Wintertide Makers Market 2024

The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center seeks locally-produced artisan gift items for our sixth annual Wintertide Makers Market.

How it Works
The Wintertide Makers Market connects shoppers with inspiring locally-made gifts in a peaceful natural setting. In addition to supporting Olympic Peninsula artists, this event is a key source of income for the nonprofit arts center.

Entries will be accepted through August 9th, 2024.

Participating artists are responsible for preparing and pricing their items (PAFAC will provide sticker barcodes as well, which artists must add to all inventory), setting up an attractive merchandise display in their assigned location in the gallery, and assisting with promotion of the market. Artists will also be expected to abide by inventory and restock scheduling times designated by PAFAC staff. PAFAC will promote and staff the market, manage all sales, and issue commission checks to participating artists.

We will be offering in-person sales ONLY in 2024. This allows us to drastically simplify our inventory requirements – creating a substantial time savings for participating artists and ensuring a unique shopping experience for market visitors.

With this emphasis on in-person sales, we plan to drive market traffic through a series of special events and promotions, including a PAFAC members' preview, extended evening shopping hours each Friday night, and of course our Wintertide Festival of Lights event.

Merchandise
The Wintertide Makers Market is oriented towards holiday shoppers and includes a wide range of affordable artisan-made gifts. We hope to highlight the value of artist skill and handcrafted items, while also providing a selection of items for a rage of visitor budgets.

We will welcome multiples such as prints, stickers, or mold-made pieces; however, all wares should feature the artist's own original designs. Suitable items include, but are not limited to: art prints, cards, seasonal ornaments, home decor items, wearables, small toys, books, body care goods, and more. See below for more examples.

Allowed:

• Stickers of the artist's design
• Artist prints on other materials (shirts, bags, decor)
• Handmade soaps and candles
• Art reproductions on cards, postcards, or prints
• Books
• Jewelry
• Visual art, fiber art, ceramics, woodworking, glasswork, metalwork

 

Not allowed:

• Food or consumable items
• A manufactured item with less than 50% artist input or craft.

 

Please inquire if you have questions about the suitability of a particular item.

Pricing Tiers
Our best-selling artisans include items at a range of price points for different budgets. We encourage artists to feature a few aspirational show pieces at higher prices alongside a selection of smaller and/or simpler designs in the $15-$40 price range. Please do not discount the prices on your time-consuming original work!

Sales & Commission Payments
All sales will run through the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center, which takes a 40% commission on sales. Participating artists are encouraged to set retail prices accordingly. Commission checks for Makers Market sales will be mailed on or before December 23, 2024.

Eligibility
The market is open to all artists and artisans residing in Clallam and Jefferson counties.

Timeline

• August 9 – Final Entry Deadline
• August 16 – Final Notification Deadline
• September 4,  5pm-7pm – Makers Market Info Session (strongly encouraged for all participants)
• November 22-24 – Merchandise delivery & display setup
• November 26 – VIP Market Preview (PAFAC members only)
• November 29 - December 15 – Market open to the public
• December 16-18 – Market takedown; artists retrieve unsold items
• December 23 – Commission checks mailed on or before this date

 

PAFAC will be responsible for:

• Promoting the market throughout the Port Angeles area & beyond
• Providing print & digital promotional materials to participating artists & artisans
• Providing security for all items throughout the event
• Staffing the market & managing all sales & taxes
• Tidying, re-merchandising, & replenishing items throughout the event
• Promptly issuing commission checks to participating artists

 

Participating artists will be responsible for:

• Following instructions carefully, including complying with safety requirements and market deadlines
• Selecting and preparing merchandise for market, including providing PAFAC with an accurate inventory and marking each item with a price label and SKU barcode.
• Assisting with market promotion, including reaching out to the artist’s own contacts and sharing digital and/or print publicity materials
• Delivering merchandise and setting up an attractive display prior to the market opening
• Abiding by the scheduled set up, restock, and take down times established by PAFAC Staff.
• Picking up unsold items promptly after the market closes