Craft Market Rules
The Durham Craft Market (“DCM”) is a membership association with a cooperative, community-oriented philosophy. The association is made up of artisans from Durham and the surrounding areas.
The Durham Craft Market sets up in the Durham Central Park, near the intersection of Foster and Hunt Streets, on the grassy area adjacent to the Farmers Market Pavilion. The DCM season starts the first Saturday in March with abbreviated hours from 10:00am-12:00pm. The regular market season runs from the first Saturday in April through the Saturday before Thanksgiving, from 8:00 am. to 12:00 noon. The market continues throughout December with abbreviated hours from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.
Each Saturday during our market season, up to 23 members participate in the weekly market. Space is available to Members who sign up via Sign Up Genius with the exception of the Market Manager, who is guaranteed a space. Signups are first-come, first-served until all the spaces are taken, then a waiting list is maintained.
All members pay an annual fee of $200 to participate. This fee must be paid in full before the first market of the season. All Members must attend one general membership meeting per year.
Officers and Committee Chairs are elected at the Fall annual membership meeting and will have a portion of their dues refunded at the end of their year of service at a rate of 50% or 100%, depending on their role. New members are not eligible for elected office during their first year of membership. All Members are encouraged to participate on a committee.
There is no minimum attendance requirement, however, Members are strongly encouraged to attend as often as possible. Members must attend at least three weekly markets to participate in holiday events without paying an additional fee.
Members do not need to reapply for continued membership – they only need to complete a renewal form with updated information and pay their annual dues. If a Member wishes to sell products in a category other than they originally applied for, the Member must apply in writing to the Steering Committee, who may refer the decision to the Selection Committee. Members may be asked to submit to a peer review and a re-jurying process from time to time.
Members may elect to be inactive for up to two consecutive one-year periods. Inactive members are not required to pay the annual membership fee and are not entitled to participate in the weekly markets. They may participate in the holiday shows upon payment of the same fee as is required of guest vendors. At the end of the year (or two years), an inactive member may resume active membership upon request and payment of the annual membership fee. They are not required to submit to the jury process.
Shared Membership/Collective Policy – two or more artists may apply as a Collective. Each artist’s work must be presented to the Selection Committee. If approved, the Collective may pay one membership fee and will be allowed one 10×10 space at the weekly market and holiday shows, which they may share as they see fit. A Collective shall designate one representative at membership meetings who will cast a single vote on behalf of the Collective.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR ALL VENDORS
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
MARKET PROCEDURES
The Durham Craft Market sets up in the Durham Central Park, near the intersection of Foster and Hunt Streets, on the grassy area adjacent to the Farmers Market Pavilion. The DCM season starts the first Saturday in March with abbreviated hours from 10:00am-12:00pm. The regular market season runs from the first Saturday in April through the Saturday before Thanksgiving, from 8:00 am. to 12:00 noon. The market continues throughout December with abbreviated hours from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.
Each Saturday during our market season, up to 23 members participate in the weekly market. Space is available to Members who sign up via Sign Up Genius with the exception of the Market Manager, who is guaranteed a space. Signups are first-come, first-served until all the spaces are taken, then a waiting list is maintained.
All members pay an annual fee of $200 to participate. This fee must be paid in full before the first market of the season. All Members must attend one general membership meeting per year.
Officers and Committee Chairs are elected at the Fall annual membership meeting and will have a portion of their dues refunded at the end of their year of service at a rate of 50% or 100%, depending on their role. New members are not eligible for elected office during their first year of membership. All Members are encouraged to participate on a committee.
There is no minimum attendance requirement, however, Members are strongly encouraged to attend as often as possible. Members must attend at least three weekly markets to participate in holiday events without paying an additional fee.
Members do not need to reapply for continued membership – they only need to complete a renewal form with updated information and pay their annual dues. If a Member wishes to sell products in a category other than they originally applied for, the Member must apply in writing to the Steering Committee, who may refer the decision to the Selection Committee. Members may be asked to submit to a peer review and a re-jurying process from time to time.
Members may elect to be inactive for up to two consecutive one-year periods. Inactive members are not required to pay the annual membership fee and are not entitled to participate in the weekly markets. They may participate in the holiday shows upon payment of the same fee as is required of guest vendors. At the end of the year (or two years), an inactive member may resume active membership upon request and payment of the annual membership fee. They are not required to submit to the jury process.
Shared Membership/Collective Policy – two or more artists may apply as a Collective. Each artist’s work must be presented to the Selection Committee. If approved, the Collective may pay one membership fee and will be allowed one 10×10 space at the weekly market and holiday shows, which they may share as they see fit. A Collective shall designate one representative at membership meetings who will cast a single vote on behalf of the Collective.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR ALL VENDORS
- Each vendor must reside and make the items to be sold within a 50-mile radius of the Durham city limits, in the state of North Carolina.
- Each vendor must have an NC Sales and Use Tax registration number. The NC account number must be on file with DCM.
- The vendor’s items must be artistic in nature and show personal creativity. All items must be handcrafted. The Durham Craft Market Selection Committee reserves the right to make subjective judgments about the creative and handcrafted nature of items sold. Items offered for sale at the market must be consistent with the images presented in the Member’s application.
- Each vendor must be the original producer of the items sold. Vendors may designate personal representatives to attend the Market (family members, employees, etc.).
- Consumable food items may not be sold at the Durham Craft Market.
- Prices must be posted for all items sold. Prices are set by the Member.
- Displays are encouraged to reflect the high quality and artistic nature of the entire market. The name of the Member or their business name must be posted.
- No alcoholic beverages, controlled substances, or weapons of any kind are permitted.
- Boom boxes, personal CD players, radios, etc. are not permitted.
- All vendors and their representatives must abide by these DCM Market Rules and are expected to comply with generally recognized ethical business practices and exhibit professionalism at all times.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
- Applications will be open in January/February of each year. Applicants must complete a Vendor Application, which will be available on the Durham Craft Market website.
- The applicant must submit a $25 non-refundable application fee. Applications will not be processed until payment has been received.
- DCM has a limited number of spaces. The number of new artists accepted for membership will be determined by the Selection Committee in consultation with the Steering Committee.
- The Durham Craft Market encourages applicants of all ages, from all backgrounds. If the artist is younger than 18 years of age, his or her guardian or parent must serve as the active member of the DCM. The minor may sell the products at the Market.
- The Selection Committee is committed to reviewing each application with the utmost integrity and respect. Decisions are made on the basis of quality, workmanship, creativity, uniqueness, and market availability for the specific craft type. The Selection Committee may limit the number of sellers within each category.
- The Selection Committee has the sole discretion to accept or decline applications and the Committee’s decision is final.
MARKET PROCEDURES
- The layout of the market changes from week to week due to the nature of our space and depending on the number of Members signed up. The Market Manager or his/her designee will arrive early and mark out the spaces. No setup may begin (i.e. no unloading and no “dibs” on spaces) until the Market Manager has completed the layout of the entire market and announces that setup may begin. According to our permit, NO unloading or setup may begin before 6:00 am.
- Members must arrive before 7:15 am to preserve their spot in the market. The Market Manager may adjust the layout if a Member has not arrived by that time.
- Spaces are first-come, first-served: once the Market Manager announces that setup may commence, Members may claim their spots. Members are expected to act with respect and decorum in the process. Any issues should be reported to the Market Manager.
- Members may pull their vehicles onto the paved path that runs through the park to unload, but this path must be cleared by 7:00 am. Pull as far forward as practical and be mindful that if a bottleneck develops you may be asked to pull your car further forward. Please unload as quickly as possible (placing your belongings in your chosen space) and then move your car before you begin setting up.
- Three parking spots are available to us on Roney Street at the rear of the park. These are available on a first-come, first-served basis, as are the public parking spaces on Foster Street.
- Members may pull up on the paved path after the market closes to load their belongings. Please have your entire setup packed and ready to load before you drive up your car and be very careful as there will still be pedestrians in the area. Members are expected to clean up the area around their booths after the market. We must be cleared out of the park by 1:00 pm, as the Park may have other events in the afternoon.
- Failure to comply with any of the provisions of Paragraphs 1 through 6, as determined by the Market Manager, will result in forfeiture of the right to sign up for the next market. Two violations will result in suspension from the market for 30 days.
- If a Member needs to cancel their sign-up, they must notify the Market Manager by email or text by 7:00 pm on Friday. Failure to show at the market without proper cancellation will considered a No Show. Two No Shows will result in suspension from the market for 30 days. In cases of inclement weather, the Market Manager may lift the notification requirement and Members should use their best judgement about whether to setup or not. The Farmers Market stays open rain or shine (except in extreme conditions).
- Our particular site at the Durham Central Park can be abnormally windy. A tent blowing over in the wind can cause injury to anyone in the vicinity – customers, passersby and DCM members – as well as costly property damage to your own display or another member’s display, or the property of passersby. The DCM, an unincorporated association, is not responsible for any damage caused by an individual vendor. Individual vendors are solely responsible for any damages caused by their booth set-ups.
Accordingly, any Member who uses a tent or canopy is required to weigh it down with at least 20 pounds of weights per pole/tent leg (cinder blocks, weights, sandbags, etc.) Additional weights may be required on exceptionally windy days up to 30 pounds per pole/tent leg.
The following are examples of approved weights:
- A cinder block attached to each pole
- Three 1-gallon jugs of water attached to each pole
- 20lb dumbbell weights or barbell plates per pole
- One 2-gallon bucket filled with sand or concrete per pole
- PVC pipe filled with concrete with a long eyebolt anchored in the cement, tied to each pole
