It’s something anyone who has ever attended the Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff has known for years. The fair in St. Joseph overlooking Lake Michigan is among the very best in the entire country, and they’ve got the proof from a publication who ranks the best of the best every year that it’s also one of the most profitable for the artists.
Sunshine Artist magazine, sunshineartist.com, has announced the release of their 28th Annual 200 Best, ranking the nation’s most profitable art and craft festivals based on artists reported sales in 2019. The 2019 Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff ranked #32 in the nation.
Dee Hodgson, Art Fair Manager, tells us, “This annual ranking is meaningful because it comes from the participating artists,” and adds, “It is a testament to our patrons who come and support the artists every year by appreciating and purchasing their work. Artists seek out shows like the Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff where they know they will be successful.”
Launched in 1993, the Sunshine Artist 200 Best is split into two categories: Fine Art and Design, for events that focus on unique fine-art pieces; and Classic and Contemporary Craft, for events that focus on traditional or modern craft and production work. This year’s number one Fine Art and Design show is the Rittenhouse Square Fine Art Show in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The number one Classic and Contemporary Craft show is Old-Fashioned Christmas in the Woods in Columbiana, Ohio. Information on the shows that made the 2020 200 Best list are available in Sunshine Artist’s September 2020 issue.
Artists were able to cast their votes from April through June to nominate their highest money-making shows from 2019. The ballot asked artists to list the 10 most profitable art and/or craft shows they exhibited during the previous year, indicate their level of gross sales at each event, and note whether they consider themselves to be fine artists or craftspeople for each event. The results were tabulated using a weighted scale based on four sales levels to ensure that all events can compete against each other fairly.
Sunshine Artist’s 200 Best focuses solely on revenue, because that’s the most objective indicator of a show’s future success. Subjective attributes such as artist treatment, amenities, attendance levels, management, or even overall quality can certainly impact sales, but they’re harder to gauge and therefore have no direct bearing on these rankings.
Sunshine Artist Editor Melissa Jones says, “For 28 years, Sunshine Artist’s 200 Best list has been an invaluable resource for countless artists and craftspeople,” and concludes, “We encourage all professional makers to secure a copy of the September issue and to participate in SA’s 200 Best voting each year.”
Single copies of Sunshine Artist’s September 2020 issue, containing this year’s complete 200 Best list, cost $15 and can be ordered by calling toll-free 800-597-2573. To subscribe, you can visit online at: http://sunshineartist.com/ or call toll-free 855-347-3327.
