2013 NICHE Award Jurors Chosen

Please welcome and thank the 2013 NICHE Awards jurors:

NICHE magazine, the trade publication for retailers of fine craft and handmade-in-America products, is pleased to announce the names of its jurors for the 2013 NICHE Awards competition for craft artists. The NICHE Awards recognize innovation in fine craft produced by U.S. and Canadian artists and students of craft. The 2013 NICHE Awards jurors are:

Lisa Bayne, chief executive officer of Artful Home and The Guild

Joanne and Peter Hildt, owners of Pinnacle Gallery, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Marlene Richey, jewelry industry consultant and author of “Profiting by Design”

Betty Talbott, director, Ohio Craft Museum

Lesley Grow-Winfisky and Jonathan Winfisky, owners of Grow Gallery, Shelburne Falls, Mass.

Each year, a distinguished panel of jurors from across the fine craft industry scores the NICHE Awards entries submitted by professional artists. Read more about this year’s jurors and details about the competition online at www.NICHEAwards.com.

This year, there are more than 40 categories for U.S. and Canadian artists, including categories for fine and fashion jewelry, ceramic art, art glass, wood, decorative accessories, wearable art and more. Each submission will be reviewed for technical merit, creative thought and marketability.

NICHE will announce the finalists this fall, and will invite them to display their work in a special exhibit at the Buyers Market of American Craft wholesale trade show, Feb. 16-18, 2013, in Philadelphia.

The NICHE Award winners will be announced at the Buyers Market show and will be featured in a future issue of NICHE magazine.

The NICHE Awards program also has a student division, which is judged separately by the staff of the Buyers Market and NICHE magazine.

Entries are still being accepted in the professional and student categories. The deadline to enter has been extended to October 5, 2012, at 5 p.m.

For contest guidelines, biographies of our jurors, and images of past winners, go to http:/www.nicheawards.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jean Thompson, contest coordinator, 800-432-7238, ext. 218, jeant@rosengrp.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 25, 2012