How to Apply to Consign Your Work With the HAC Gallery & Gift Shop
Thank you for your interest in becoming part of the Hillsborough Arts Council's Gallery & Gift Shop. Our goal is to provide a unique shopping experience for customers while highlighting and selling quality work by local artists. Our consignment partnership provides stability for local artists and also creates a steady stream of income that supports the Hillsborough Arts Council’s community programming year-round.
Please check back here for updates and keep an eye out for opportunities to share your work through programs like Last Fridays Makers Markets (May-October), Solstice Lantern Walk (December), Handmade Market (biannually in the spring), and others.
Q & A
Please review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below before applying to consign.
Who is eligible to apply?
Visual artists in Hillsborough and Orange County are our primary source of artists, but we will also occasionally consider applications from artists in the immediate surrounding counties. We strive to reflect the diversity of our community and encourage artists of all mediums and backgrounds to apply.
When are applications accepted?
Applications are accepted online through quarterly “open call” windows.
Applications will be accepted on the following schedule:
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Q1 February 1-15
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Q2 April 1-15
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Q3 July 1-15
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Q4 October 1-15
The selection committee will meet shortly after each window closes to review applications and will make decisions based upon the current needs of the Gallery & Gift Shop. Artists will be contacted within two weeks after the window has been closed. Applications will not be accepted outside of the set application windows, but artists may submit multiple applications per year.
What type of work are you looking for?
The Gallery & Gift Shop consigns original, handmade artworks from local artists and artisans. All artwork should be made with a high standard of craftsmanship, design, and composition. Some of the items that sell best in our shop are jewelry, functional pottery, scarves and other fiber work, wooden bowls, cutting boards, art prints and notecards, and stained glass. Our core audience typically spends $15-65 per transaction, although we sell artwork of higher value, up to $500, on an occasional basis. We prefer artwork in this price range to ensure inventory is regularly refreshed and items are marketable to our audience. Higher-priced works may be well-suited for the Gallery section of our shop.
How do I apply?
Please complete the following form to submit details about your artwork for consideration by the selection committee.
Please do not bring your artwork into the shop until you have been personally contacted by the Gallery & Gift Shop Manager for an appointment to share your work in person.
Who decides if my artwork is accepted?
The Gallery & Gift Shop Selection Committee is composed of the Gallery & Gift Shop Manager, along with other Hillsborough Arts Council staff, lead volunteers, and/or experienced artists who have been involved with the Hillsborough Arts Council for several years. The committee will review your application and decide whether your artwork will complement the Gallery & Gift Shop's existing inventory during the applicable open call window. Either way, a member of the selection committee will be in touch with information about next steps after the window closes and at the conclusion of the review process.
What happens if my artwork is accepted for consignment?
If your artwork is accepted, you will meet with the Gallery & Gift Shop Manager and bring in your first selection of artwork to consign. You will sign a consignment agreement at that time. You will also need to provide an artist statement and business cards. The committee member will also discuss our inventory and barcoding procedures, the restocking process, and the payment schedule.
Thank you again for your interest in consigning with the Hillsborough Arts Council's Gallery & Gift Shop! Please contact us at giftshop@hillsboroughartscouncil.org with any questions.