Feast of the Arts 2014
Biennial Fine Art Auction April 27, 2014
at the Newburgh Heritage Center

Call to Artists

The event is comprised 3 sections, a Live, a Silent, and a Chinese Auction.

Starting bid, by default, is $200. Artists may raise or lower that amount.

Artists split the selling price 50/50 with the host organization.

This event is more than just an art sale… it is a community based project that, in essence, is a party that celebrates the talent and industry of the local art community. Good food and flowing beverages round out the “Feast” part of the event.

Fine Crafts are not included in this event, only 2 and 3 dimensional fine art.

In the Chinese Auction small works are donated outright (full donation). This is intended to be a fun- spirited, game-like approach to selling and buying art. It’s a crowd pleaser and gets their appetite whetted for the main event. Submitting a piece to the Chinese Auction entitles the artist to free admission to the event.

How to make a Submission.

Drop-off and pick-up should be co-ordinated with Mary McTamaney, City Historian, at the Newburgh Heritage Center, 123 Grand Street. (old columned courthouse building across from the Library). Phone 845-569-8090 or email: newburghartauction@gmail.com.

What to submit? Here are some hints:

Prices realized generally fall between 150 and 300 dollars, we have had pieces go much higher than that, but they are the exceptions, not the rule.

Remember at an auction you need multiple people interested to drive up the price… so think in terms of work that has a general appeal. If your art normally sells in the $1,000 and up range, don’t give us a $5,000 painting; we don’t have the market for it. Instead think of giving a study or a drawing nicely framed. Represent yourself well with something well presented. That being said, you are welcome to enter anything you like. This may be a good venue to try out some new direction or to sell off an older piece.

How to set a reserve?

A “reserve” is the price below which you will not allow the artwork to sell; it is not the amount you receive. You may set a reserve in this auction but you are not required to. Reserves over $200 will have a 5% reserve fee. High reserves discourage bidding. People come to auctions to get a bargain. We hope that the artwork sells near its retail value and it can actually sell above it, but that’s not what auction buyers are expecting. For example, if you have a painting that normally sells for $300, don’t put a reserve of $300 on it, by taking a risk at a lower starting price like $150 it is more likely that you will get multiple bidders involved. Once a bidder has begun bidding they are more likely to go above the amount they intended to spend because they get caught up in the excitement and competition of the auction. If you don’t get the bidding started, you won’t generate that enthusiasm for the piece.

Jurying

A selection of the artwork, submitted to the Silent Auction, will be chosen by a committee shortly before the event to be included in the Live Auction.

For complete details see the “Artists Rules and Guidelines” document .