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Show Review Archives > 2009 > JUNE
 

March 13-15, Rio Grande Arts & Crafts Festival Spring Show, Albuquerque, NM

March 13-15, Rio Grande Arts & Crafts Festival Spring Show, Albuquerque. Contact: Ruth Gore, 3709 Westerfield Drive N.E., Suite A, Albuquerque, NM 87111. Phone: 505-292-7457. Fax: 505-293-1153. E-mail: info@riograndefestivals.com. Web site: www.riograndefestivals.com. Application fee: $25. Space fee: $425-$795. Space size: 10x10 to 10x20. 100% outdoors. Exhibitors: 185. Attendance: 25,000 (2008 gate). Admission: $6.

Compiled from FastAudit reports

All three of Ruth Gore's shows at the Expo New Mexico Fairgrounds made the 200 Best last year, with the spring event bringing up the rear, at #71. Although all three made the fine art list, they contain a lot of crafts as well. But that didn't stop our auditors from giving quality decent marks, along with attendance and management. Sales, however, got a more lukewarm response (a five out of 10), and our auditors' totals averaged $1,230.

"Ruth Gore and her staff pay attention to every detail and treat the vendors and artists better than any show I have ever done,"¯ said Dan Caldemeyer, a nature photographer. "I look forward to doing all of her shows from now on. This show was only my second with them. These people do not have a pretentious bone in their body."¯

A potter with the highest total of our auditors ($4,800) also raved about the show, saying simply, "The promoters are great!"¯ Other comments were more mixed, however, including those from a glass artist who made just $900 and plans to return simply because it's a local show for him/her. (The artist did compliment the "fine show management."¯)  And an oil painter who made less than $500 won't return because of "low attendance, not enough advertising, no artist amenities"¯ and the fact that he/she "had to pay $3 for bottled water."¯

Still, most of our auditors plan to be back in 2010. The show may not rise to the level of the October event (which is held in conjunction with the huge Balloon Fiesta Show) or the Holiday Show in November/December, but for many fine artists and crafters, it is a well-run and reasonably profitable spring endeavor.