Skagit Art Assoc., Art in a Pickle Barn Show Rules, rev. May, 2000.

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Pickle Barn Show Rules
Skagit Art Association · Mount Vernon, Washington

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Pickle Barn Show

"When did Art in a Pickle Barn start?"
April, 1989, was the first Art in a Pickle Barn show. The Skagit Art Association itself was founded in 1956.

"How do I reserve a booth so I can bring my artwork to this show to sell?"
Art in a Pickle Barn is an indoor fine arts show (no booths) featuring some 44 area-artists' work and a single check-out stand. It is produced and staffed by members of the Skagit Art Association to showcase their art and to raise scholarship funds for area art students. Members register for the show during June of the previous year. See following Q&As for more information. For other Tulip Festival artists-venue options, including the Mt.Vernon street fair, contact the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Association.

"Do you have to live in Skagit County to participate in the Pickle Barn Show?"
Artists NOT living in Skagit County are eligible for showing in the Pickle Barn after Skagit County members, or those under the Grandfather Clause, have been accommodated. A "Waiting List" is maintained for each show (cancellations do occur), so timely registration and meeting attendance is important for any member wishing to participate. ALL artists must abide by the current Pickle Barn Rules and deadlines.

"How many artists can exhibit in the Pickle Barn Show?"
There are spaces for 44 artists within the Pickle Barn. Occasionally two artists may be approved to share the same space, so the actual number of participating artists can exceed the space count.

"How much does it cost to participate in the Pickle Barn?"
Total costs can vary depending on your circumstance, and include but are not limited to: membership, show fee (currently $50), commission on sales, display equipment and materials, costs of inventory, donation of reception foods and/or beverages, PLUS required meeting attendance along with committee and shift work.

"Why is it called a Pickle Barn?"
Because for 13 years the show was held in Thulen's barn at the corner of Downey and LaConner-Whitney roads, which, for some years, was used to store cucumbers for Nalley's Pickles! During early "Art in a Pickle Barn" shows, pickles were sold from a barrel for "a nickel a pickle!" When the show moved for 2002, members agreed (insisted, actually!) that the original show name of "Art in a Pickle Barn" be kept.
PICKLE BARN INQUIRY/COMMENT

The "Art in a Pickle Barn Show & Sale" hosted by the Skagit Art Association is held each April during the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. In order to participate, members register for the show the previous June by signing a contract and agreeing to meet the terms of the Pickle Barn Rules. Interested artists are encouraged to read, carefully and thoroughly, our Show Rules presented here. If after reading the rules you still have questions, please read our "FAQs" before requesting further information. Thank you.

RATIFIED 2003
PICKLE BARN SHOWS AND SALE RULES

      In order to maintain a consistent and fair policy in managing annual Pickle Barn Shows (PB), the members of the SAA do hereby adopt these Rules. Nothing in these Rules shall be in violation of, or contrary to, the SAA Bylaws.

Rule 1- Eligibility: is determined by the SAA Bylaws, PB SHOWS, Article IX, Section 1.

Rule 2 - Waiting List: see SAA Bylaws, PB SHOWS, Article IX, Section 2.

Rule 3 - Show Entry:
    a. Expense assessment - An expense assessment will be accepted no earlier than June 1 postmark. SAA membership dues for the PB show year must be paid with, or prior to, the PB expense assessment. A motion made at any general meeting and passing by a majority shall determine the amount of the assessment.
    b. Application-contract - Each member will receive an application-contract form, in June.
    c. Deadline - A signed application-contract and the expense assessment must be submitted by June 30 in order to retain priority 1 (for priorities, see Bylaws Article IX, PB SHOWS, Section 1A).

Rule 4 - Exhibitor Spaces:
    a. Spaces will be determined at the March meeting by drawing sealed numbers;
    b. Exhibitors must be present to draw and shall draw only their own numbers, provided that exhibitors not in attendance to draw shall have their numbers drawn by the PB Committee as proxy;
    c. Individual exhibitors may not share, or reassign, or trade space without PB Committee approval;
    d. Any space (half or full) which becomes available due to an exhibitor withdrawal (see Rule 6, below - Withdrawal From Show,) must first be offered to any exhibitor currently assigned a half-space, but who had requested a full space, and then to the first person on the waiting list;
    e. If two exhibitors share one space, each will pay fifty percent (50%) of full assessment, provided that each one must be a full voting member and each one must fulfill all requirements for exhibitors;
    f. Exhibitors will conform to allotted space assignments and Fire Marshall regulations;
    g. Each exhibitor will be responsible for leaving his/her space as he/she finds it, and if a space is left with excessive damage as determined by the PB Committee, that exhibitor will be fined $25.

Rule 5 - Responsibilities of Exhibitors:
    a. Commission: The SAA will deduct a commission from all PB shows sales. A motion made at any general meeting and passing by a majority vote shall determine the amount of the commission, and this money will go into the Pickle Barn account.
    b. 1. Each exhibitor in the PB Spring Show shall attend four (4) SAA meetings during the member-year excluding social events, but including two of the last three meetings immediately preceding the PB Show.    2. An exhibitor who fails to meet attendance requirements shall not be eligible to exhibit in the PB Show during that member-year.    3. An appeal to the Executive Board will need a 2/3 vote of board members present to excuse the violation.
    c. Every exhibitor will serve on at least one show-related committee.
    d. Work shifts –    1. Each exhibitor shall accept assignments to the required work shifts during the shows, and an exhibitor who does not satisfactorily fulfill his/her work obligations shall not be eligible to exhibit in any PB Show during the following member-year; and further, be it known that this is a critical factor in the success of the show due to the co-operative nature of the show which requires 100% support by all exhibitors; and,    2. These work shifts must be assigned by March 15 and presented to the PB Committee for approval; and,    3. The work assignments chart will be posted at the Barn during shows.    4. Every exhibitor will provide finger food, or soft drinks, for opening receptions.    5. Exhibitors will not hold SAA liable for theft of art work, or for damage due to water leaks or other causes, or any errors in advertising or publicity.

Rule 6 - Withdrawal from Show:
        a. An exhibitor who wishes to withdraw from any PB Show must notify the PB Committee Chairperson at least thirty days prior to the Show, or shall forfeit the Assessment fee.
        b. Refunds: The Assessment fee may be refunded up to 30 days before any PB Show opens. A refund automatically removes an applicant from the waiting list.
        c. A withdrawal under extenuating circumstances, appealed to the Executive Board, will need a 2/3 vote of board members present to excuse the withdrawal.

Rule 7 - Acceptable Artwork in the Pickle Barn Spring Show:
        a. is restricted to fine art which includes paintings, drawings, prints, cards, and photography, except that a maximum of five (5) spaces shall be allowed for photographers; and,
        b. no more than 20% (twenty percent) of a fine artist’s exhibit shall be made up of photography; and,
        c. only art work by the individual exhibitor is permitted; and,
        d. all art exhibited shall be for sale; and,
        e. crafts, three-dimensional art, mats, frames, pottery, etc. are not acceptable and may not be offered for sale.
        f. Decision on questionable items is the responsibility of the PB Committee which may reject anything deemed not acceptable under these guidelines.

Rule 8 - All PB Shows, other than the Spring Show:
        a. will follow the PB Shows Rules except for commission and dates which will be determined by majority vote at regular meetings; and,
        b. may have their own chairpersons appointed by the Executive Board; and,
        c. may have different types of acceptable art work if so determined by majority vote at a general meeting.

Rule 9 - These Rules shall be amended, or revised, as follows:
    Step 1 - a proposal for amending must be presented by motion, in writing, at a general meeting; and next,
    Step 2 - the motion to amend will pass with a majority vote; and next,
    Step 3 - the President of SAA shall be responsible for delivering the rule change to the Bylaws Committee chairperson; and
    Step 4 - the Bylaws Committee will prepare, publish, and distribute the Rules as amended.

           PB Shows and Sales Rules, adopted January 30, 2003, separating the operating Show Rules from the Bylaws98. President Gerene Reid

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ARTICLE IX: PICKLE BARN SHOWS
(from SAA Bylaws) Preamble: whereas the Skagit Art Association was founded as a local organization organized for the encouragement and artistic development of beginning and advanced local artists, and the support of Skagit County art institutions, it therefore follows that Skagit County residents will take precedence in claiming eligibility for participation in Pickle Barn Shows.

Section 1: Eligibility is determined by the Show Priority status of Voting Members

A. Art In A Pickle Barn Shows are open to SAA Voting Members who are:
1. Skagit County residents (Priority 1 and 2):
     a. Who pay dues and assessments on, or before, June 30, (Priority 1); and
     b. Who pay dues and assessments after June 30, but before September 1 (Priority 2); and,
2. chartered out-of-county residents (Priority1): Who pay dues and assessments on, or before, June 30, (Priority 1), and who have maintained continuous SAA membership since before March 1, 1994, or who resided in Skagit County on, or before, March 1, 1994, and have since moved to another County, with the exception that; Payment of dues and assessments after June 30 is considered to be a lapse in continuous membership. A lapse in continuous membership in any member-year shall result in the loss of "chartered" status (see also, DUES, Article III, above; and also see MEMBERSHIP, Article II, Section 4, above) ; and,
3. non-chartered out-of-county residents (Priority 3 and 4):
    a. Who pay dues and assessments on, or before, June 30, (Priority 3); and
    b. Who pay dues and assessments after June 30, but before September 1, (Priority 4).

B. A new member who pays dues on, or after, the first day of September shall not be eligible for PB shows during that member-year.(see MEMBERSHIP, Article II, Section 3, ABOVE)

Section 2: Waiting List:

A. In the case of more applicants than available spaces, names of eligible members will be placed on a Waiting List, first in the order of priority status, and next in the order in which PB assessments are received. Thus, Priority 2 will always have precedence over Priority 3 and so on.

B. If an applicant does not get into the show, his/her assessment will be refunded when the show opens. Anyone requesting an earlier refund will lose his/her place on the Waiting List.

Section 3: Responsibilities of Membership Committee and PB Committte and SAA President

A. 1. The Membership Committee chair shall be responsible for collecting the PB Shows assessments; and,
2. for providing the PB Shows Chairperson with a chronological list of voting members who are eligible to participate in the PB Show.

B. The PB Show chair and the SAA president will share responsibility for overseeing the enforcement of these Rules.

Section 4: All operating rules for PB Shows are contained in a separate document - The Pickle Barn Shows Rules.

These Rules and Bylaws' excerpt are posted here for informational purposes only, and subject to changes and/or
verification by the SAA Executive Committee. Any errors or omissions are purely unintentional.