The Heard Museum Indian Fair & Market is a world-acclaimed cultural event that draws nearly 15,000 visitors and more than 600 of the nation’s most outstanding and successful American Indian artists. You’ll meet traditional and cutting-edge contemporary artists as well as young artists selling their art alongside their relatives. All proceeds support the museum’s mission of educating the public about the arts and lifeways of Indigenous peoples of the Americas with an emphasis on American Indian tribes and other cultures of the Southwest.
The 2017 Fair will be held March 4-5, 2017. All events are at the Heard Museum located at 2301 N. Central Avenue (four short blocks north of McDowell Road). Rain or shine, the Reception and Fair are open.
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About the 2016 Indian Fair & Market
Prepare for the Fair — The theme of the 2016 Indian Fair & Market is “Celebrating the Art of Pottery.” Learn about this art form by attending “Prepare for the Fair” sessions. The last session focuses on jewelry.
- Juried Competition and Best of Show Reception & Dinner — The Fair begins with the prestigious Juried Competition. Artwork in eight categories is judged by respected experts, and the award winners are celebrated at the Best of Show Reception & Dinner. This is a unique opportunity to preview the award-winning art and talk with the artists while enjoying a catered buffet dinner. The evening includes a Silent Auction, a Jewelry & Accessories Fashion Show, and a drawing for four outstanding pieces of pottery on display at Museum Admissions starting December 1.
For the 2016 Juried Competition Winners, click here. - Artists — Attendees gain unique insights into Native ways and art. The nearly 600 Fair artists are the winning artists from the 2015 Fair and those accepted based on images of their art judged by a panel of experts. For the second year youth artists will be selling their art alongside a relative. Come meet the next generation of artists.
- Art Demonstrations — About 25 of the artists will not only be selling their art but also be demonstrating their art on the plaza.
- Cultural Performances — Informative and colorful cultural performances by tribal groups take place throughout both days in the Heard’s outdoor Amphitheater (indoors in the Heard’s Auditorium in case of rain). At the Courtyard Stage attendees can dine while enjoying live performances by recording artists courtesy of Canyon Records.
- Hoop Dance 101: Let’s Dance — Tony Duncan, 5-time World Champion, invites you to learn about hoops and try a few moves yourself. Fun for all ages.
- Pottery Making Video — Learn from Ron Carlos (Piipaash) how to make paddle and anvil pottery. At the premier on February 11, Ron Carlos and Steven Yazzie (Navajo), the producer, will talk about making the film. This video and HOME will alternate playing continuously inside the Museum starting Indian Fair & Market weekend. Click here to learn more about the video and to see a sample.
During the Fair, the Guild offers opportunities to support the Museum and to commemorate your Fair visit.
- Fair t-shirts, posters, and totes will feature the image at the top of this page, which includes pictures of pots from the Heard Museum’s vast collection.
- In addition to the Best of Show Drawing and Silent Auction on Friday night, visitors can purchase $2 Fair Drawing tickets for an opportunity to take home art donated by American Indian artists participating in the Fair. Thank you to the artists who donated to the following fund-raising activities at the Fair. You can purchase drawing tickets online here.
Silent Auction – 2016 artist contributors
Fair Drawings – 2016 artist contributors - Many visitors make the purchase of American Indian Student Art Note Cards an annual tradition. The proceeds provide paid intern scholarships to American Indian students as part of their college education and monetary grants to teachers whose students participate in the annual Student Art Show & Sale (April 1-4, 2016) to purchase art supplies for classroom projects. The cards and prints, which fit a standard 11 x 14 frame, are also sold online to both retail and wholesale customers.
There are 27 Guild committees that work on various aspects of the Indian Fair & Market throughout the year such as the artist jurying and acceptance process, artist hospitality, logistics, booth-sitting, and manning information desks. Helping out is as easy as signing up at a Guild meeting, talking to a Chair person, making a phone call, or writing an e-mail to fairvolunteers@heardguild.org. Click here to read about the possibilities.
