Piccolo Spoleto Crafts Fair

Emails sent to artists , in case you missed them:

"Final Reminder - 5/24/11"

I hope you're all packing your trailers and planning your route for the show this weekend and next. I just want to stress that load-in will be different this year. You'll need to pay the parking meters except on Sunday and while you're in the designated parking lot. Currently, the near side of the parking lot is still passable (the gate has an attendant). It will be necessary for you to unload from the street as quickly as possible and then move to the parking lot before you begin to set up. If you can fit a hand truck or a cart into your vehicle, it will definitely come in handy. We only have a few and the waiting list to use them can be long. -- Kasey Briggs Joint Coordinator, Piccolo Spoleto Crafts Fair

"Artist info pack - Piccolo Spoleto Crafts Shows - 5/16/11

Attached you will find the artist information packet for the Piccolo Spoleto Crafts Fairs. Please read it carefully because it contains a lot of important information. A copy is also posted on the artist information page in our website. www.charlestoncrafts.org/piccolocrafts/artistpage.html

Two items have come up this Spring that will probably increase your costs for this event. We have been doing everything we can to avoid these charges, but we have not had any success. Please read on for more information.

Despite our strenuous objections, the City of Charleston Business License Office has determined that each vendor must have an itinerant business license with the City and they say they will be on-site to help you purchase a business license this year. More information is available on page 7 of the attached document. We estimate that for vendors with sales of less than $2000 annually and not living in Charleston this fee will be $80.

The parking lot adjacent to the event site is now in private ownership. Currently, negotiations are in progress to arrange a lease agreement with the owners for our artist parking. We expect that there will be a parking fee charged to each artist for each show weekend to defray some of these expenses. We just learned about the lack of complimentary use of this parking area a few weeks ago. Parking in downtown Charleston is a premium item and almost non-existent for those with a large vehicle or trailers. We hope to have a positive, workable outcome to this situation soon. When we have resolved the issue, we will notify all of our exhibiting artists. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

In happier news, we have created an e-coupon for you to send to customers on your mailing list. A copy of this coupon is attached for your use. A small quantity of traditional rack cards will be sent to you via snail mail. If you don't need them –or if you need a lot more– please contact us, and we will adjust the shipment.

attachments: pre-arrival packet, artist coupon

5/3/09: "Good news about parking at Piccolo" sent from piccolo@charlestoncrafts.org

Dear artists:

We just learned that the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs has negotiated the use of the parking lot this year and that there will be no charge to us or you for parking! I am happy to be able to pass this info on to you.

A couple of notes about the City Business License: We have complained to the city ourselves and along with another visual art show that is taking place during the festival. Unfortunately, our complaints did not make any difference. We will continue to fight for the future, but we don't expect to make any progress this year.
To clarify what I posted in my last message, I made my estimate based on a Class 2 license at $38.55 for up to $2000 and $1.95 for each thousand more of income (doubled for out-of-city residents). The $2000 annual income only applies to income made in the City of Charleston. The form you need is called the "Itinerant Application Form."

The coordinating committee is very sorry about these problems. They came up late and are entirely out of our control. We're all artists too and we know how tough things are, especially this year. We're archiving all complaint letters for possible future use.

At least the parking is taken care of and won't cost anything this year...

Questions? Contact piccolo@charlestoncrafts.org