Maryland
Deadline: May 31, 2012 Sugarloaf Craft Festivals, one of the nation’s most prominent and popular juried shows of fine art and crafts, is now accepting applications from artists and craftspeople in all media for its Fall 2012 shows.

Exhibition space is available at every show in all categories, including fiber and fashion, photography, fine art, furniture, ceramics and pottery, blown and leaded glass, jewelry, metal, leather, and functional and decorative wood. Jurying for the Fall 2012 shows begins in January 2012.

Shows for the Fall 2012 season of Sugarloaf Craft Festivals include:
October 5-7, 2012, Timonium, MD (outside Baltimore), Maryland State Fairgrounds
October 12-14, 2012, Gaithersburg, MD (outside Washington, D.C.), Montgomery County Fairgrounds
October 26-28, 2012, Somerset, NJ, Garden State Exhibition Center
November 2-4, 2012, Oaks, PA (outside Philadelphia), Greater Philadelphia Expo Center
November 16-18, 2012, Gaithersburg, MD (outside Washington, D.C.), Montgomery County Fairgrounds
December 7-9, 2012, Chantilly, VA (Northern Virginia), Dulles Expo Center

Now in its 37th year, attendance at Sugarloaf’s 11 shows increased by 6% in the past year, and at some shows by as much as 20%. Artist sales increased by an average of 3% from the previous year, with artists selling over $14.6 million in handmade items to more than 165,000 customers.

In 2011, nine of Sugarloaf’s shows were ranked in the “100 Best Classic and Contemporary Craft Shows” nationally by Sunshine Artist Magazine. Craft industry publications regularly rank Sugarloaf Craft Festivals among the top fine arts and crafts festivals in the country. Sugarloaf’s jury-selected artists are represented in the nation’s finest galleries, private collections, and museums.

Sugarloaf Craft Festivals supports its artists with an aggressive marketing and advertising program, the Sugarloaf “Caravan” which transports artists’ products and booths between shows, free VIP tickets for artists to distribute to their best customers, and discounts for artists at hotels convenient to show venues. Artists can receive discounts on booth fees with flexible payment options.

Artists can apply online at www.zapplication.org using the search term “Sugarloaf.” A paper application can be downloaded at www.sugarloafcrafts.com/becomeex.html. For information about Sugarloaf Craft Festivals, visit www.sugarloafcrafts.com.