~ The Grove Park Inn Arts & Crafts Conference ~ Asheville, North Carolina ~ February 18-20, 2011 ~

Exhibitor Information

Thank you for your interest in exhibiting at the Grove Park Inn Arts & Crafts Conference.

I hope that before reaching this page you have studied the agenda, noted who some of the other exhibitors are and now have a good idea what this Arts & Crafts Conference entails, for it is not your typical show.

First, it takes place inside a hotel - but not your typical hotel. The Grove Park Inn is a mecca for Arts & Crafts enthusiasts, for it was built in 1913 and furnished in the Arts & Crafts style. Today the 512-room resort displays a carefully-blended mixture of authentic antiques and accurate reproductions. Complete with an underground spa, sports center, four restaurants, a nightclub, a dozen meeting rooms and two ballrooms, it is an historic hotel with modern convention facilities.

Second, this is an educational conference which also includes three separate shows:  the Antiques Show, the Contemporary Craftsfirms Show and the Books, Magazines & More Show. People come here not just to buy, but to learn, so the educational focus of the conference takes precedent over everything else. Our experience has proven that educated buyers are also confident buyers.

Third, it is all Arts & Crafts. Our attendees do not come here looking for Victorian, Art Deco, Art Nouveau or Modernism. And they don't come looking for "crafts." If your merchandise is not from or inspired by the original Arts & Crafts Movement, then this show is not what you are looking for.

Fourth, there is not a chronological waiting list to get into this show. While we have many applications on file, when an opening does occur, we study our entire show and we ask, "what do we need to keep the show balanced and fresh?" We get excited when someone comes up with a new idea, a fresh approach, a different product that will still appeal to Arts & Crafts collectors and homeowners.

Finally, since this not your typical show, our first question is:  "Have you previously attended the Arts & Crafts Conference?" Applicants who have walked the show have a distinct advantage over those who have not, for it is difficult to describe how our show is laid out, where the booths are located and how load-in and load-out are handled to someone who has never even seen the Grove Park Inn.

1.) Please provide all of your contact information, including any website you have.

2.) Which category of show are you applying for? (if you do not understand this, please go back and read the above information)

3.)  Describe what you would bring to the show.

4.)  Have you attended the show in prior years?

5.)  What other shows have you done in the past two years?

6.)  Please provide two professional references (preferably from our list of exhibitors).

7.)  Contemporary Craftsfirms:  please include two or three photos of your work.

Send to:
Bruce Johnson
25 Upper Brush Creek Road
Fletcher, NC 28732

Questions? bj1915@charter.net
828-628-1915

Thanks!