Gift Shop Review Application 2024

There may be a limit to the number of artists accepted based on amount of applicants and available space in the gift shops. The following is a partial list of criteria used by the review committee when evaluating submitted work. 

• Originality: Is the work original in design? Is the work mass-produced or printed? Greeting cards or prints are accepted, but are determined on an individual basis and they must be from the artist’s original artwork. If the work has an imprinted retail price, it must be sold at that price. Is the work a replication of other artists' work, or does it have a strong resemblance to another artist’s work? Is the work unique and in a media not offered elsewhere in downtown locations or currently in the Toe River Arts gift shops?
• Handmade elements: Is the work from kits or patterns? Are the major elements used in the work handmade? Is the overall appearance of the work handmade as opposed to commercially manufactured or machine made?
• Quality and integrity of the work: Is the work professional, well crafted and ready for display?
• Size: Is the size of the work reasonable for the gift shops?
• Price: Is the work within the price points that will sell in both gift shops?

The gift shop review committee is comprised of members of Toe River Arts and professional artists familiar with different artistic media. The review committee changes every year. Artists not accepted may reapply the following year.

The jurying is a two part process. Your online application and images will be viewed for consideration. If your work is accepted you will get an email asking that you bring 3 pieces of your work to the Spruce Pine Gallery for an in person review by the Gift Shop Review Committee. If your work is accepted you will be notified by email of your status as a gift shop artist by the end of March.  

There may be a limit to the number of artists accepted based on amount of applicants and available space in the gift shops. The following is a partial list of criteria used by the review committee when evaluating submitted work. 

• Originality: Is the work original in design? Is the work mass-produced or printed? Greeting cards or prints are accepted, but are determined on an individual basis and they must be from the artist’s original artwork. If the work has an imprinted retail price, it must be sold at that price. Is the work a replication of other artists' work, or does it have a strong resemblance to another artist’s work? Is the work unique and in a media not offered elsewhere in downtown locations or currently in the Toe River Arts gift shops?
• Handmade elements: Is the work from kits or patterns? Are the major elements used in the work handmade? Is the overall appearance of the work handmade as opposed to commercially manufactured or machine made?
• Quality and integrity of the work: Is the work professional, well crafted and ready for display?
• Size: Is the size of the work reasonable for the gift shops?
• Price: Is the work within the price points that will sell in both gift shops?

The gift shop review committee is comprised of members of Toe River Arts and professional artists familiar with different artistic media. The review committee changes every year. Artists not accepted may reapply the following year.

The jurying is a two part process. Your online application and images will be viewed for consideration. If your work is accepted you will get an email asking that you bring 3 pieces of your work to the Spruce Pine Gallery for an in person review by the Gift Shop Review Committee. If your work is accepted you will be notified by email of your status as a gift shop artist by the end of March.  

There may be a limit to the number of artists accepted based on amount of applicants and available space in the gift shops. The following is a partial list of criteria used by the review committee when evaluating submitted work. 

• Originality: Is the work original in design? Is the work mass-produced or printed? Greeting cards or prints are accepted, but are determined on an individual basis and they must be from the artist’s original artwork. If the work has an imprinted retail price, it must be sold at that price. Is the work a replication of other artists' work, or does it have a strong resemblance to another artist’s work? Is the work unique and in a media not offered elsewhere in downtown locations or currently in the Toe River Arts gift shops?
• Handmade elements: Is the work from kits or patterns? Are the major elements used in the work handmade? Is the overall appearance of the work handmade as opposed to commercially manufactured or machine made?
• Quality and integrity of the work: Is the work professional, well crafted and ready for display?
• Size: Is the size of the work reasonable for the gift shops?
• Price: Is the work within the price points that will sell in both gift shops?

The gift shop review committee is comprised of members of Toe River Arts and professional artists familiar with different artistic media. The review committee changes every year. Artists not accepted may reapply the following year.

The jurying is a two part process. Your online application and images will be viewed for consideration. If your work is accepted you will get an email asking that you bring 3 pieces of your work to the Spruce Pine Gallery for an in person review by the Gift Shop Review Committee. If your work is accepted you will be notified by email of your status as a gift shop artist by the end of March.  

• Applicants must be current Toe River Arts members at the $75 level or higher after being notified that you have been accepted for the second half of the review process Visit our website for more information about artist membership.
  • If you are unsure of your membership status, please call us at 828.765.0520 before submitting your in person work. If you need to pay a membership fee, please call to do so, or you may pay when delivering your work. 
• Applicants must be current residents of Avery, Mitchell or Yancey counties.
• All work must be handmade and original. 
• Artists may apply in more than one media; however, a separate application is required for each media.
• Collaborating artists should fill out one application for collaborative work. Collaborating artists producing work individually, must have their independent work reviewed separtately. Please fill out additional applications accordingly.

You must submit a resume, artist statement and images of your work to apply. You may submit on image for up to three pieces of original artwork. 

By checking the box below, you agree to and acknowledge the following:

• Works accepted into Toe River Arts gift shops are on a consignment basis. (Artist receives 60%; Toe River Arts receives 40%)
• Prices reflect the retail value of the work.
• A Toe River Arts receiving report must be completed by Toe River Arts staff for all incoming inventory and should contain a complete description and retail value of each item. Discrepancies between the receiving receipt and the delivered goods will be reported to the artist but are not the responsibility of Toe River Arts. Please allow one week for new work to be inventoried, tagged and displayed.
• Work may be rotated in or out of stock at the discretion of the artist or gift shop manager/staff.
• If there is a lapse of one year where an artist does not have work in either gift shop and the reason for this lapse is not discussed with the Gift Shop Manager, the artist will be expected to go through the review process again. 
• Only work in media that have been juried in may be displayed. Different or additional media must go through the review process.
• All work must be ready for display when it is brought to the gallery.
• Work that is not of the highest quality, is damaged or unsuitable for any reason, will be removed from stock and returned to the artist, or not accepted for display.
• Sales are calculated at the end of each month, and commission checks direct deposited by the 15th of the following month.
• Toe River Arts carries insurance against fire, theft, and vandalism, subject to standard policy exclusions. In the event of damage or theft, the policy pays 60% of the retail value.
• Toe River Arts has an open policy about photographing items displayed in the gift shops.
• Please be sure that selling your work at either or both Toe River Arts gift shops does not conflict or violate the language or spirit of any agreement you may currently have with another gallery/location. 
• I agree to keep my membership current while my work is represented in either of the Toe River Arts gift shops. I understand that if my membership lapses for more than two months, my work may be removed from display (Work that has been removed will remain in house for no longer than three months after the artist is contacted. After three months the work becomes the property of Toe River Arts).
• I currently reside in Avery, Mitchell or Yancey County and agree to notify Toe River Arts if I move to a county outside of this eligibility.