The American Craft Council's Mentor Program, part of the Baltimore Wholesale Show, is a two-year program designed specifically to guide artists with no prior wholesale experience through their first two wholesale shows by working closely with a veteran American Craft Council wholesale exhibitor. Candidates for this program must apply as a team: a New Artist who has never participated in any wholesale show and the Mentor, an experienced American Craft Council exhibitor who is acquainted with the New Artist candidate and who agrees to sponsor him or her.
Applications to the Mentor Program are separate from the annual jury application. The deadline for the 2007 Mentor Program is July 31, 2006. New Artist applicants should not have exhibited in any wholesale show by any show promoter prior to applying. Mentors applying to the program must have exhibited in at least four American Craft Council Wholesale Shows within the past five years (Baltimore-Winter, Baltimore-Summer and San Francisco). To assist a New Artist in locating a possible Mentor, the Council will maintain a list of experienced exhibitors who express interest in participating in the Program; however, it cannot guarantee that a "match" will be found.
In year one, the accepted teams will prepare for and participate in the Baltimore Wholesale Show. The Council will provide a free wholesale-only booth space (10'x10') for the New Artist and a $500 credit toward the Mentor's booth in Baltimore. Both will receive ongoing guidance from the Council to ensure a successful experience. Recognizing the need for artists to maintain a long-term consistent presence in wholesale shows, New Artists accepted to this program will be invited to exhibit for a second year at the Baltimore Wholesale Show.
New Artists may apply to any of the Baltimore show categories in the annual jury application without compromising their eligibility for the Mentor Program. The acceptance of a New Artist into the Mentor Program will take precedence over the Baltimore wholesale-only jury score. New Artists may apply to any of the Council's retail shows without compromising their eligibility.
