40th Annual Studio Fair Starts Today
Prince George, B.C. – From pottery and designer clothing to fibre arts and arts and technology, there promises to be something for everyone at this year’s 40th annual Studio Fair at the Prince George Civic Centre.
Lisa Redpath, project manager for Studio 2880, the Community Arts Council, says fair goers can expect the very best.
“They’re going to see the finest artisan wares from right across the country. We have about 400 applicants that apply, and we can only fit so many I so we pick the best quality,” she says.
“We have a very strong jury committee that goes through each and every product. My job is to talk to the customers, find out what they like and really make sure that that’s their for them the next year. So, we build on success.”
And in a bid to keep the fair fresh and new, Redpath says there will be a cutting-edge artisan on hand this year.
“So we have a virtual reality company coming – XP Entertainment. And they’ll be here for the three days and it’s just a little bit of a spin on art and they’ll be doing free demonstrations on the upper level,” she says.
“So this is something that if you’ve never tried that technology, this is the place to come and check it out. It’s fantastic.”
Admission to the fair is $5 and kids under 12 get in free. It runs from 10am-8pm today, 10am-6pm tomorrow, and 10am-4pm on Sunday.
So why the admission fee?
“That is to support everything the Art Council does. So we are a non-profit and this is one of our biggest fundraisers and then what we do is nurture the Arts and Council community,” says Redpath. “It takes a community to do this type of event – all our guilds and community partners come out to join us.”
Comments
It’s very sad that this is the only craft fair in PG that charges admission to browse and buy. Even the university Xmas fair which has been very successful and has high quality products, does not charge. Also the Artisan Shop on 15, open all year, does not charge. I myself do not go for that reason, as well as many others I’m sure. You should not have to pay in order to buy.
As the article states, the $5.00 fee goes in support of the Art Council, and is one of their biggest fund-raisers of the year.
My experience over the years is that the fee does not stop people from going because the place is **packed** year after year after year.
So, you are missing out on a great exhibition of crafts from all over the Province.
Actually I’m not, as the university fair wasfantastic and has both crafter and artisans, and it was free!
Yes a bit of a gouge from the previous years reasonable admission price of $3.00, why the huge increase in price?
if $3 vs $5 is preventing you from going then stay away from the event. Chances are you need the $2 and should not be purchasing things you do not really need.
The Community Arts Council is not self-sustaining and relies on government grants from municipal, provincial and federal sources, to my understanding. The didn’t get the grants they applied for this year and are in a bit of a financial bind. So they upped the commission for selling arts and crafts and now they’ve raised the admission cost. It costs money to put on that fair, do you think that huge building is supplied free?
DP Todd Craft Fair is also this weekend Saturday & Sunday from 10 – 4 with over 100 tables and free admission. Located at 4444 Hill Avenue, just off 5th Avenue. Hosted by the DP Todd band program with a Crafters raffle table, Christmas bake sale and a concession with lots of tasty homemade food.
If there is no admission and there is no charge to set up the tables, then this is a decision by the School Board to not charge for the use of a community asset even though there might be a cost for security, coordinating set up and clean-up, electricity, etc.
The City does charge for the Civic Centre, there are set up charges for exhibition spaces, security, janitorial services, etc.
Those wishing to have a booth also must pay and those fees are relatively high.
On top of that, as it says, this is a fund raiser. They could charge the artists and artisans more, but this would result in a combination of fewer coming and higher prices by the vendors.
The City could also be doing the repairs to the building at their cost, since it is a City facility, then Studio 2880 would not have to raise the entry fee.
Whichever way you look at it, nothing is for nothing in this world. When one partner in a partnership does not pay for something then other partners must continue to live in a dump or raise the money in some other fashion.
How about rather than complaining, find out what the problem is and come up with a solution.
Hart Pioneer Centre, 6986 Hart Highway is also hosting a craft fair and bake sale on Saturday, November 5th.. no admission ..from 9 am till 4 pm…lots of delicious baking and neat crafts.
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