Eastside Culture Crawl - A Visual Arts, Design, & Crafts Festival

RETURN TO CRAWLING 101 OVERVIEW

There is a lot you can do to prepare for the Eastside Culture Crawl, but sometimes it feels overwhelming. This timeline is here to help! The Culture Crawl is what YOU make it. You don’t need a big budget or years of experience to have a great Crawl. Review the following guide and plan out where you want to invest some time and effort.

STAYING READY

Keep your mailing list up to date.
Have your artwork professionally photographed.
Make notes of things you like and don’t like at exhibits and open studios you attend. What might work for you?
Look at prices for comparable work. Do you feel comfortable with your prices?
Attend our artist development workshops offered throughout the year.

GET SET

Check on deadlines to register so you don’t miss out on early bird registration, appearing in the print program, or submitting a new artist application.

3 MONTHS BEFORE (August)

Are you in a shared studio or building with other artists? Pool your resources! Marketing as a group is a great way to magnify your impact, but you need to organize early for best effects.
Planning any major changes to your studio? Get that out of the way now.
Pick up Save The Date postcards from the Crawl office.

2 MONTHS BEFORE (September)

Review our Artist Profile Guide and fill out/update your Culture Crawl online artist profile.
Submit the Media Relations Checklist to our publicity team for media consideration. You can find the current year’s deadline and submission form on the Information For Artists page.
Do you know what artwork you’re going to show?
Has all the artwork you plan on showing been photographed?
Do you need to order any finishing or framing materials?

6 WEEKS BEFORE

Design any promo materials you plan to use (business cards, postcards, posters, invites, etc.) and have them printed early!
Start announcing your Culture Crawl plans on social media.
Are you going to have an opening/preview party? Promote it!
Are you going to do a workshop, demo, or other special event to engage the public during the Crawl? Promote it!

1 MONTH BEFORE (October)

Pick up promo material (programs, posters, and postcards) from the Crawl office.
Email your mailing list and invite them to visit you during the Culture Crawl.
Take advantage of the Georgia Straight’s special pricing for artists and book an ad in their issue running the week of the Crawl.
Review our Social Media Guide for an overview of actions you can take to help raise your social media profile for the Crawl.

2 WEEKS BEFORE

Email your mailing list again with an invitation.
Keep posting to your social media channels.
If your building does not have a sandwich board sign pick one up from the Crawl office. Make additional signage as needed to help direct visitors to your studio.

THE WEEK BEFORE

Clean your studio, de-clutter, and store away personal items and valuables. Review our Preparing Your Studio guide for tips on preparing your studio and making it safe and inviting.
Paint walls, hang art.
Shop for food and beverages.
Print your bio, artist statement, pricelists, and labels.
Email your mailing list a reminder: “It’s this weekend!”

DURING THE CRAWL FESTIVAL

Use social media to share pictures of your studio. Post about the day so far; take pictures with your visitors. If you’re too busy, awesome!
Arrange for a friend to relieve you during the day for a quick break. Don’t forget to eat!
Enjoy your guests. Breathe.

THE WEEK AFTER

Add new contacts to your mailing list.
Send thank you notes and letters.
Make notes of what worked and what didn’t for next year’s Culture Crawl.
Go make more art!