The University of Arizona
 

Southwest Indian Art Fair
2010 Information for Artists

The 2010 Southwest Indian Art Fair has been cancelled due to State of Arizona budget cuts. We hope to offer this popular program again in the future. For more information, please see the News Release.
Please see our Events and Programs page for other activities at the museum.

Welcome to the 16th Annual Southwest Indian Art Fair (SWIAF).

Crowd of visitors at SWIAFThe Arizona State Museum established the annual Southwest Indian Art Fair (SWIAF) for Southwestern American Indian artists, the University of Arizona community, Tucson residents, and visitors from throughout Arizona and the Southwest. The SWIAF promotes greater public appreciation and understanding of Southwest American Indian artistry, encourages artistic achievement in a variety of media and establishes a stronger market for American Indian art.

This page contains important information for artists who wish to participate in the fair. Please also read our Artist FAQ which answers many questions we have received from artists in the past.

The Southwest Indian Art Fair is held outdoors on the grounds of the Arizona State Museum at the University of Arizona. No pets are allowed, except for assistance animals.

Dates / Hours

Friday, February 19, 2010 9 a.m.–12 noon Artwork accepted for juried contest
  12 p.m.–5 p.m. Judging
  6:30 p.m.–8 p.m. Reception & Awards announcement
Saturday, February 20, 2010 9 a.m.–10 a.m. Art Fair open to Museum members
Saturday, February 20, 2010 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Art Fair open to the public
Sunday, February 21, 2010 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Art Fair open to the public

Artist Set-Up Hours

Volunteers will be available to help you unload your vehicle and move your artwork to your assigned area. Cars must be moved once unloaded to a designated parking area. Temporary parking permits and parking maps will be available Friday and Saturday morning at check-in.

Saturday, February 20, 2010 7:30 a.m.–9 a.m.
Sunday, February 21 2010 8:30 a.m.–10 a.m.

 

August 28,2009 2010 SWIAF applications due
NOTE: Applications will be accepted after the deadline as long as space is still available
September 25, 2009 Artist invitations with entry form mailed
October 31, 2009 Entry forms with fee payments from invited artists must be postmarked by this date
(Acceptance is on a first-come, space-available basis)
November 1, 2009 Fees increase by $25
(Late applications will be considered only if space is available)
December 11, 2009 Table confirmations mailed to artists who have paid fees in full 

Fees - PLEASE DO NOT SEND PAYMENT UNTIL YOU RECEIVE AN INVITATION!

Fees are non-refundable.

6’ Table - in row $275
6’ Table - end of row $300
6’x10’ Area $325 (space is located under one of the large tents)
10'x10' Booth $400 (small tent)
Youth Artist Entry Fee (Must be born after 2/19/1992)
$10 (under 13 yrs. old as of 2/19/2010)
$20 (13 yrs. old–17 yrs. old as of 2/19/2010)

Fees increase on 11/01/09 - NO EXCEPTIONS! Subject to Postmark Date!

6’ Table - in row $300
6’ Table - end of row $325
6’x10’ Area $350
10' x10' Booth $425


Eligibility

  • American Indian Artist must be affiliated with a state or federally recognized tribe in the southwestern United States. This includes Arizona, New Mexico, southern Colorado, southern Utah, Nevada, and the Colorado River area.
  • The artist must submit a copy of their CIB or their tribal enrollment card. Please do not send originals.
  • Only one person can be listed per application. Collaborative artwork is allowed. Collaborative artists are defined as those who co-author each piece of artwork. Each artist must submit a separate application and meet all eligibility criteria. Collaborative artists will only be approved to sell collaborative work.
  • All artwork for sale at the art show must bear a signature or hallmark of the approved artist or collaborating artists.
  • Please send one SET of images for every artistic medium in which you wish to be considered. A SET is considered 3 photos/slides of your work in each category and of work produced since 12/2007. The photos will be used by the selection committee to choose the invited artists. Please clearly mark each photo/slide with your name.
  • This is an invitational show. Only invited artists will be able to reserve a space to sell their work. Your application and photographs of your work will be reviewed. An invitation will be sent to those who respond and are selected. Please do not send entry fees until you receive an invitation!

Table/Booth Information

  • Only one artist or approved collaborators are allowed per table/booth. No sharing of tables is allowed.
  • Artists who purchase a 6’ table are required to place all their artwork on the table. Small display cases are acceptable. No displays can block another artist's table or the walkways.
  • Artists who purchase a 6’x10’ display area must stay within the marked colored lines on the ground. You will be provided with one table. Any other items needed for display (panels, pedestals, etc.) will be the responsibility of the artist.
  • Artists who purchase a 10’x10’ display booth will be provided with one table. All other items needed for display of artwork (panels, pedestals, etc.) will be the responsibility of the artist.
  • Each table or booth will be provided with 2 chairs.
  • No reconfiguration of any tables within any of the tents is permitted.
  • No electricity hook ups are available.
  • Please call prior to the show if you have any questions regarding display of your artwork.

Sales Tax

  • Each artist is required to comply with City of Tucson and State of Arizona laws and ordinances—and, must obtain all necessary permits and licenses. Contact the City of TucsonOpens in a new window (520-791-4566) and the Arizona Department of RevenueOpens in a new window (602-542-4576) for more information. Their websites, respectively, are www.tucsonaz.gov/finance/BusInfo.html and www.aztaxes.gov.
  • Sales Tax collection and payment to the state and city for items sold at the Southwest Indian Art Fair are the responsibilities of the artist.
  • Business license numbers must be reported on the artist application.
Closeup of weaving

Exhibit Rules

  • Artists must display and sell their artwork the entire weekend. If you need to leave early for any reason, please notify a staff member at the Raffle Tent. Failure to do this may result in disqualification from the next year’s SWIAF.
  • Booth/table spaces are non-transferable.
  • Artists can only display and sell their own artwork, which was declared on the application and accepted and is properly identified with a hallmark. Selling artwork that has not been reviewed or accepted will result in disqualification from SWIAF.
  • All participating artists will be required to have their signature mark or stamp on file with the Arizona State Museum.
  • Table/space areas will be checked to ensure that all space and display requirements are followed and that only artwork accepted is displayed.

Rules of Participation

General Information

The Arizona State Museum supports the Indian Arts and Crafts Act (1990). All work must be Indian made and is subject to evaluation by the SWIAF Standards Committee representatives. These representatives may request that items not meeting the established standards be removed from display and sale. If asked to remove an item, please do so immediately. Failure to comply will result in immediate disqualification. Artist must vacate the event. No fees will be refunded. No sale or display is permitted of work produced with commercial kits, molds, patterns, plans, prefabricated forms nor imported, manufactured, or mass produced items. No weapons (firearms or metal knives) are allowed for sale on the university or museum grounds.

At the Southwest Indian Art Fair, “traditional” objects and materials are considered to be those that have been used by a tribal group for at least two generations and frequently much longer. Objects that are “authentic to a culture” are defined as items whose origins lie within that culture’s history. Trade goods from many sources may now be considered traditional in many cultures and are acceptable, but commercially manufactured materials and objects are not acceptable.

Specific Rules:

  • Artifacts, Ceremonial Objects & Prohibited Materials - No sale or display of prehistoric or culturally sensitive artifacts, or ceremonial objects is permitted at SWIAF. The SWIAF Standards Committee will carefully review and ban any use of endangered species materials such as raptor feathers. No plastics, fiberglass, or other non-traditional materials are allowed.
  • Baskets - All baskets must be hand-worked of natural fibers. Vegetal, mineral, and other natural dyes are encouraged. Attached materials are acceptable but must be properly identified and must comply with the same standards as those for jewelry. Traditional wire baskets are acceptable. Inclusion of wire as warp in natural fiber baskets must be noted.
  • Carvings/Sculpture - Carvings/Sculpture must use natural or traditional tribal materials.
  • Tribal Arts (Bead, Quill, Leather Work, Drums, Flutes, Etc.) - No plastic beads are allowed. Commercially-tanned hide and commercial pigments must be labeled.
  • Dolls - Display or sale of dolls of tribes other than of the artist’s own is prohibited. Dolls must be made of materials traditional to the tribe.
  • Jewelry - Only handmade jewelry may be sold. Hand-crafted (Indian assembled) jewelry, as defined by the Indian Arts & Crafts Act (1990), is not allowed. Natural turquoise does not need special labeling. Stabilized turquoise must be properly labeled. No block (turquoise/epoxy resins and dye), fake turquoise, plastic, imitation stones, reconstituted stones, simulated or synthetic opal, machine-made components, or purchased cast blanks (except for findings, which cannot exceed 10% of an object) can be used. Cast jewelry editions of 50 or more pieces or open-ended editions will be considered mass-produced and ineligible for sale or awards. All editions must be hallmarked by the artist and numbered. No non-American Indian-made heishi or fetishes, or stamped fetishes are allowed. No liquid silver or plated metals except in the case of findings.
  • 2 Dimensional Art (Paintings, Drawings, Graphics, Prints, & Photography) - Paintings, drawings and graphics must be matted, framed, or shrink-wrapped. Paintings on canvas should be framed or their edges finished. Method of reproduction for prints and photographs must be clearly labeled and images must be the artist’s original work. Giclee, Iris or digital photo reproduction are acceptable for sales only for photography entrants. Digital techniques are not eligible for awards competition.
  • Pottery - Contemporary pottery forms are accepted. Commercial pottery, slip molds, or greenware are not acceptable. Kiln-fired pots and pots made or decorated with commercial materials must be properly identified.
  • Textiles & Weaving - Rugs, blankets, purses, and belts must be handmade, using traditional handtools, looms and techniques. Natural fibers, yarns, and dyes are preferred. Synthetic (acrylic, nylon, polyester, other) yarns must be properly identified. Both traditional and innovative (contemporary) designs are acceptable. Sewing machine work is acceptable. No commercially-made clothing, liquid embroidery, or products made from commercial kits or patterns are allowed.

Dispute of Standards

Any dispute of a product or interpretation of rules must be submitted in writing to the SWIAF Standards Committee. The SWIAF Standards Committee, in consultation with an outside expert selected by the Arizona State Museum, if deemed necessary, will conduct a review. Decision will be by majority vote of the SWIAF Standards Committee, whose decision is final.  Artists who do not comply with these standards will be disqualified from participation in SWIAF.

Security

  • The Arizona State Museum will provide uniformed guards around the clock; however, the best security for your art is you. Please keep a watchful eye over your artwork.
  • Artwork left on the grounds after hours is done at your own risk. The Arizona State Museum, its agents, employees, or volunteers are not responsible for loss, damage, vandalism, casualty, injury or theft.

Juried Competition

Visitors viewing entries to the Juried Competition

We strongly encourage all artists accepted into the fair to enter our awards competition.

Each year, new jurors are chosen from a cross-section of Native American cultures and craft disciplines. You may review our jury process here.

Enter and join the growing list of artists recognized by their peers for excellence in their work! Over $13,000 in prizes were awarded at the 2009 SWIAF!

View Winners from:
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001

Juried Competition Rules

  • Only Native American artists who have submitted full payment for table/area/booth space and have received notice of acceptance, and whose names are on the registration form, are eligible to compete for the awards offered.
  • All artwork must be received on Friday, February 19, 2010 between 9 a.m. and 12 noon.
  • Late entries will not be accepted. No mailed entries will be accepted.
  • Juried Competition entry forms will be available at the museum on February 19, 2010.
  • Each artist may submit up to three pieces for judging.
  • All entries must have been created within the past year, must be the sole property of the exhibitor, and cannot have won awards previously at SWIAF or in any other juried competition.
  • Each artist will be responsible for packing and unpacking their artwork. Packing materials cannot be stored.
  • A reception will be held Friday evening at the Arizona State Museum. All entries will be on display. Winners will be announced.
  • Award checks will be mailed to the winning artists, including Purchase Awards.
  • All entries must be picked up on Saturday, February 20, 2010, by 10 a.m. The museum will not be responsible for any items left after that time.

Private Transactions

All sales at the art fair are private transactions between the artist and the customer. However, the Arizona State Museum expects all artists to deliver goods as promised, or to notify customer of delays. Failure to do so could affect future participation in the Southwest Indian Art Fair.