Boca Grande Masters Art Festival March  2, 3, 2024 

Due to the damage to the island from Hurrican Ian we have had to postpone this event. Our contacts at the resort have suggested we try to reschedule for April during Spring Break as they believe the situation will be much improved. We will send out an email blast when the dates are decided.

ALL artists must be register before applying. If you have not registered for an event, click "HOW TO APPLY" above. It is very simple and user friendly.

Registered artists click "APPLYING ARTIST" above.

If you have never heard of nor traveled to Boca Grande, you have missed visiting one of Florida’s great destinations. We have a good location in a great community on a very solid weekend. This show is great for quality and large works. We reccomend that you contact us with questions if you are a first time applicant.

The Boca Grande Masters will be limited to 40 artists. Boca Grande is one of the Barrier Islands located north of Sanibel and Captiva. The residents and visitors to Boca Grande are considered one of the most sought after demographics that a special event could hope to attract. Visitors and residents travel and shop along the island via golf cart and bicycle. All but two roads on the island permit golf cart travel. Boca Grande, Florida, on the Grand Barrier Island called Gasparilla, is a step back into “Old World” Florida, a carefully preserved part of Florida’s history and beauty. Located on the Southwest coast of Florida, midway between Ft. Myers and Sarasota, Boca Grande is a retreat for tourists and fishermen. Seven miles of pristine white sand beaches stretch the entire Gulf side of the island, while protected waters weave in and around the natural mangrove shorelines along the bay side. The nucleus of Gasparilla Island is the unincorporated village of Boca Grande, located midpoint on the island.

This event is limited to a very few accepted artists due to the scale of the event. This our most cherished event and we think that it is the finest small event in Florida.

Important Dates:

Application Deadline November14 

November 17 Acceptance Notification

Friday Set-up at 10AM

Artists are allowed to display and sell Friday afternoon

Saturday Sunday 10-5

For Requirements, Fees, Image Preparation, Category Requirements, and rules click read more below and this page will expand.

REQUIREMENTS:

Images: 3 Images of Artwork Only.

Application Fee : $35

Booth Fee $404

Application Process

Applications will be reviewed by show staff and selected outside individuals. Richard P Sullivan will be part of the selection process. Some acceptances may be made prior to the jury system.

There are 50 available spaces.

SHOW INFORMATION

Display
Spaces are approximately 12’ x 12’ with additional storage behind you display. You will be allowed to drive up to your space to unload. Double spaces are available. Display surface is asphalt, you must use weights, driving spikes into the asphalt is prohibited unless warranted by heavy winds. Limited electricity is available. All spaces are handicapped accessible. Exhibitors should make arrangements for wind or rain, as this is an open-air venue. The Festival will go on rain or shine.

Attendance
We anticipate visitors, with middle to high income, consisting not only of existing collectors, but also museum and gallery goers interested in original, affordable, high quality fine art and fine craft.

Marketing Strategy
Our goal is to reach local and regional art buyers and enthusiasts through:

# Local Newspaper Advertising - newspapers, regional consumer & trade magazines/publications in and around surrounding areas
# Radio ads
#Hired Marketing firm to place listings in all calendar sections. Press releases and articles in local newspapers.

# Festival website and on line event listings

ARTIST INFORMATION

Standard Art Festival Application jpeg images will be used for the online application.

Booth Assignments

There is a space on your application for booth requests. We will make every effort to accommodate your requests, corner booths can not be assured. Corner spaces and electricity may be requested, but are assigned solely on the basis of availability and at the discretion of the Festival. All booths and their contents must be furnished by the artist, be able to withstand crowds and weather, and fit within an assigned space. Any exhibitor not adhering to display regulations or selling anything other than original art will be asked to leave.

Set-Up & Break-down
Check-in will begin on Friday, at 10am. Artists who do not check in prior to 8PM Friday must contact the festival director to declare their arrival and set up time. All artists must be up and running at 9:00 AM Saturday. Artist parking is adjacent to display areas. There is no charge for parking.

Exhibitors may begin to break down their displays at the close of the show, Sunday at 4:30pm. Break down must be completed by 9:00pm. All ZIP TIES must be removed from premises.

Spaces are handicapped accessible. Artists may drive up to booth location or at least very near. You have to dolly up to 10 yards to display space. Artists must provide own dolly. Photo ID is required at check-in.

ARTIST REGULATIONS

Exhibiting artists must be 18 years or older and must be present during all show hours. Agents or representatives of the artist do not replace the requirement of the artist to be present during show hours. Assistants are welcome, but not in place of the artist. Any artist leaving prior to the end of the show will be unable to exhibit in any other boulderbrook productions event. Booth sitters may not be available for this event.

All work shown must be original work by the artists hand. Work made from commercial molds, kits, patterns or copyrighted designs not owned by the crafts person are not permitted. Any commercially made embellishments must be subordinate to the handcrafted work. All work must be for sale. Reproductions (including Giclees) are allowed in browse bins only. Reproduction policy available upon request. No t-shirts, posters, calendars, cards/postcards, or any other personal merchandise that is a mass reproduction of an original piece of artwork will be permitted in artist’s booths.

Sales

The exhibitor must handle all sales and all proceeds go to the artists. Artists are required by law to pay local sales tax. All artist information will be supplied to the Florida Department of Revenue.

Security
24-hour Police security is provided throughout the Festival beginning on Friday at 2:00pm. All exhibitors work at their own risk. It is understood that the Festival does not carry insurance to cover personal property of any exhibitor. Exhibitors are considered to be independent contractors, and it is suggested that exhibitors obtain their own insurance.

On-Site Artist Amenities
Hospitalities may include continental breakfast on Saturday and a light lunch on Sunday in addition to discounted hotel rates. Close on site parking. Adopt-an-artist program. Patron Purchasing Awards. This is the easiest load in and breakdown of any show you will ever do.

Media Categories

Ceramics: Functional and sculptural work where the primary material is clay. All original clay and porcelain work other than jewelry is accepted in this category. No machine-made or mass produced work is permitted. If multiple pieces of the same design are displayed each piece must be signed.

Digital Art: This category includes any original work for which the original image, or the manipulation of other source material, was executed by the artist using a computer. Work in this category should be of archival quality.

Drawing/ Graphics/ Pastels: Works created using dry media including chalk, charcoal, pencil, wax crayon, etc. or from the fluid medium of inks and washes oil sticks or pastels. Printed works for which the artist’s hand manipulated the plates, stones or screens and which have been properly signed and numbered as a limited edition may be entered in this category. All photogravure, photocopy and/or offset reproductions, will be rejected. Printmakers are required to disclose both their creative and printmaking processes.

Fiber Decorative: A Mixed Bag of functional,decorative, and wearable art. Artists will be selected in all segments of this category and although the category is combined jurying will be separated according to slide images. Wall hangings, quilts, rugs, etc., where the primary material is fiber. Leather, wearable art, batique. Should you have any questions regarding this category contact the festival director.

Furniture: Should be included as mixed Media 3D, Sculpture, or Woodcraft accordingly. Furniture is a unique category and applicants will get direct attention, however, there are few applicants in this category so it is grouped within others. If you have any questions regarding your category contact the festival director.

Glass: Functional and sculptural work where the primary material is glass.

Jewelry: Work primarily made from materials including 14K gold, sterling silver and the use of precious stones and enamels. No commercial casts, molds or production studio work is allowed.
Work primarily made from precious and or non-precious metals and other materials such as glass, ceramics, paper, fiber, wood, leather, polymer clay, semi-precious stones, etc. No commercial casts, molds or production studio work is allowed.

Metal: Functional and sculptural work where the primary material is metal. Includes all non-sculptural, non-jewelry works crafted from metals. No production studio work is allowed. Some metal may be categorized as sculpture, you choose the category you feel best fits your application of material.

Mixed Media

3-D Mixed Media: Work that is three-dimensional and the primary intention of the work is the union of two or more media. Soft sculptures are included in this category.

2-D Mixed Media: Work that is two-dimensional and the primary intention of the work is the union of two or more media. Make note on your application as to 2D or 3D.

Oil Painting / Acrylic Painting: Works created with acrylics. Works created with oils.

Watercolor/Gouache Painting: Works created with watercolors and/or gouache.

Sculpture: Traditional Sculpture

Photography: Photographic prints made from the artist’s original negative or digital image processing, and which have been processed by that artist, or under his or her direct supervision, are included in this category. Photographers are required to disclose both their creative and printing processes.

Wood: Functional and sculptural work where the primary material is wood. Original works must be hand-tooled.