The 21st annual Northeast Iowa Artists’ Studio Tour (NIAST Inc.) applications to exhibit are now available to area artists. For an application PDF or more information go to www.iowaarttour.com click on the events/news tab or contact Darla Ellickson at darla@earloops.com or 563-382-2295. The 2018 Tour takes place October 12, 13 and 14. Studios are open 10 to 5 daily.
Media considered is limited to Fine Art and Fine Craft. Items include: Painting, sculpture, jewelry, photography, clay/ceramics, wood, glass, metal, printmaking, mixed media, handmade paper, fiber, etc. as appropriate at Fine Art Fairs. All works must be original in concept and design and must have been executed by the applicant: works from molds or kits, commercial or manufactured items, and buy/sell are not permitted. Tour exhibitors qualify as “fine artists,” meaning, “They possess the skill to expand and adapt even a high-end craft with individual vision.” Artist’s applications for tour entry are juried, and participants are selected for their work’s technique, quality, and vision and their studios must reside within 40 miles of Decorah, in Iowa. Postmark deadline for submitting an application is March 15, 2018.
The self-guided Tour is specially timed to enjoy the fall color and travels along winding gravel roads, for a behind-the-scenes view into the Artists’ personal workspace.
Participating in this event features inclusion of color photos of your artwork and contact information in top quality full-color posters and 20-30,000 brochures, complete with detailed map with GPS to studio locations. These brochures are distributed in many ways, including: being personally handed-out by the touring Artists throughout the country; through a bulk-mailing of more than 10,000 brochures to the pre-qualified mailing lists of the Artists; to special requests to area Tourism venues; and from the tour drawing cards requesting information.
In 2015 Winneshiek Country Tourism recognized the impact of the Art Tour by presenting its “Great Strides Tourism Award” to the NE IA Artists’ Studio Tour board.
This free-to-the–public event is self-supporting, funded by artist entry fees, sponsors, grants, donations, and advertising businesses. The 2017 special Preview exhibit at ArtHaus was sponsored by: Agora Arts in downtown Decorah – Gail Bolson. Grant support was provided by the Decorah Hotel/Motel Marketing Committee. The Major Studio Tour sponsor is KDEC Radio FM 100.5/AM 1240. More Tour Sponsors are: Darla and Glen Ellickson of Ellickson Jewelry Studio & Gallery, Dave and Brenda Carlson, New Albin Savings Bank, Decorah Bank and Trust, Bank of the West of Decorah, Viking State Bank and Waukon State Bank, Inspire(d) Media, KCZQ Radio and D.Art.Co. Friends of the Arts on the Tour include: Douglas Cole – Art Pottery, Nate and Hallie Evans of Allamakee Wood-fired Pottery, Paul Corbin – Pottery, Citizens Savings Bank: Spillville, Fort Atkinson and Protivin, and Jenni and Eric Peterson-Brant – Pottery. Retail/Businesses for the Art included: Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank and Main St. Mini Mart – Spillville. In-kind Tour sponsors: Winneshiek County Convention and Visitors Bureau (WCCVB), Trevor Huinker Solutions, KVIK Radio, and Julie Strom Photography, plus ad support from area hotels, cabins, B & B’s and restaurants. Brochures are distributed through area businesses, participating artists’ client mailing lists and at art shows on a national level.
If you are interested in supporting area Tourism and the Arts by becoming a sponsor or advertiser, or a “Friend of the Arts”, contact Glen Ellickson at 563-419-6963. 2018 brochures will be available in May.