Indiana Artisan Information

Indiana Artisan also provides networking for Artisans, opportunities for discussion on shared and common art- and food-related themes. Through this, the organization's goal is support to a statewide community of high-quality art and food artisans. The organization also offers Artisans opportunities for their work to be included in gift baskets sold at retail, and in June the organization will launch online sales of the Artisans' work. Artisans whose work has juried into Indiana Artisan may take advantage of all, some or none of these opportunities. Each is encouraged to leverage those opportunities that fit with, and maximize, their own individual business plan. Indiana Artisan is an economic development program that leverages the state's "place-based assets," its exceptional art and food artisans, helping them expand their businesses and, in turn, further support the economies of the communities where they live. In addition to the programs described that take the work of the Artisans to a market, the organization also works with seven "artisan trails," encompassing nearly 25 Indiana counties. The goal of the trails is to increase tourism within the state and specifically to bring the market to the Artisans. The trails encourage people living in Indiana, and especially those vacationing in Indiana, to visit Artisan studios, workshops, galleries, and retail venues. In 2013 and 2014, the organization will create two additional avenues for Artisans to expand their businesses by selling their work in "stores in stores" and then in "stand-alone stores" focused solely on the work that is part of the Indiana Artisan brand. Currently the work of 194 Artisans, in 56 Indiana counties, is part of the brand. There is no limit placed on the amount of work that can jury into the organization, nor a limit on the number of Artisans producing work in an individual medium or food product line. For example, multiple jewelers, potters, woodworkers, etc. may have work juried into the organization, and multiple wineries, chocolatiers, and bakers also may have the same food products become part of the brand. Successful entry is based on high quality and demonstration of the application criteria as determined by each food and art jury panel. Since the organization's launch in 2008, evaluation criteria have remained the same. More than 1,400 applications have been reviewed, with fewer than 20 percent of the applications successfully "jurying in." Applicants are provided with the comments of each jury panel, and there is no limit to the number of times an artist or food producer may apply. The Indiana General Assembly passed a Resolution in 2010, making Indiana Artisan the state's official organization to review, recognize and promote the work of Indiana's highest-quality art and food artisans. Now as a non-profit corporation, Indiana Artisan, Inc. continues the program's mission of developing a brand that gives meaning and recognition to exceptional Indiana-made goods. The outcomes of the May, 2012 jury panels will be provided to the applicants as the sessions are completed, with all applicants notified by May 25. Following each May and November session, successful applicants are invited to a "bootcamp" where they meet each other, are provided with more in-depth explanation of how the organization can be leveraged to benefit their businesses and provided an opportunity to ask questions and suggest expansion ideas for the organization and its community of Artisans.