Information For All Artists

All first time applicants must include a copy of this information with their application:

The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-644) makes it illegal to market an art or craft item in a manner that falsely suggests it is Indian-produced. Under the Act, an Indian is defined as a member of any federally or officially State recognized Indian Tribe, or an individual certified as an Indian by an Indian Tribe.

The Heard Museum and Heard Museum Guild strictly adhere to this law. In order to participate in the Indian Fair and Market, all first time applicants, including Youth Artists, must submit a copy of a Certificate of Indian Blood, tribal enrollment ID, or an Artisan Letter. Canadian Indians must submit a copy of their Canadian Indian Status Card.

The Heard Guild maintains a database of information regarding all artists who have applied or participated in previous years, including tribal affiliation. Proof of tribal affiliation is required for all first time applicants. Artists who have submitted applications in past years, including proof of tribal affiliation, do not need to provide proof with the 2020 application.

Youth Artists, ages 17 and under, are welcome to share a booth with a relative. First-time applicants must submit proof of tribal affiliation. They are not juried in and are not required to submit images of their work. Youth Artists do not pay application or booth fees. Youth Artists are not required to have their own TPT license.

All Youth Artists must submit an application that specifies a Classification.

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Application Process

We use a blind jurying process to rate artists for entrance to our market. Recent, high-quality images are extremely import to the judges’ evaluation of the artwork. Artists who have submitted images of their work for the 2018 Fair or the 2019 Fair are not required to submit images with their application for the 2020 Fair. However, artists are encouraged to submit images of new work to aid in the evaluation process.

Four (4) digital images of artwork in each of the selected classifications are required. Three of the images must be of separate pieces and must be representative of what you plan to show and sell at the Fair. The fourth image may be a close-up of one of the pieces. Work must have been completed within the last two (2) years.

Image files submitted online must be in JPEG format and no larger than 1280 pixels on the longest dimension, and no larger than 2 MB (2,000 KB). Follow instructions on the application to submit by email or by CD.

All applicants must submit a completed application form, the $25 application fee if applying by September 9 (or $100 fee if applying between September 10 and 16), and images of their work.

Steps in the Process

1. Complete the application form online OR download and print a paper application OR request an application form by email at excomm@heardguild.org or call or text 480-286-6626.

2. Include photographic images. Follow detailed instructions on the application.

3. Pay $25 application fee and submit application with images. Deadline: September 9.

• By credit card online.
• By cashier’s check or money order (no personal checks) mailed with your application postmarked by September 9. (No personal checks accepted.)

4. LATE applications accepted with a $100 fee from September 10 through September 16.

5. Acceptance packages will be mailed to all artists who are accepted into the 2020 Indian Fair and Market beginning the last week of October 2019. Booth assignments and booth fee information, as well as guidelines for entering the Juried Competition, will be included.

PLEASE NOTE:

Online applicants are encouraged to avoid problems by applying before the due date. The website may get “overwhelmed” with last-minute submissions.

Hand-delivered applications and fees are subject to the same deadlines and late fees as mailed and online submissions.

• Application and $25 Fee Deadline — Monday, September 9, 2019
  
• Application and $100 Fee Deadline — From Tuesday, September 10 through Monday, September 16, 2019.

NO APPLICATIONS OR FEES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER SEPTEMBER 16, 2019.

Artist Application
download and print the application
click here for the online application

Youth Artist Application
download and print the application
click here for the online application

Or request an application at email excomm@heardguild.org or
phone or text (480) 286-6626.

Fee Payments

Application fees and late fees may be paid online using the link above.

Artists who have been accepted into the Fair may use this link to pay booth fees.

License Requirements

Sellers are required, by the State of Arizona, to have a TPT license and to collect TPT tax, a sales tax of 8.6% on items sold at the Indian Fair anbd Market. We recommend that sellers visit the Arizona Department of Revenue website at www.azdor.gov or call (602) 255-3381 for more information.

Apply For a TPT license

Logistics

Booth assignments will be made after agreements have been signed, and booth fees have been submitted. The Exhibitors Committee will make every effort to accommodate requests.

The site map for the 2020 Indian Fair and Market will be posted when it becomes available.

Parking and vehicle circulation, prior to the Fair, for booth set-up and for delivery of artwork for the Juried Competition, is generally quite crowded and will require patience. Maps and directions will be available approximately one month before the Fair.  Note that street parking in residential areas surrounding the Museum is not allowed at any time.

Discounted hotel accommodations near the museum will be secured by the Heard Guild. Information will be made available closer to the time of the Fair.

Juried Competition

Juried Competition – General Information

All artists accepted to participate in the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market may enter the Juried Competition.

Entries must be delivered in person by the artist or the artist’s representative to the Heard Museum grounds on Thursday, March 5, 2020.

Generally, each artist may enter pieces of artwork in the same classifications(s) in which they were accepted into the Fair. Artists may enter a single piece which does not meet established standards into “Open Standards” Classification XI.

Collaborative pieces may be submitted to Juried Competition as long as both artists have been accepted into the Fair.

Judges are invited from a wide variety of fields and have in-depth experience in judging artwork. Judges may include experienced American Indian artists, curators, gallery directors, educators, and collectors.

Juried Competition – Information for Participants

• Artists submitting artwork to Juried Competition must follow the
  2019 Entry Guidelines (the 2020 Guidelines will be available in September).
• Artworks submitted for competition must conform to the
  Standards for Juried Competition and be identified by
  Classifications and Divisions.
• Youth Artists are divided into two age groups, each of which receives an award: ages 12-14 and ages 15-17.

Delivering or Picking Up Artwork for Juried Competition Judging

• Entries must be delivered in person to the Heard Museum, 2301 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ.  Receiving is through the north and west doors of Steele Auditorium.
• Work must be received between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2020. The judging begins immediately after Receiving.
• All Open Standards submissions must also be accompanied by a completed and signed Open Standards Form for each piece submitted.
• No entries will be accepted by mail.
• Entries may be delivered or picked up by the artist’s representative if:

• The artist’s representative presents the completed and signed
  Pickup Permission Form OR
• The representative presents a letter signed by the artist giving approval for the representative to deliver and/or pick up the art. The name of the representative must be given in the letter, AND the representative must present identification and the completed copy of the Entry Form.
  

Juried Competition – Awards Information

The list of awards and prize money for the 2020 Fair will be posted when it is available.

• A new award, the Idyllwild Arts Imagination Award, sponsored by the Idyllwild Arts Foundation – Native American Arts Program & Festival, was given at the 2019 Fair. The winning work expressed the unique vision and imagination of the artist in addressing issues of importance to indigenous communities. The spectrum of the “imagination” includes concept and/or use of materials and may defy traditional classification.
• Definitions for the Open Standards, Idyllwild Arts Imagination, and Conrad House Innovation Awards are here.
• An Innovation Award for each classification will be selected by the judges. The Conrad House Award will be selected from among the Innovation winners.
• All award winners receive two ribbons, one for the artist and one for the purchaser.
• Artists receiving Best of Show, Best of Classification, Idyllwild Arts, or Conrad House awards are encouraged to stand next to and discuss their artwork with attendees at the Best of Show Reception on Friday evening before the Fair from 5 to 8 p.m. All other award winning artists are welcome to do the same starting at 5:30.
• All adult award winners will be invited to the 2020 Indian Fair & Market.

Detailed information will be included with the agreement package.

Contact the Juried Competition Chair by email at juriedcomp@heardguild.org.

For competition winners from previous years, click here.

Native American Artists Resource Collection

The Heard Museum Library maintains the Native American Artists Resource Collection of biographical and professional information. Artists are the best source for accurate information. The library will have a booth at the 2020 Fair next to the Artists Hospitality tent. Visit the Library’s website, where you can search the online collection and download an artist questionnaire.

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