1. Artists must have a booth in the Cherokee Art Market in order to be eligible for participation in the Cherokee Art Market competition.
2. Artists are allowed to submit two (2) art pieces into the competition.
3. All artwork in booths and submitted into competition must be for sale. No artwork is to be sold before the Saturday morning preview hour.
4. If an artist fails to remove their artwork from competition area or winners’ display area after the awards reception, a $30 handling fee will be charged to the artist when recovering item from Cherokee Art Market staff.
5. To be eligible for the competition, the following rules must be met:
   1. Artwork must be handmade by the registered artist in the last 18 months.
   2. Artwork must follow the guidelines for its medium.
   3. Artwork must be the sole property of the registered artist.
   4. Artwork must not have been commissioned.
   5. Artwork that previously has been awarded Best of Show at the Cherokee Art Market will not be eligible for the Best of Show award in any subsequent Cherokee Art Market.
   6. Artwork must not include any part of an endangered species.
   7. All two-dimensional art must be appropriately framed and ready to hang.
   8. No wet canvases will be accepted.
   9. Artwork must be complete.
   10. Artwork must be for sale.
6. If there are not enough participants in a category, artwork may be added to the judging of another category at judges’ discretion.
7. Management has the right to make the final decision regarding all rules and regulations set forth by the Cherokee Art Market.
8. If entering a collaborative piece, all artists must be registered for Cherokee Art Market with a booth.
9. Artists must be at their booth at all times. Agents may assist but may not represent artists. Volunteers are available to relieve artists for short breaks. The breaks must take no longer than 15 minutes; after 15 minutes the volunteer will leave the booth in order to relieve other artists. Volunteers are not allowed to sell artwork. Volunteers will circulate throughout the day to offer their assistance.
10. A break room (Artist Lounge) will be available to the artists throughout the day. Water and coffee will be offered in the room. Each artist will be given a hospitality bag filled with snacks.
11. Please be respectful of other artists and their booth space. Artists must keep their art within the confines of their purchased booth space, unless granted prior permission by Cherokee Art Market officials. Excessive and disruptive lighting to other artists is not acceptable.
12. Booths cannot be dismantled until the end of the market (5 p.m. Sunday). Artists who sell out of inventory must contact Cherokee Art Market staff at the information booth to be released officially from the show. Artists who leave early (without being released officially) will not be invited back for one (1) year.
13. Artists who are accepted into the show but fail to set up their booth by Saturday at 10 a.m. will not be invited back for two (2) years.
14. It is each artist’s responsibility to comply with all federal and state laws regarding migratory birds and endangered species.
15. Books or videos of cultural, historical or educational content produced or pertaining to the artist, as well as magazines or artists’ portfolios, will be allowed for display but not for sale.
16. Giclée prints and note cards will be allowed for sale, provided giclée prints are SIGNED and NUMBERED in a limited edition of no more than 50 and must be labeled clearly in the booth. Note cards MUST be high quality and depict original artwork of the registered artist. The total inventory of prints and note cards must NOT total more than 25% of the overall booth inventory.
17. No items other than fine art are to be sold during the Cherokee Art Market. Items not allowed for sale in booths include the following:
    1. Commercially produced t-shirts, caps, mugs, mouse pads and non-handmade items.
    2. Any medium other than those specifically accepted into the Cherokee Art Market, unless previously authorized by a Cherokee Art Market official.
18. Cherokee Art Market officials will visit artist booths to ensure the market’s rules and regulations are being observed.
19. Cherokee Art Market reserves the right to prohibit an artist from participating in the market based on the artist’s failure to comply with the rules, regulations and guidelines of the market.
20. Artists may not gift anything to the Cherokee Art Market staff.
21. Co-op booth fees will include competition entry for up to two artists and four tickets to the opening reception. Other artists in the co-op may enter into the competition for an additional $50 fee per artist and attend the opening reception for an additional $35 per artist. Co-op booths must send in the co-op group application to be juried into the market.

Although Judge’s decisions are final, CNB retains the sole and absolute discretion in determining eligibility for entry into the Cherokee Art Market. The Cherokee Art Market is a direct reflection upon the Cherokee Nation and CNB and therefore all Cherokee Art Market participants and winners must be willing and able to represent and reflect the morals and values of the Cherokee Nation, CNB and the Cherokee Art Market. In the event that CNB determines, in good faith, that an artist is unable to represent and/or reflect or in fact does not reflect those morals and values, then CNB retains the right to reject a potential candidate from participating in the Cherokee Art Market or disqualify and/ or remove a participant from the Cherokee Art Market competition and Cherokee Art Market. In the event that a participant is disqualified from entry into the Cherokee Art Market or participation in the Cherokee Art Market, any entry fees paid by the participant will be refunded. Furthermore, in the event that a participant has received an award from the Judges but has failed to observe and reflect the morals and values of the Cherokee Nation, CNB, and the Cherokee Art Market, CNB may strip such participant of any awards and recognition thereof received through the Cherokee Art Market.

These guidelines pertain to all work for sale during the Cherokee Art Market as well as work entered into the competition. Co-op booth fees will include competition entry for up to two artists per booth. Other artists in the co-op may enter into the competition with an additional $50 fee per artist. Please carefully review the specific guidelines for each medium. Contemporary is defined as anything done in a non-traditional way or with non-traditional materials.

CLASS 1: PAINTING, DRAWING, GRAPHICS & PHOTOGRAPHY

Division A – Painting
Division B – Drawing, Graphics, Photography, Mixed Media

Allowable:
All two dimensional art must be appropriately framed, finished and ready for hanging.

Photographs must be matted, framed and signed in a limited edition of no more than 50.

Colored pencil, pastels, charcoal, oil crayons, pencil, pen & ink, mixed media and collage.

Not Allowable:
Iris or other digitally manipulated or reproduced photographs.

Any photomechanical reproduction, including posters, t-shirts, tiles or mugs.

 

CLASS 2: SCULPTURE

Division A – Stone, Bronze, Other

Allowable:
All hand-wrought materials – stone, wood, metal, ceramic, paper, cloth, hand-blown glass and fabricated glass and fiberglass.

Cast bronze sculpture in numbered editions, not to exceed 10 for 6’+, 24 for 3’ to 6’, 30 for 1’ to 3’ and 50 for less than 12”. All must be signed and numbered. A certificate of authenticity is recommended.

Allowable With Disclosure:
All decorative stone, shell and metal elements must be properly identified and comply with the same standards established for allowable materials and non-allowable materials for jewelry.

Fixatives can be used to stabilize pigments, but must be disclosed. All termite-bored or aged wood must be non-infectious and must be disclosed. Cherokee Art Market staff reserves the right to examine and refuse such items.

All feathers used must comply with current laws and regulations of state and federal agencies. Endangered species legislation
is observed.

Not Allowable:
Cast resins, cast miniature sculpture intended for use as jewelry, production cast open editions and sensitive materials.

 

CLASS 3: BEADWORK/QUILLWORK

Division A – Traditional
Division B – Contemporary

Allowable:
Purchased glass beads, commercially tanned leather, pins and jewelry must meet jewelry standards.

Allowable With Disclosure:
Commercially produced objects that are hand-beaded, i.e., tennis shoes, bottles, etc.

Nickel and brass beads not made by the artist must be disclosed.

All feathers must comply with all state and federal laws and regulations.

All attached materials, including buttons, collar tabs, beads and tin tinklers, must be properly identified and comply with jewelry standards.

Not Allowable:
Plastic or synthetic parts of any kind, including beads, buttons, hair, hair pipe or polymer clay, commercially beaded or manufactured items of any kind.

 

CLASS 4: BASKETRY

Division A – Traditional

Allowable:
Hand-worked materials, including natural plant fibers, horsehair, yarn, horn and bone.

Must be hand-worked and harvested materials and natural dyes.

Allowable With Disclosure:
All attached buttons, conchos, beads, leather and tin tinklers must be properly identified and comply with the jewelry standards for allowable and non-allowable materials.

Not Allowable:
Commercial materials and dyes.

Division B – Contemporary

Allowable:
Hand-worked materials, including natural plant fibers, horsehair, yarn, horn and bone.

Allowable With Disclosure:
All attached buttons, conchos, beads, leather and tin tinklers must be properly identified and comply with the jewelry standards for allowable and non-allowable materials.

Commercial materials and dyes will be allowed, provided they are properly disclosed.

 

CLASS 5: POTTERY

Division A – Traditional & Figurative

Allowable:
Hand made traditional pottery forms and hand-cultivated materials.

Traditional firing methods, other than kiln.

Not Allowable:
No greenware or slip mold commercial pottery is allowed.

Division B – Contemporary

Allowable:
Wheel-thrown pottery. Commercial materials and glazes. Kiln and double-fired methods.

Not Allowable:
No greenware or slip mold commercial pottery is allowed.

 

CLASS 6: TEXTILES

Division A – Traditional Weaving (rugs, etc.)

Allowable:
Woven, sewn and embroidered textiles are accepted.

All sewn items must be designed and sewn by the artist. Handmade tinklers, German silver or silver buttons and ornaments will be given special consideration if made by the artist as well as the beadwork produced by the artist. Hand-woven, handspun and vegetable dyed yarn done by the artist will be given special consideration. All clothing must include artist’s label.

Vertical loom woven (no cut warps). Hand spinning and vegetable dyes will be given special consideration when done by the artist. Natural
fiber only.

Belts, pouches, purses, sashes, leggings and horse gear may be woven, knitted or crocheted.

Division B – Contemporary Weaving (clothing, etc.)

Allowable:
Vertical or horizontal loom woven. Synthetic and metallic yarns allowed as well as vegetable dyes and handspun yarns. Woven mixed media allowed.

Woven, sewn and embroidered textiles are accepted.

Ensembles, fabrics and leather. Machine or other non-traditional ornaments may be included with disclosure. Sewing machine work is acceptable.

Belts, pouches, purses, sashes, leggings and horse gear may be woven, knitted or crocheted.

Not Allowable for either Traditional or Contemporary:
Commercially made garments or accessories (e.g. purses).

Liquid embroidery. Iron-on appliqué.

Manufactured or non-Indian-made die-struck metal buttons or conchos.

Hot glue.

 

CLASS 7: JEWELRY

Division A – Traditional
Division B – Contemporary

Allowable:
Organic and stone materials.

Shell and natural organic materials, such as bone, wood, natural stones (turquoise, coral, lapis, etc.), other natural untreated stones and gemstones.

Natural pearls, finished stones and gemstones in cabochon, and faceted shapes set in metal settings.

All non-plated metals are allowed and must be identified clearly.

Gold must be 14 karat or higher.

Allowable Findings:
For the purposes of the Cherokee Art Market, these are defined as “an ingredient part of the finished product that adapts the product for wearing or use.” This includes jump rings, earring backs, clasps, barrette clips, money clips, hook & eyes, leather for bolo straps or concho belts, etc. FOR SHELL AND BEADMAKERS ONLY: single bead/cone combinations to finish ends of necklaces or earrings.

Allowable With Disclosure:
Stabilized turquoise must be disclosed to consumer.

Commercially available coral from temporary strands must be natural and undyed. The use of this coral can be used only in combination with handmade items.

Commercially available glass beads can be used only in combination with handmade items.

Multiple strand glass bead necklaces strung in tribal tradition of the maker are allowed.

Cast jewelry mold must be handmade, hand carved and poured by the artist. Castings that are made in mass-produced environments are prohibited.

Traditional gravity (hand) poured tufa, cuttle bone or sandstone must be limited to an edition of 12 pieces.

Wax carving and lost-wax casting can be used only for one-of-a-kind items.

Each limited edition must be numbered and signed with the artist’s hallmark.

Commercial chain may be used (as a finding) with hand-crafted items but not sold individually.

Not Allowable:
Imported or non-Indian handmade stone or shell beads and fetishes, excluding coral.

Imported and/or color treated nuggets or tumbled chips of any material.

Plastic or synthetic block reconstituted or compressed materials, such as coral, lapis, opal, etc.

All color-treated (dyed, heated or irradiated) materials such as blue onyx, blue topaz, irradiated red coral, etc.

Items assembled from non-Indian or manufactured components:

• Machine-made or die-struck components or purchased cast blanks: rings, bracelets, bezel cups, leaves, bolo tips, etc.
• Silver or other metal beads.
• Commercially drilled or pre-strung gemstone, natural pearls or glass beads, including restrung necklaces, “treasure” necklaces, made with commercial “found” objects.

Machine-made “liquid” silver and gold or plated materials, gold under 14 karat.

Rubber mold casting(s) or ANY mass-produced items by any casting method.

 

CLASS 8: DIVERSE ART FORMS

Division A – Traditional

Allowable:
Gourds, hides, furniture, buckskin, hats, gloves, belts, hand bags, gigs, marbles, dolls and sculpture.

All weaponry must be made and sold for display purposes only.

Allowable With Disclosure:
Cultural accessories may be presented on commercially made items, i.e., hats, furs, beadwork and commercially tanned leather, but the commercial items must be disclosed.

Not Allowable:
Sensitive materials and endangered species.

Division B – Contemporary

Allowable:
All work must be created by the submitting artist.

All beadwork and quillwork must be beaded by hand application.

Decorative stone, shell and metal elements must be properly identified and comply with the same standards allowable for jewelry.

Feathers must comply with all state and federal laws and regulations.

Allowable With Disclosure:
For commercially processed hides, special consideration will be given to items made with native brain tanned or smoked hides.

Entry form should disclose curing/preservation method used.

Not Allowable:
Plastic or synthetic parts, manufactured non-Indian or die-struck metal charms, buttons, etc., or commercially beaded items of any kind.