FPAW 2021 is CANCELED due to COVID-19.
Front Porch Artwalk (FPAW) Event Info and Guidelines:
Application Guidelines:
- When and where is FPAW event?
The event is always on the second Saturday of May each year 10am - 4pm. Rain or shine. This is an outdoor event, please follow the weather and come prepared for a day that might have a little bit of everything weather-wise.
Front Porch Artwalk (FPAW) is an annual public event hosted at historic Mordecai/Oakwood neighborhood near downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. The event runs from the intersection of E. Franklin Street and N. Blount and part of Pace street. - How do I apply?
Our application link will be posted to our site in the month of February. Please sign up to our email list, or follow us on Facebook/Instagram for event notice. - Application fee and deadline?
The Artist Application period opens late January and remains open until March 15. FPAW does NOT accept late applications. A non-refundable $15 application fee is required upon submission. An application is not considered complete until the fee is received. Once the application is accepted, you are required to pay an additional $60 booth fee. - How many vendors will be accepted?
We accept 60-70 vendors each year in different categories, including ceramics, photography, glass, jewelry, paintings, fiber arts, bath and body products, sculptures, metal works and more.
- Application requirements
The following items are required to submit an online application:
◘ All items for sale must be originals made by the participating artist. Re-productions are not permitted.
◘ Up to 5 images of recent artwork, produced within the last 2 years, and one booth photo:
◘ Accepted image formats are .jpg, .gif, .png
◘ Min image width is 480px
◘ Max file size is 5MB
◘ One booth photo is required
◘ Due to blind jury process, please avoid images with any identifiable sign, or photos of the artist themselves.
◘ Description of Work: Description of your works, such as process, materials, inspirations, etc.
◘ Statement: This is your brief "Artist Statement".
◘ NC Sales and Tax ID: The state of North Carolina requires event organizers to maintain a list of sales and use registration certificates for all artists, whether the artists live and/or are licensed in North Carolina or another state. You can not participate in our show if you don’t have an NC certificate of registration number. If you don’t have a certificate of registration, you can register online at NCDOR's Website.
◘ Special Request: Any special request to event organizer, such as location, porch/tent preference etc. Note: we will try our best to accommodate your request but there's no guarantee. - What does my online status mean?
Applicants can check their application online and find the up to date status:
◘ Not Submitted: Application is submitted but application fee has not been verified yet.
◘ Submitted: Application fee is verified and application is fully submitted.
◘ Show to Jury: Application fee is paid and application is available to Jury.
◘ Accepted: Application met all entry criteria and is accepted. Applicant should get notification to pay booth fee.
◘ NOT Accepted: Application does not meet our entry criteria and is rejected.
◘ Waitlist: Application met all entry criteria but we do not have a space available.
◘ Fee Paid: Booth fee received. Applicant will be notified with place assignment.
◘ Withdrawn/Refund: Applicant was accepted and paid booth fee, but later withdrawn before the refund deadline. Booth fee is refunded.
◘ Withdrawn/No Ref: Applicant was accepted and paid booth fee, but later withdrawn after the refund deadline. Booth fee is forfeited and not refunded.
- How are artists chosen to participate in the show?
FPAW is juried and it is competitive. Because there are limited spaces available, and we receive more applications than we can accommodate, acceptance cannot be guaranteed to every applicant. Our jury looks for inventiveness, craftsmanship, work that keeps our event diverse and dynamic. This means there may be fewer acceptances in some of most popular categories, such as Jewelry and Ceramics.
The final results will be emailed a few weeks after the application deadline. Applicants not accepted at this time will be put on waitlist. - I applied and was put on the Wait List. What does that mean?
We try our best to accommodate qualified artists for the event. However we can't guarantee acceptance for every applicant. During the jurying process, we will create a waitlist to fill opened spaces. If you’re admitted to the show from the wait list, we’ll notify you by email ASAP, and you’ll have three days from that time to confirm your participation and pay your booth fee. If your confirmation and payment are not received in time, then the space may be forfeited to the next artist on the wait list. - How much is the "Booth Fee" and when is the deadline?
FPAW booth fee is $60. The deadline to pay your booth fee is April 15th. Once artists get accepted in the show, they will be notified through email, with the instruction on how to pay the booth fee. Artists will have until April 15th to pay the booth fee. Failure to do so will result in the forfeiture of the application. Only artists who paid their booth fee may participate in the show.
Please note also that if the event is cancelled due to weather events beyond FPAW’s control, we may not be able to refund your booth fee. - If I can’t do the show, can I get a refund?
We understand that conflicts do arise, thus we will try our best to be flexible if an unforeseen event happens. Cancellations submitted before April 30th will receive a full refund. However after April 30th, you will not receive any refund for the booth fee. Please note also that if the event is cancelled due to weather events beyond FPAW’s control, we may not be able to refund your booth fee.
The $15 application fee is non-refundable. - Can I request a specific location?
Yes. However we cannot guarantee your requested placement. If you want to be assigned to a specific location, or have location preference (porch or yard), please include that in the "Special Request" section in the online application. We will try our best to accommodate the request but we can not guarantee to meet every request.
- Can I share a space with another artist?
We do not allow artists to share a table or a booth. Each artist must apply separately.
FPAW Vendor Information:
- Does weather impact FPAW?
This is an outdoor event – Rain or Shine. Please follow the weather and come prepared for a day that might have a little bit of everything weather-wise. - How big are the vendor spaces?
The artists will assigned to either a front porch or tent location:
◘ Tent: Space is roughly 10'x10'. If you choose a tent location, you MUST provide your own tent. Tent spaces are limited. Tent weighs are required, no stakes may be used on any property due to underground watering systems. Property damage of any kind is the artists responsibility, not that of FPAW. Bring shims as every tent location is different and they may be required for some.
◘ Porch: Size varies depending on the specific house. Usually it accommodates ONE 6 foot table and a little additional space for your chair and to move around to assist customers. Any displays other than a 6 foot table must fit within the same footprint.
Almost every porch assignment is to be shared with at least one or more artists, so please be thoughtful of your porch neighbors before spreading out too much. Think of your customer traffic flow, leave them space to move about. Be thoughtful about front doors of homes. Businesses may be closed, but homeowners will most likely be around.
- What should I bring?
◘ Tax ID: Please bring the proof of your tax ID. If yours is still pending, please follow up.
◘ Lunch/Water/Snacks. FPAW provides water and light snacks in the morning and afternoon, but bring more if you need. FPAW does not provide lunch so prepare your own. The event area has coffee shops and restaurants too.
◘ Pick up some change, have your credit card takers ready and phones charged up! - What is the setup instruction?
◘ Set up may start no earlier than 8:30am. Please remember that the house owners may be sleeping, some have new babies and pets so be respectful. Some owners may be away from home for all or part of the day.
◘ You are responsible for all of your own display materials, tables, chairs, tents (if assigned) etc. FPAW does not provide help in setup or take down.
◘ Please be thoughtful of your porch mates during loading/unloading. Please move your vehicle quickly so others can share the parking. - What is the takedown instruction?
◘ FPAW event ends at 4pm. Please do not start to take down your displays until 4pm.
◘ If you have to move porch or yard furniture for your display, be sure to put it back at end of the show.
◘ And of course, please double check that you have picked up all your trash. Property must be left just as you found it. - Will electricity be available?
No. Please do not ask the homeowners to provide you with any. - Will restrooms be available?
Yes, we provide porta-potties to the artists participating in the event. Locations of porta-potties will be on a map distributed on the morning of the show. Please do not ask your homeowner for the use of their bathroom. - What hospitality FPAW provides?
FPAW volunteers will be going around the FPAW footprint in the morning and afternoon to provide water and small snacks. Maps of the show area and artist info will be delivered to you to hand to your customers during the show. Please offer these to all the people that come to your porch. - Will booth sitters be available?
No. Please ask your artist neighbors to assist you during the show. We have never had an issue when artists help each other. - Will assistants be able to help me unload/pack up?
Sorry, no. We’ll be attending to event-wide set up and clean up. It is your responsibility to set up/break down your booth and belongings. No trace of your set-up should be left behind. - Where can I find parking?
Street parking is usually the way to go. Be mindful of the signs as some areas are permitted parking only. You should be able to in the morning and evening to pull up close to your unload area. After unloading, please move your car prior to set up so other artists can unload easily. - What if I need help during the event?
FPAW volunteers are available to help during the event hours:
● Full time volunteers will wear “VOLUNTEER” tags during the show.
● Volunteer artists will have a big “V” on their name tags. You can find their location on FPAW map. They can answer quick questions related to the event, such as setup/take down instructions. - What’s the fine print?
By applying to and participating in Annual Front Porch Artwalk, the Artist agrees to accept full responsibility for his / her booth, display, and merchandise. Each artist must be on-site during the festival to staff his / her booth. The event organizers and volunteers will not be liable in any way for loss or damage to merchandise, display, or personal injuries. Participants are required to clean up at the end of the event and leave no damage to homeowners' property.
FPAW Committee reserves the right to deny entrance to any artist whose work is deemed to be inappropriate or to not meet the event's standards. The Committee also reserves the right to remove from the show (without refund) any exhibit that is not comparable to the submitted images. The work on display must be the similar as the images submitted with the application.
Artists retain all revenue from the sale of their work. No commission on sales is due to FPAW. Artists are responsible for collecting and reporting the North Carolina-Wake County sales tax (7.25%) on any sales. For more information, please visit the North Carolina Department of Revenue website at: https://www.dornc.com/taxes/sales/salesrates_4-17.html. - Other questions?
Please send any questions to fpaw.info@gmail.com
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