1. It’s our 10 year anniversary!
This year, Craft Lake City’s Annual DIY Festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary. That means things will be bigger and better (maybe 10x better?) and you’re going to want to be a part of it.
2. Application Assistance
Applying has never been so easy. Show up at any of our Application Assistance events and leave with everything you need for your application, including professional photos, and any tips and tricks you may need. These events are completely free! We have already had three events, and there is one final event April 3 from 6:30-8: 30 pm at the SLC Public Library. Find info here.
3. You could get a scholarship!
Did you know that if you’re a first time vendor, you could qualify to receive a scholarship that will waive your booth fees, pair you up with a mentor, and give you business training? You can learn more about this program and past participants here.
4. Networking it.
The Artisan Mixer gives all DIY fest participants the opportunity to mingle and network. There are hundreds of creative professionals who participate in the festival each year, as an exhibitor you would work alongside these artisans and makers giving you the chance to network, collaborate, and grow. Just being around all of these impressive makers gets the creative juices flowing.
5. Exposure, exposure, exposure!
If you’re looking to get the word out there about your brand and your work, this is a great chance. Approximately 20,000 people attend the DIY fest each year. On our participant survey last year, the number one response for the best benefit of participating in the festival was exposure. We also do social media features for our exhibitors to help them grow their following!
6. We love STEM, too.
We love science and art and what they can do together! Do you love electronics, tinkering with code, or have a cool VR setup? We’d love to see you in the Google Fiber STEM building. You can be a DIY engineer, a scientist who wants to share a cool hands-on demos or an organization. Also, the STEM building is air-conditioned. Enough said.
7. Helpful staff members and zone managers!
Our staff is the best! We rely on the best staff and volunteers to make your festival experience as smooth as possible. Our staff members actually want to be there and want to be helpful to you because we love the local scene and believe in building it up! One of our top responses from artisan surveys last year was how much people liked working with staff and zone managers. We love working with you, too!
8. Many DIY Fest Artisans become workshop instructors.
Craft Lake City hosts workshops throughout the year and also during the festival! A large majority of our workshop instructors are past festival participants. There are many opportunities to get involved in Craft Lake City outside of the festival. When we see you at the festival, we want to help your business grow and get you involved in the community! One of the best ways to do that is by teaching a workshop.
9. The #clcDIYfest isn’t just for artists.
The Annual DIY fest doesn’t just feature local artists. We feature all sorts of exhibitors from foodies to fine artists to nail polish makers to vintage vendors to performers (who get paid!) If you made it, we want to show it to Salt Lake City. There is a huge variety of merch. We also curate the market to include unique items, so you aren’t selling the anything too similar to anyone else there.
10. Kid Row is the cutest.
Starting last year, Craft Lake City’s Annual DIY Festival now includes Kid Row, where talented youngsters (ages 14 and under) can sell their wares for a few hours on the Saturday of the festival weekend. Kid Row exhibitors were a favorite at the festival last year and we are thrilled to welcome them back this year. We support cultivating a creative culture with all youth. Any makers ages 15 and up are welcome to apply as a regular festival vendor.
Applications for Craft Lake City’s 10th Annual DIY Festival are due April 5, 2018, at 11:59 pm. The festival has grown and changed so much over the last ten years, and this year is no exception. The 10th year will be even bigger and better than ever. If you’re a maker, a dreamer, or a creator, join us! Apply here.