NICHE magazine is now accepting applications for the 2010 NICHE Awards and NICHE Student Awards.
A new feature this year, artists have the option of applying directly online or by mailing in an entry form.
The NICHE Awards competition is open to professional craft artists over the age of 21 who reside in the United States or Canada and are actively involved in the design and production of craftwork supplied to galleries and/or craft stores. Deadline for entries is August 31, 2009.
The NICHE Student Awards is open to any craft student residing in the U.S. or Canada and attending an undergraduate, graduate or certificate arts program. Deadline for student entries is September 30, 2009.
Award categories include Ceramics, Fiber, Glass, Metal, Wood, Jewelry and more. Applicants may submit up to 3 image entries per application. Only one application per artist is allowed. Submitted work must have been produced or introduced after August 31, 2008 to be eligible.
Work previously submitted to the competition will not be accepted.
Visit www.NICHEAwards.com for full details on guidelines, entry fees and application information.
Downloaded Rules & Submission Guidelines
It turns out that some of my readers here at FineCraftGuild.com had problems with the Niche Awards website, so for all of you who can not download their guidelines, here is word for word what the Niche Awards pdf document says:
“The 2010 NICHE Awards competition is open to professional craft artists over the age of 21 who
reside in the U.S. or Canada and are actively involved in the design and production of craftwork
supplied to galleries and craft stores.
Submitted work must have been produced or introduced after August 31, 2008, to be eligible.
Work previously submitted to the NICHE Awards will not be accepted.
NICHE magazine reserves the right to cancel or merge categories that do not accrue an appropriate
number of applications.
Application & Fees
Artists may enter the 2010 NICHE Awards by completing an application online or by mail.
Only one application per artist is allowed. Entries must be submitted by the artist in the artist’s
name, not in the name of a company. Applications received without payment of the entry fee will not be reviewed.
Applying Online
Visit www.NICHEAwards.com, select the link to APPLY ONLINE and follow the registration instructions to complete the online application process. When applying online, the entry fee is $40.
Exhibitors in the 2009-2010 Buyers Market of American Craft (BMAC) shows pay $20. Your
BMAC customer number must be provided to secure this discount. After completing the online process, a check or money order for the entry fee must be mailed to the NICHE Awards offices in order to fulfill the application requirements. Applicants will receive an email notification when their payment has been processed and their application is accepted.
Applying by Mail
Download and print an application form at www.NICHEAwards.com. To receive an entry
form by mail, contact Melissa Becker at melissab@rosengrp.com or 410-889-2933, ext.
224. Complete the form and mail it, along with an accompanying CD of image(s) and entry fee
payment, to the NICHE Awards offices. When applying by mail, the entry fee is $45.
Exhibitors in the 2009-2010 Buyers Market of American Craft (BMAC) shows pay $25. Your
BMAC customer number must be provided in order to secure this discount.
Preparation of Images
NICHE magazine accepts only digital images for the 2010 NICHE Awards.
Images MUST be in JPEG format, 300 dpi and approximately 4” x 6” (1200 x 1800 pixels) in
size. Images not meeting these standards will not be accepted.
You may enter up to three images, but no more than two images per category. No additional
images showing detail will be accepted for jurying. Each image must be a separate piece of
work. You may not enter an individual piece in more than one category.
Images submitted are understood to be the property of the artist with the right to use them for
unlimited publication. All photography credits must be submitted with the application.
Submit photos only. Digitally enhanced images and artist’s renderings will not be accepted.
Installation works will not be accepted in any category.
When applying online:
Images must be uploaded electronically.
When applying by mail:
Digital image(s) must be saved to CD and mailed with the accompanying application form. Image
files saved to CD should be named as follows: CategoryCode_ArtworkTitle_AristLastName.
Do not use any spaces in the file name. (For example: the JPEG file for John Smith’s piece
entitled “Untitled” in the Glass: Blown category would be saved as GB_Untitled_Smith.jpg.)
The CD MUST BE LABELED with the artist’s full name. All CDs entered will become the property
of NICHE magazine and are not returnable.
All images submitted to the competition may be used by NICHE magazine in upcoming issues or
for other promotional purposes. NICHE assumes no responsibility for handling, loss, theft or damage
to any entry.
Judging & Awards
Each image entry is judged individually. The judges’ scores are not cumulative per application,
but reflect their decisions per individual image entry. Images are judged on the following:
• Technical excellence, both in surface design and form
• Market viability
• A distinct quality of unique, original and creative thought
Decisions of the judges will be final. Notifications will be sent in November 2009. Finalists receive
an awards certificate, listing in the Winter 2010 issue of NICHE magazine, and an opportunity to
display their work in a special exhibit at the February 2010 Buyers Market of American Craft.
Winners will be announced at a ceremony during the February 2010 Buyers Market of American
Craft. Winners receive an awards certificate, trophy and prominent listing in the Spring 2010
issue of NICHE.
Suggestions for Entrants
• Apply for all protections necessary (e.g. copyright, patent or photographer’s
release).
• Submit high-quality images with a plain background. Evenly distribute lighting from at least
three light sources so that no shadows are cast. Hire a professional photographer to photograph
your work whenever possible.
• Present fashions as worn by professional models.
• Photograph jewelry alone, not worn by a model.
Deadline & Payment
Applying Online
Applications must be completed by August 31, 2009. In order to fully complete the application
process, payment of the entry fee must be received by the NICHE Awards offices no later
than September 4, 2009.
Payment must be in the form of a check or money order made out to The Rosen Group. Be sure to
provide the applicant’s name with entry fee payment. Mail payment to:
2010 NICHE Awards
3000 Chestnut Ave., Suite 300
Baltimore, MD 21211
Applying by Mail
Mail completed entry form, CD of images(s) and entry fee payment (check or money order to The
Rosen Group), to the address listed above by August 31, 2009 (postmark deadline). To confirm
arrival, use registered mail, UPS or Federal Express. NICHE cannot acknowledge receipt by
phone, email or fax.
NICHE AWARDS CATEGORIES
Ceramics
[CHB] Hand-built
[CM] Molded (press-molded, slip-cast,
mechanically pressed)
[CWT] Wheel-thrown
Fiber
[FAQ] Art Quilts
[CL] Clothing
[DF] Decorative Fiber (includes home
decorative articles such as paper,
basketry and other fiber)
[FHWK] Handwoven/Knitted
[FSD] Surface Design (dyed, painted,
manipulated surfaces)
Glass
[GB] Blown
[GCS] Cast/Slumped
[GFU] Fused
[GLW] Lampworked
Metal
[MC] Cast
[ME] Enameled
[MFF] Fabricated/Forged
[MHW] Hollowware
Wood
[WC] Carved
[WPC] Painted/Colored
[WTJ] Traditionally Joined (includes
dovetailed, mitred, etc.)
[WT] Turned
Jewelry
[JFa] Fashion (valued up to $100 wholesale)
[JFi] Fine (valued over $100 wholesale)
[JG] Gold (at least 50% of piece)
[JGS] Gold with Stones (at least 50% gold
with stones)
[JS] Silver (at least 50% of piece)
[JSS] Silver with Stones (at least 50%
silver with stones)
[JSW] Sculpture to Wear (concept jewelry)
Home Furnishings
[HFL] Lamps/Lighting
[HFCK] Clocks
[HFF] Furniture
[G] Goblets
[T] Teapots
Other
[JUD] Judaica
[FA] Fashion Accessories (not jewelry)
[PC] Polymer Clay
[R] Recycled
[MM] Mixed & Miscellaneous Media
(work in a medium not listed
above, or work combining two
or more media)
