Christmas Showcase help and resources | Herts Visual Arts

Our Application Guidelines document includes content from a number of Christmas Showcase pages in one handy document.  We recommend that you download it for reference.

Registration Dates

Registration opens Monday 1st November, and is in 3 main parts:

  • Step 1 - 1st November: Register before the closing date 8am Thursday 11th November.
  • Step 2 - 1st November: Log into your account, upload your Christmas Showcase Online Exhibtion content (up to three images/descriptions) when this upload window is open. After 8am on Friday 12th November we can no longer accept flipbook or video content.
  • Step 3 - 16th November: Details TBC Register to present at one of our Live Stream events.

How much does it cost?

For 2021, the cost is only £20

  • The opportunity to present at one of our two Facebook Live presentation events
  • Three fabulous images in our online Exhibition Gallery
  • There is no commission on sales, however, if you sell, you may like to consider donating a % to support HVAF and our events (Donate button available on most pages).

How do I register (Step 1)?

Already a member? Your will receive the Call for Artists, follow the link that is only available to Members - complete the registration form and you will be sent registration confirmation. (You are agreeing to the terms and conditions).

Not a member yet? Join Herts Visual Arts first, then log in, visit the Member-only BAF resources page and follow the registration link.

With registration complete, check your email inbox for a confirmation email highlighting next steps. You will probably want to prepare your Exhibition pieces: decide which 3 exhibition entries you will submit for the on-line event. What will a potential buyer want to see or know?

How do I complete Step 2?

Successful registrations from Step 1 will be able to upload 3 pieces to our online Christmas Showcase exhibition.

Please help our community volunteers and yourself by uploading your submissions well before the close deadline.  Each item will automatically create a link to your HVAF Gallery when the exhibition itself is open.

First, before you start, please check available help:

  • watch our explainer videos where available
  • read guidelines below.

Christmas Showcase Online Exhibition

To help you get ready, please prepare the information you need before you submit your entries:

  • Be clear in your Gallery how potential customers can contact you
  • Be prepared to sell the item/ship within Hertfordshire or perhaps wider UK
  • Have a clear policy about postage and packing and any costs. Is it extra? Collection only? What does your prospective customer need to know?
  • If you want to specify (for example) that the price is a donation to your chosen charity, put an asterisk beside your price and make sure you can explain the asterisk in your Gallery/to your customer.

Once you have prepared your information:

  • You have access to image uploads on registering, but also after you have registered/paid to take part.

For each Online Exhibition piece, you need to enter a small amount of information. Focus on an enticing image, plus descriptions that tell a potential customer the most important things they need to know about that piece of art.

Christmas Showcase Images: The images you upload when you register will be used to promote you and the event. Suitable images must be an entire piece, close up/detail or an arranged collection of small pieces (for example, jewellery).  Composites will be rejected. See notes below on artwork selection.

HVAF reserves the right to check and copy-edit your content. We appreciate your help in minimising the time we need to spend on this. HVAF also reserves the right to reject items that do not meet our community and/or event guidelines (see Terms and Conditions).

Your artwork must be your own, safe and suitable for a general audience, including children.

Please proof read your submission. Make sure spelling, grammar, punctuation and content are accurate and complete. For example, please take caps lock off

Repeat the exhibition submission for each piece.

Image: High quality, up to 5MB, JPG/JPEG only. One item per image (unless, for example it’s a set/collection that are sold together). No words, text, outlines or composites.

Image Title: 30 characters maximum, including spaces.

Item Description: 80 characters maximum, including spaces. No links/html. Describe your artwork/item, not yourself.

Item Dimensions: 30 characters maximum, including spaces.

Price (excluding Postage and Packing): 10 characters maximum, including spaces.

Herts Visual Arts is a not-for-profit membership organisation, using our income to deliver services and development opportunities for our artist-members. If you feel you would like to contribute more, our Donate button is one way to help us continue this work on behalf of our members.

Next Steps/More Info

Gallery Checklist

  • Do you sell cards? Have you got specific Christmas offerings? What do you want potential customers to know about you at this time of year? Also think about delivery options for your customers and any costs that they may incur.
  • Is it easy to identify and find? Does it include your name first?
  • Include one image of you at work, or work in progress.
  • You can upload a maximum of 15 images of your work
  • Have you specified your artforms?
  • Upload a maximum of 3 videos (from your own YouTube/Vimeo account) to cover:
  1.  Studio tour
  2.  Biography/meet the artist
  3.  Artist at work
  • Have you included your contact details and Social Media links?
  • Artwork Selection: Gallery images are so important - choose clear, bright, attractive images that make your work look worth the visit. Images can be entire pieces or a close up/detail. Images must be suitable for a general audience, including children, and must be single images only (not composites/text). Make sure the image is in focus. Herts Visual Arts reserves the right to decline images if unsuitable for any reason, including obvious advertising content. The image must be your copyright, your own work. Copyright of all work remains with the originating rightful owner.
  • Biography: What will the reader learn by reading yours? Have you removed old content? This is your opportunity to present/describe what you offer and engage new audiences – do you produce cards, cards, gifts, functional items?

Other

Publicity Materials: You are agreeing that your images/videos/content can be used for publicity and promotion.

Workshops and Exhibitions: If you have seasonal video classes, workshops, exhibitions or other events, have you edited the workshops/exhibitions section in My Account? This could include any local ‘Art Window’ trails, Christmas Markets, On-line Studio visits, and more.

What about publicity materials?

There will be on-line marketing materials available for you to promote the exhibition/your work.

Please use the Christmas Showcase logo and promotional content (login and download available graphics from here) to confirm your participation. Please publicise it on your own social media, web sites or other promotional activities.

HVAF will promote the Christmas Showcase through Press Releases, our web site and social media.

There will be a Christmas Showcase video/online flipbook created from Online submissions that are received before the deadline and meet our requirements. Depending on the submissions received, we may include some or all exhibition entries (we will use at least one/the first image from each artist).

Any work you sell must be safe and suitable for sale.

Tell me about Sales?

On-line exhibition: 

  • Herts Visual Arts is not selling any work and is not responsible for any sales/commitments or other liabilities that may arise from our event or your own promotions. 

  • Artists must arrange these customer contacts and agreements themselves.

Important

Please read our Application Guidelines and Terms and Conditions. When you register for this event, you are agreeing to all these.

Before uploading your Online entries, please also familiarise yourself with the information you need to provide.  

There may be Explainer Videos that walk you through some of the requirements.

Supporting our community

Herts Visual Arts is run by and for volunteers. Our Christmas Showcase is an exceptional community event, with fantastic opportunities. If you can help the team before, during or after the event, please get in touch:  admin@hvaf.org.uk.

There are many other ways in which you can help, including: proof reading, sharing the event, helping in support sessions, encouraging members/new members and generally promoting the event before, during and after. Thank you.

If you would like to further support HVAF and services to members, please consider a donation.

‘More creativity, more fun, more buzz, more laughter in our lives’