This is Muskoka's most popular, largest and longest running outdoor art and craft show. Exhibitors from Muskoka, Ontario and other regions of Canada display their work in a beautiful park setting to an anticipated audience of 20,000-25,000 people who are enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the arts. Public admission to the Summer Show is by donation.

Located north of Toronto, Muskoka is a two-hour drive following Highways 400 and 11. The most accessible vacation area in Ontario with recreation facilities, attractions and thousands of lakes, Muskoka has been the traditional "getaway" destination for cottagers and vacationers for over a hundred years.

One of Ontario’s oldest and largest outdoor craft shows, the annual Summer Show is the major fund-raiser for Muskoka Arts & Crafts, a non-profit, community-based arts organization with over 350 members. Proceeds support the Chapel Gallery – Muskoka’s only public art gallery, a yearly $1,200 student art bursary and many other events.

Muskoka Arts & Crafts does not receive funding from any provincial or federal government department or agency. We appreciate the support of the Town of Bracebridge through the rental of the building that houses our Chapel Gallery. Muskoka Arts & Crafts is proud of its ability to raise all its own operating funds.

Every year, we review how we administer the Summer Show and make changes when necessary. To find what’s new, just watch for the ‘NEW’ symbol.

NOTE: Read the entire Call for Entry as some familiar information has been revised or changed.

Annie Williams Memorial Park
[on Santa’s Village Road, one block in from Wellington Street]

The booth fees are the same as charged in 2006.

The reputation of the Summer Show has been built on selecting outstanding and quality hand made work.

The applicant must be the designer and maker of the work represented by his or her application. Agents or dealers are not eligible. The show is open to all Canadian citizens or landed immigrants.

No work produced or sourced by any commercial means will be accepted. Ceramics from commercial molds, food, or published literature are ineligible. Any article in any media using a commercial kit or commercially available plans or patterns is disqualified. Ready-made components are acceptable only where their importance is subordinate to the skill and design contributed by the maker and where their use is clearly appropriate to the nature and design of the work. Articles made from molds are acceptable only where the mold is the design and product of the artist or craftsperson or where the mold is evidently subordinate to the maker's creativity.

Muskoka Arts & Crafts has deep respect for all who create. The organization has a responsibility to the exhibitors to encourage excellence. For the general public, Muskoka Arts & Crafts has a responsibility to present work which meets the accepted technical and ethical standards of the organization.

A jury of five to seven professional artists and crafts-people assess the applications. All work is juried within its media category. Jurying is a blind process in that the work is considered without presenting the name of the applicant so an unbiased decision can be arrived at based on the work alone.

Traditional items have a greater emphasis on craftsman-ship rather than innovation and exploration of materials. Both approaches are equally valid. Originality in conception and execution, quality of workmanship and excellence of design are the primary criteria by which the submitted work is evaluated.

The jury reserves the right to decide about the appropriateness of all work to be included in the show.

Only work similar to that which was juried is allowed into the show. The decisions of the jury are final.

You must submit ten recent images that accurately represents the style and quality of work that will be exhibited and sold. If more than ten images are submitted, only the first ten will be presented to the jury. If two people are sharing a booth, each person must submit ten images. You must also include an image showing the booth set-up. Drawings, sketches and photographs are not accepted. This image is to your benefit as it gives the jury an overall view of the range of work that will be sold. Exhibitors who have shown in previous Summer Shows must submit images of their work as all applications are juried every year.

Jurying is only from digital JPEG images. Photographs, slides, samples, web sites and e-mail submissions cannot be submitted for jurying.

It is your responsibility to ensure that all digital files are saved in the correct file format, can be opened, are not corrupted and are compatible with a PC. When preparing your digital images, please follow these instructions.

• Non JPEG/JPG images are not accepted and will not be converted.

• Do not use PowerPoint and other types of presentations as well as auto run programs such as Kodak Easy Share.
• Do not include your name or studio name or any other writing on your digital image.

Muskoka Arts & Crafts assumes no responsibility for the loss or damage of any item submitted.

At Muskoka Arts & Crafts, we believe in hosting high quality shows and maximizing each exhibitor's sales, therefore, only two hundred booths are available.

There are two different sizes of booths:

A flexible booth design is highly recommended as the ground for some booths may not be perfectly level and natural irregularities within the park ultimately affects the final layout of the booths.

You must provide your own equipment such as a tent or canopy, tables, chairs, backdrops and display stands. Vehicles or trailers are not permitted to be part of your booth display. All exhibits and display materials must remain within your assigned space. All demonstrations and distribution of promotional materials must be confined to the limits of your booth.

During the three days the show is open to the public, you may drive your vehicle to your booth to unload and load. All vehicles must be removed from the show area by 9:30am. At the daily close of the show, vehicles are not allowed into the park until half an hour after the show closes to give visitors time to safely leave the show area.

Electricity is not available.

Please remember that this is an outdoor show and many locations are in direct sunlight. You are encouraged to have a canopy or shelter that can also be used for protection from the sun and rain.

Exhibitors may not arbitrarily change booth locations with other exhibitors. No exhibitor is guaranteed the same booth location year after year. The Summer Show Committee assigns all booth locations and all decisions are final. 

After you check-in, you may set up on Thursday, July 17, 2008, between 8am and 6pm or on Friday, July 18, 2008 between 7am and 9am.

On Thursday, you may drive your vehicle to your booth to unload. During the three days the show is open to the public, prior to its opening, you may drive your vehicle to your booth to unload. All vehicles must be removed from the show area by 9:30am. After the show closes, you may drive your vehicle to your booth to load any stock. Vehicles are not allowed into the park until half an hour after the show closes to give visitors time to safely leave the show area.

You must have your exhibit intact for all three days of the show. Under no circumstances should you close your booth early or take it down during show hours without first consulting the Show Coordinator who is present at the Information Booth from Thursday to Sunday.

All booths and equipment must be removed from the park on Sunday, July 20, 2008, by 8pm.

Security is provided Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. Many exhibitors, however, pack and remove their merchandise at the end of each day.

Muskoka Arts & Crafts, its employees, volunteers, agents or representatives are not responsible for any damage, breakage or theft of your work, booth, display props or other personal or business property.

To be considered, your application must include:

A stamped, self-addressed envelope

You will be notified, by mail, of your application status near the end of March or early in April. 

If your work has been accepted, your booth fee cheque will be cashed near the end of March. You will be sent an acceptance letter and additional material, which includes pertinent information about the show, a list of accommodations, a receipt for your booth fees as well as your slides or CD. The list of accepted exhibitors will also be posted on our web site by mid April.

If your work is not accepted, your cheque will be voided and returned along with your slides or CD.