Welcome 2025 Exhibitors!
ABOUT THE VISUAL ARTS CENTER OF RICHMOND
Craft + Design is the signature event of the Visual Arts Center of Richmond (VisArts), a community arts center located in the heart of Richmond’s Fan District. For more than five decades, VisArts has helped adults and children explore their creativity and make art. Each year, VisArts offers 1,600 visual and creative arts classes and touches the lives of more than 50,000 people through its classes, exhibitions, community programs, and special events.
ABOUT CRAFT + DESIGN
Now in its sixth decade, Craft + Design is a contemporary craft show that has garnered national accolades and a reputation for showcasing the finest in museum-quality craft. The show will be held once again at the historic Main Street Station where more than 9,000 people will visit the booths of 160+ artists from across the country.
Deposits are due July 31. Final payments are due August 31.
Friday, November 21 – Sunday, November 23, 2025
Main Street Station: 1500 E Main St. Richmond, VA 23219
You are expected to be at your booth at least fifteen minutes before the opening time.
Friday, November 21
7am/8am/9am/10am: Load-in at Main Street Station (more information below)
7am – 3pm: Exhibitor set-up
3 – 5pm: Awards judging (your booth must be fully set-up)
5:15pm: Exhibitors must be on-site at Main Street Station
5:30 – 6:30pm: Awards Presentation
6:30 – 9pm: Patrons’ Preview Party
Saturday, November 22
9:15am: Exhibitors must be on-site at Main Street Station
9:30 – 11am: Rise + Shine: Early admission shopping
11am – 5pm: General admission
6 – 8pm: Artists’ Dinner at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond, 1812 W Main St. Richmond, VA 23220
Sunday, November 23
10:45am: Exhibitors must be on-site at Main Street Station
11am – 5pm: General admission
5 – 9pm: Load-out for exhibitors
10pm: Exhibitors must be loaded out of Main Street Station
7 Brownish-Gray Spaces = Parking Lots Available (with payment) around Main Street Station
2 Orange-Tan Spaces = Main Street Station
Parking is available, first come, first served, in a few lots adjacent to Main Street Station (see parking maps above). Parking is free for the first hour, $1 each additional hour. All-day parking is available for $6. This is subject to change. Parking may be paid for via app (Passport) or at kiosks near Main Street Station. There are no reserved lots or spaces and no exceptions for paid parking. Vehicles that haven’t paid for parking may be towed at owner’s expense. Main Street Station and VisArts are not responsible for parking or towing fees, etc.
Upon your arrival, please go to the Info Booth (at the entrance of the show on the second floor) for artist check-in and to collect your exhibitor credentials. This includes your exhibitor and assistant badges. Please return all badges at the end of the show. There will be water, coffee and bagels here to welcome you! This year we are asking each exhibitor to please donate one example of their work for the weekend raffle. Please bring this item with you when you check in. All funds raised from the raffle will support VisArts’ education and community partnership programming.
Please do not begin to break down your booth before 5pm when the show concludes. Beginning at 5pm on Sunday, artists may start to load-out only after your booth is COMPLETELY broken down and packed up. Please check in at the Information Booth once your booth is fully broken down. A VisArts volunteer or staff member must walk with you to your booth to confirm it is packed. Please be patient and respectful of other artists and staff. This is for your SAFETY! Artists must complete load-out by 10pm.
You should have received your booth assignment earlier this year. All booths are 10 feet deep, and either 7, 10 or 14 feet wide (exceptions include #108, 117, 125, 126, 605, 612, 612, 621, and 622). Drape is white and 8 feet high. The floor is polished concrete. Every booth has an electric drop. Please remember to bring extension cords, as we will not have any available for you. You must provide your own set-up and lighting. The expo vendor will have a limited supply of items such as front cross bars, skirted tables and chairs available for rental at the show. If you would like to reserve these items ahead of time, please reach out to Tho Le at Hollins Expositions: Tle@hollins-expo.com. Do not remove/break down the pipe and drape in your booth. If you would like to remove them, Hollins Expo will take them down.
We do offer Exhibitor Support all day Saturday and Sunday. Need someone to watch your booth while you take a break? Need someone to bring you a bottled of water? Text Volunteer Coordinator, Stephanie McGrath at (804) 301-0019 whenever you need extra support!
Our Director of Marketing + Communications, Abby Holcombe, has put together a comprehensive marketing plan to support our Craft + Design Show. We’ll be using TV, radio, magazines, newspapers, direct mail, social media, and our website to help get the word out and build excitement for the event. We’ll also have a full-color show program available and distributed to all guests at the show.
We’re looking forward to generating lots of great buzz about your work both on- and offline! Be sure to tag us in your posts, and we’ll do our best to reshare them.
Shareable Social Graphics for Exhibitors
Instagram
@visartsrva
Facebook
facebook.com/visartsrva
Craft + Design hashtag
#craftanddesign2025
Craft + Design website
craftanddesignrva.com
People’s Choice Award
Engage your followers to vote for you for the People’s Choice Award!
Network: MSS Events
Password: ABCD1234
Since this network is shared by all exhibitors, etc., there may be some inconsistencies on the wireless network. Please be prepared to use a device with cellular data as a backup option. This network/password is subject to change. Any changes will be communicated to all exhibitors ASAP.
Commonwealth of Virginia Sales Tax (6%) must be collected and paid by each exhibitor regardless of where you are registered. A hard copy of a ST-50 tax form may be provided by request. Learn more here and access a digital version of that form.
You must provide your own lighting throughout the event. Patrons’ Preview (opening night) will have the house lights OFF and may have other decorative lighting in or around the show, but these lights will not directly illuminate your booth.
There is storage space located on the left side of the train shed behind the staircase between booths #108 and #109. There is smaller, additional storage located in the very back corners of the show between #116, #117 and #604, #605 respectively. The storage will be constructed of pipe and drape and is NOT MANNED. Storage is at your own risk and not guaranteed. We ask that if you choose to put items in the storage areas, that you please be respectful and place your things as far back as possible. It must be passable for a fellow exhibitor. On Friday and Saturday night there will be a secure lock-up on the first floor of the train shed. Please meet Adam on Friday night at 9:15pm and Saturday night at 5:15pm at the Information Booth to coordinate. Secure lock-up will be re-opened on Saturday morning at 8:30am and Sunday morning at 10:30am. Secure lock-up is first-come, first-served and not guaranteed.
All booths must be set up by 3pm on Friday for judging. Judging for the awards will take place between 3 – 5pm. You do not have to leave the exhibition hall during the judging. If you do leave, please return by 5:15pm to be prepared for the 5:30 awards ceremony which will be followed immediately by the Patrons’ Preview Party (6:30–9pm). This evening will feature food, drinks, and an opportunity to mingle with a group of enthusiastic VisArts supporters. We are expecting approximately 900 guests.
Cash prizes will be awarded and presented during Patrons’ Preview: Honoring the Future of Sustainability, Excellence in Glass, Excellence in Fiber, Excellence in Jewelry, Best Booth Design, Best in Show, Excellence in Contemporary Design, Innovative Use of Traditional Craft Materials, Excellence in Ceramics, Excellence in Wood and Recycled Materials, Best New Artist, Excellence in Art to Wear
To further engage the public, we will be offering a local food and beverage garden including local craft beer and Tap26 wines. There will also be food vendors located on the first floor. A coffee vendor will be on the second floor in the VisArts Village. The food and beverage garden will be open during general operating hours (11am-5pm). Patrons’ Preview and Rise + Shine will be catered and have separate bars.
Patrons’ Preview will be a prime selling time for exhibitors. Please enjoy the food and drink at the party, but it will be important for you to stay in your booth. Rise + Shine (R+S) is another prime selling event for our vendors. Because R+S is a small, ticketed event with limited food and beverage options provided for guests, we ask that you refrain from partaking in the refreshments during the event. At 10:45am you are welcome to enjoy the remaining brunch selections.
There are also numerous restaurants located within a short distance. Artists should be able to walk to any restaurants listed as being in Shockoe Bottom or Shockoe Slip.
VisArts will provide coffee, bagels, and other quick breakfast items for exhibitors on Friday and Saturday morning. We also welcome all exhibitors to join us at VisArts for our Artists’ Dinner, a catered meal facilitated by our event committee. On Sunday, our coffee vendor will open before general admission hours begin so that exhibitors may purchase coffee and pastries, if needed.
We have a long and happy tradition of hosting exhibitors at VisArts on Saturday night for a hearty catered dinner. Food and drink are provided by the staff, board, and volunteers of VisArts. This is a casual, well-attended event. We encourage you to come, eat, relax and take an opportunity to meet the people of VisArts that work so hard to produce this event, as well as your fellow exhibitors. Please plan to join us for dinner after show hours on Saturday night at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond (1812 W Main St.) between 6 – 8pm.
Courtesy Hotel Blocks
Marriott Courtyard Richmond Downtown
Marriott Courtyard Scott’s Addition
Hosted Housing
Hosted housing opportunities are available on a first come, first served basis. Exhibitors requesting hosted housing will be placed with a friend of VisArts (e.g., donor, committee, or board member) who has volunteered accommodations at their home.
If you would like to request hosted housing, please email Adam Dorland by Tuesday, September 30.
Go to the Info Booth located on the second floor near the main entrance. Staff and volunteers there can help you or you can try calling Adam Dorland, Special Events Manager, for additional assistance at 804-353-4457.
On behalf of the entire organization, thank you for your participation in the Visual Arts Center of Richmond’s 61st Annual Craft + Design. We hope you have a wonderful show!
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