The Jury Process

Thank you for your interest in the Artisans Center of Virginia Jury Process. ACV is dedicated to assisting artisans in advancing their craft endeavors, whether for hobby or business. One facet of this obligation is highlighted by a stringent Jury, or judging process, that provides critique and distinction.  The Jury award recognizes craft of the highest level of quality indicative of Virginia’s fine heritage, creativity and workmanship.  ACV juried designations found on pieces displayed in galleries, studios, sales venues or exhibitions denotes work created by leading Virginia artisans who represent the best in their field of craft media.
 
ELIGIBILITY
In keeping with the Artisans Center mission, all craft submissions must be produced by Virginia artisans. All applicants must permanently reside in Virginia. Acceptable proof of residency includes a valid driver’s license or voter registration card.  Applicant must be a current member of the Artisans Center of Virginia.

One media category per application fee will be judged by the jury panel.  Artisans may submit more than one media.  Sub categories of a media categories may be considered as seperate media:  For example: “Jewelry: ceramic” and “Jewelry: woven” are two distinctively seperate categories. 
 
Ineligible work: 2-D fine art, i.e. acrylic, oil or watercolor paintings, graphics (including etchings and web or sheet fed offset printing), dried or silk flowers, commercially made objects such as tee-shirts, notecards etc., and works assembled wholly or in part from commercially available kits (see “Jury Standards Accepted Media).
 
TERMS
All applicants are notified in writing of their acceptance status.  Once juried the artisan is encouraged to schedule a short interview with an ACV program representative regarding eligible opportunities. This process can be accomplished through the email or by telephone.
  
PROCESS

Part One - Digital Image Jury
Each artisan is asked to submit five digital images that represent the type of work intended to be sold in the gallery. Juries are held three times a year. Please complete the full application form with image number, title, size of object, techniques used, materials used, pricing and media designation (Digital images should be uploaded via the online submission form or can be submitted on CD, 300 DPI, JPEG or TIFF).  The jury panel will include a professionally juried artisan or craft professional and one professional ACV staff member.
 
Part Two - Object Jury
After the slide/digital image jury each artisan will be contacted regarding acceptance to submit to the “Object Jury”. Artisans passing part one of the jury will submit 3-5 objects representative of their work for the final judging process. Objects submitted must be accompanied by a descriptive listing that includes materials, processes employed and retail prices. All work presented to the jury must be in its final form.

With the “Object Jury” components,  if it not included with initial application, it is recommended the applicant send copies of any professional materials that indicate the artisans level of entrepreneurship such as brochures, flyers, exhibition card samples, business cards, website address, reviews, etc for the purpose of consideration for “professional” juried distinction.
 
The object jury panel will include a staff member, one standards committee member, and two professional artisans or craft experts. If necessary a second standards committee member will serve as an alternate.
  
EVALUATION

Design
An object must be well designed. Consideration will be given to choice of materials appropriate to intended use. Objects pleasing to the hand and to the eye will be favored. Originality is a design factor, except as noted below in Heritage Craft Criteria.

Craftsmanship
An object must be handmade by the applicant or under the direction of the applicant. Handmade objects are so designated when hand tools or hand directed machine tools are used. Issues of durability, assembly, execution, and appropriate finishing will be considered. Please list all components of your work that are not individually produced by you.

Marketability
While issues of design and craftsmanship are prime considerations the image and object juries will also consider marketability. Applicants are asked to list retail prices of objects submitted.

Heritage Craft Criteria
Crafts, which may be designated as “heritage” crafts, could represent exceptions to the guidelines requiring individual creativity and innovation. Many traditional crafts such as those produced within folk communities (ethnic, tribal, religious, occupational or regional) instead adhere to a group aesthetic, developed over time. If the artisan feels their work is best evaluated within the context of folk criteria, then the application would benefit from supporting documentation.


SUGGESTIONS

Suggestions for Slide/Digital Image Jury
Professionally photographed images are most effective. If it is not possible to obtain the services of a professional the following recommendations will aid in producing images of good quality.
 
•  Use props to show scale IF they relate to the function of the object 
•  Use the same color background in each entry. Seamless photography paper in
    neutral shades, such as black, gray or white makes a good background, or you may
    use a color that compliments your work. 
•  Avoid busy backgrounds, outdoor scenes, household settings, wrinkled or
    textured materials, inappropriate props to show scale, such as pennies, ruler, eggs, etc.
•  Use proper lighting to create shadows that show depth and detail; avoid
    harsh shadows and reflections.
• Show clothing on a human figure, rather than on furniture or hangers.
•  Objects should nearly fill the frame and be in the same proportion for each slide.
 
Suggestions for Object Jury
Items submitted for object juries should present the very best of the applicant’s work and show a range of expertise in skill and craftsmanship. These items will be evaluated on overall design, style, technical skills and craftsmanship, as they are used to produce the final object. The jury process involves the application of subjective as well as objective standards.  If possible, submit the same objects which were presented in the Step 1: Digital Image Jury.
 
APPLICATION CHECKLIST

•  ACV Current Membership (Verified)
•  Completed Application Form: Include specific media focus(es)
•  Resume
•  Artist Statement
          1 or 2 paragraphs briefly outlining the artist’s:
            • Motivation and Inspiration - what ideas or circumstances stimulate the artist
                and enliven the work.
            • Influence - what ideas or circumstances give the work its present form.
            • Process - briefly, how the work is accomplished, including discussion of
                any processes or elements not individually executed or produced by the artist.
            • Goals - where would you like to see the work go in a year, 5 years?.
•  Five digital images of the artisans work (CDs are not returned)
          Include: image number, title, size of object, techniques used, materials used, and price.
•  Supporting materials (optional)
          For example: press clippings, show brochures or announcements, related published
          writing, web address, professional materials, etc. for “professional” distinction consideration.
•  Non-refundable application fee of $25 per media category to be judged.
          Make check out to: ACV
          Note:  Should the media submitted not be awarded jury status, pending constructive
          improvements are made the jury payment includes re-application for a period up to
          one year from the date of the initial application deadline.
•  Step 2: Request for Objects - Complete postage and packaging for return of objects