Center for Maine Craft Jury Application Process
About the Center
Located in West Gardiner, the Center for Maine Craft sells and exhibits the work of over 300 Maine Crafts Association members. The gallery provides a unique shopping experience to the public, showcasing Maine’s legacy of creativity and craftsmanship through a broad spectrum of media, technique, and creative design. The Center also acts as a community resource for State and cultural tourism, connectivity to our membership, and access to the broad range of programming offered by Shop Maine Craft and Maine Crafts Association.
The retail gallery jury process is open to all craftspeople, including Maine Crafts Association members and non-members, who live and work (at least seasonally) in Maine. All qualifying work must be made by hand, well conceived, and expertly executed in Maine with the use of appropriate equipment and tools.
Craft juries are conducted annually in the spring and fall. Complementary jury applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Complementary Jury: Books, Calendars, Candles, Prints, Photography, Cards, Personal Care, Food Products, and Pet Products are evaluated separately from the craft jury. Please jump to the Complementary Jury section for application information.
Fine Craft Jury
Accepted Media: Baskets, Ceramics, Fiber, Furniture, Glass, Jewelry, Leather, Metal, Mixed Media, Paper, Stone, and Wood
How to Apply: Please review this jury information carefully and complete the Self Assessment Tool below. Qualifying applicants will complete an online application form, pay a jury fee, and make a jury appointment at the Center for Maine Craft.
JURY FEES
- Non-Members $25
- MCA Basic Members $15
- Individuals within MCA Institutional Memberships $15
- MCA Professional, Emerging, or Guild Members: No fee
Jury Evaluation and Response
Applications are reviewed by Shop Maine Craft management, and may include the Gallery Manager, Executive Director, Program Manager, a Board member, or a juried artist/member. Submissions are assessed on originality, design execution, technique and craftsmanship, price point, creative use of materials, and overall aesthetic quality.
Applicants are scheduled for a 20-minute jury appointment in-person at the Center for Maine Craft, or over zoom (by request), during which jurors may ask questions and discuss aspects of the submission. Applicants receive a jury response via email from Shop Maine Craft within 30 days of their jury date, with one of two possible outcomes:
Approved: Applicants may receive an immediate order, a future order timeframe, or be added to the gallery ordering pool. Orders depend on customer demand, seasonality, product mix, pricing, and vendor rotation. Orders are not guaranteed.
Not Approved: Work is deemed not a fit for gallery inventory. Jurors provide feedback to guide development, which may include technique refinement, market research, pricing adjustments, or consideration of historic sales trends. There is no waiting period to reapply.
Jury Determinations Are Contingent on Medium: Work in a different medium by the same artist must undergo a separate jury process. For example, if an artist has pottery approved for sale but also wishes to sell jewelry, the jewelry must be submitted for its own jury review.
Media/Products Not Accepted:
- Commercially manufactured art
- Art assembled wholly or partly from kits or commercial parts
- Two-dimensional art, including paintings and collage
- Mixed media where paint and canvas are the primary materials
- Materials sourced from endangered species, including elephant, mammoth, or fossilized ivory
- Dried or silk flower arrangements
- Buy-sell or resold items
- Appropriation of Indigenous art or misrepresentation of cultural heritage
Consignment Terms
- Retail prices are set by the Artist. Commission is split 50/50 for items priced at $3,999 or less. For items priced at $4,000 or more the artist retains 60%. The Artist’s consignment rate remains unchanged during any Shop Maine Craft promotions, sales, or discounts.
- Payment to the Artist is issued by check 30 days from end of the month in which sales occur.
- Artists (consignors) will have access to Ricochet Consignment, Shop Maine Craft’s point-of-sale system, where they can log in at any time to view inventory levels, past / pending payouts, and sales activity in real time.
- Gallery management reserves the right to rotate or transfer work at their discretion, based on sales performance and available space in the store.
Full details can be found in the Retail Gallery Consignment Agreement.
Self Assessment Tool
Use this tool to determine whether you, your business, and your product (i.e., your work, craft, or art) are a good match for the Center for Maine Craft. You do not need to meet every criterion; however, if you can affirm fewer than half, additional training or business development support may be needed before applying.
If you have selected more than half, you may proceed to the next step: Reach out to Gallery Manager Edythe (Edy) Morin with a brief introduction of yourself and your work to begin the jury review process. Please email edy@mainecrafts.org or call (207) 588-0021.
Complementary Jury: Stationery, Books, and Food Products
The Complementary Jury reviews the following products on a rolling basis: books, calendars, candles, prints, photography, cards, personal care items, food products, and pet products.
To be considered, submit product samples along with the Complementary Jury Form and a $25 jury fee to the Center for Maine Craft.
Mail (USPS): PO BOX 173, Gardiner, ME 04345
Physical (UPS/FedEx): 288 Lewiston Rd., West Gardiner, ME 04345 (map)
Please make jury submission checks payable to Shop Maine Craft.
Contact:
Phone: (207) 588-0021
Email: edy@shopmainecraft.com
About the Maine Crafts Association
Founded in 1983, the Maine Crafts Association (MCA) connects and supports craft artists across Maine through education, mentorship, community events, artist promotion, and income-generating opportunities. With over 500 multidisciplinary members, MCA engages makers, institutions, and the public to ensure craft remains a vital cultural and economic force in the state.
Mission
To sustain and celebrate craft as a cornerstone of Maine’s culture and economy
Become a Member
Membership is open to all and supports professional development for craft artists through education, exhibitions, marketing, and networking. Members receive monthly news & event updates and are listed in MCA’s online directory, joining a statewide community united by talent, ingenuity, and devotion to craftsmanship.
Learn More & Join: mainecrafts.org/membership
Shop Maine Craft (SMC)
SMC, MCA’s retail subsidiary, strengthens Maine’s creative economy by creating income opportunities for craft artists through gallery sales, craft shows, marketing, and events.
