood, stop by Grand Hand Gallery – particularly if you’re in the market for higher-end, locally made art and craft. Their Handcrafted Holidays selection is carefully curated and just lovely.

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>>Next up: The best mom & pop retailers, pop-up stores, and online outfits for MN-made art & crafts this season >>