I have twice in the last couple of months had fairly major contacts reach me through the BOMH website. The first was an invitation to be a part of the Best of Missouri Market and the second was a traveling quilter who came by my studio and bought a $300 piece. For me, coming out of the blue, it was terrific. Susan Leslie Lumsden, Rebel Quilter
BOMH is a fountain of useful information and positive support. I know of no single resource that can satisfy so many needs of the professional artist…networking with others in like circumstances, sharing experiennces that aid professional growth, learning from professionals that can help guide my career path…all to heelp my art travel from my solitary studio into the public where it can flourish and make people smile. Cathy Evans,
Big Nose Creations Marshfield, Missouri
As a result of joining BOMH, we ere able to grow. The conferences are worth attending, not only for our education, but also for the lasting friendships.
Bill & Julie Newberry
Newberry Furniture
St. Louis, Missouri
The Best of Missouri Hands is the best resource for finding high quality Missouri art.
Danita Wood, Editor
Missouri Life Magazine
Boonville, Missouri
Missouri Artisans Association/ The Best of Missouri Hands is a Section 501c3 nonprofit association dedicated to the development and recognition of Missouri’s artists and artisans through education, interaction and encouragement. Members strive to educate on all levels and to raise public awareness of and interest in handmade visual arts in Missouri.
The organization is governed by a volunteer board of directors and is funded through membership fees, fund raising, and sponsorships.
For information on General, Student, or Corporate membership, please visit the BOMH web site. (www.bestofmissourihands.org).
Juried Membership Information
Acceptance as a Juried Member indicates that an artist has developed his or her craft beyond mere competence of technique to a high standard of quality. The member also verifies that the work juried is her/his own and is originated and made by the artist.
Benefits & Responsibilities of Juried Membership:
Eligible to participate in a number of events planned specifically for juried members
Free page with images and contact links on the Best of Missouri Hands website.
Display The Best of Missouri Hands logo on the product line in which the artist is juried
Wear The Best of Missouri Hands Juried Member badge
Display The Best of Missouri Hands Juried Member banner
Part of MAA/BOMH’s mission is education. It is the responsibility of juried members to participate in educational endeavors, both for the general public and for other members.
Juried status is medium-specific. Members may apply for juried membership in more than one medium by jurying separately in each category. Acceptance in one category does not necessarily mean acceptance in another medium. Likewise, rejection in one category does not affect juried membership in another category.
Membership must remain current to retain Juried Member status. If membership is not maintained in good standing, juried status is terminated and use of the BOMH logo must cease. Juried status of a renewing lapsed juried member can only be regained by completing the jury process again.
About the Jury Process:
Applicants to the Juried Membership category must be current General Members in good standing.
Applicants must be a General Member for 90 days (3 months) before applying for Juried Membership.
All work is judged on craftsmanship, design, originality, and overall presentation.
Applicants to the Juried Membership category must be at least 18 years of age and residents of the state of Missouri.
Jury applications are reviewed twice a year.
Applications for each event must be postmarked by January 15 or June 15.
Members may apply for either an individual juried membership or as a juried studio membership. A studio membership is defined as two or more artists collaborating and working on the same body of work. Studio memberships share one vote as MAA/BOMH
members.
The following categories are NOT eligible for Juried Membership:
Works executed from commercial patterns, molds, stencils or kits (i.e. purchased or printed in publication).
Items constructed solely by assembling purchased commercial items, and/or mere decoration of commercially produced objects.
Items made with illegal substances or endangered species.
Crafts identified as Native American Crafts not in accordance with the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990.
Application Information
INFORMATION ABOUT BOMH JURY PROCESS:
Work is judged anonymously.
No signatures or logos should show on images.
Images are projected on a large screen with two images above and two below.
Artist’s description is read aloud to jurors.
Work will be judged on craftsmanship, design, originality, and overall presentation.
Work is scored 1 through 10 (with no 5’s) with 1 = low and 10 = high.
An overall score of 7 or above is needed for acceptance.
A different set of three jurors is selected by the jury committee each session.
Experienced juried members serve as jurors.
Juror knowledge and expertise for each session is balanced. One 2D, one 3D, and one who is knowledgeable in multiple categories, whether by expertise as art teacher, gallery owner/director, head of arts council, etc.
All work submitted is treated with respect and jury duties are taken seriously.
This organization is dedicated to education, interaction and encouragement. Constructive
comments by jurors are included on scoring sheets and provided to the artist, along with accepted/declined notification.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
Fill out the application form completely. Incomplete applications will be returned to the artist unreviewed.
You may include an optional short, one-page biography and (optional) photo of yourself for webpage use.
Submit 4 images representative of your work. All images must conform to the specifications listed below and must be submitted on CD.
Enclose a check for the $25 jury application fee (NON-REFUNDABLE; ALL applications must include this fee; applications will NOT be processed without this fee)
Provide a self-addressed stamped business size #10 envelope for notification and jurors’ comments.
Applications must be postmarked on or before January 15 or June 15.
If you have questions about the application process, PLEASE ASK. See our website at www.bestofmissourihands.org, send an email to information@bestofmissourihands.org, or contact the jury chairperson listed below.
NOTE: All images become the property of MAA/BOMH for advertisement and website
use.
IMAGE SPECIFICATIONS:
Dimensions: 1920 pixels horizontal by 1920 pixels vertical
File format: Baseline JPEG (do not use progressive JPEG format)
File size: The image file size must be less than 1.8 MBs.
Images will be accepted on CDs only- please use a mailer designed to protect the CD during transit.
Applications that are incorrectly or incompletely filled out will be automatically disqualified and will be returned to the applicant.
APPLICATION CHECKLIST:
___ Application form completely filled out ___ Short one-page bio with optional photo ___ Check for jury application fee ($25, non-refundable) ___ Self-addressed stamped #10 business envelope ___ Postmarked on or before January 15 or June 15
IMAGE GUIDELINES:
Poor image quality can prevent acceptance.
Deficiencies in digital images will put your work at a significant disadvantage.
Artists are advised to submit images of professional quality.
Images must be clear and sharply focused.
A coherent body of work, either by form, technique, or concept, should be represented in all of the digital images.
Show the work fully, filling all or most of the image area.
In the case of 2D art, do not show frames.
One piece or one set of work per image.
Neutral backgrounds are preferred
Well-lit, even exposure on all images is crucial.
Don’t let the background overpower or detract from the work.
Send completed jury applications by the postmark deadline of January 15 or June 15 to:
Susan Leslie Lumsden, BOMH Jury Chair
221 N. 3rd,
Thayer, MO 65791
