Standards and Market Registry Guidelines

STANDARDS

Jurying is required for participation in NSDCC markets or to obtain the distinction of NSDCC Master Artisan. Jurying is undertaken by the Standards Committee, a jury of respected craftspeople representing a variety of media. All members of the NSDCC, with the exception of Associates, may apply to have work juried by the Committee.

Juried Status (Market Registry) Applications and an administrative fee of $10 are accompanied by at least three crafted items representative of the artisan's production line or artistic direction. If your products are diverse in media or technique, please submit several samples representative of each medium or technique. Those wishing to have work juried must reserve a place in advance of the session as space is limited. Work submitted for jurying must be received three business days prior to the jurying session and applicants are informed in writing as to the decisions of the Committee.

Craft market exhibitors are only authorized to sell the products for which they have been juried. The Standards Committee does review each booth before a market, and may request the removal of unauthorized items. NSDCC's Standards require jurying of any new products which are significantly different from existing products, and re-jurying if a member has not participated in a craft market within the past five years. As a result of the careful development and application of our Standards Guidelines, the NSDCC enjoys a reputation for extremely high quality events.

NSDCC Market Registry Standards Guidelines

The main objective of the NSDCC Standards Guidelines is to select items of good quality to be sold through our sponsored craft markets. Using the general standards stated below, as well as media specific guidelines, the Standards Committee reviews all submissions carefully, accepting work on the merit of good workmanship and design. If the samples submitted do not reach the required standard, the applicant may re-submit improved work at a later date.

Members of the Market Registry are divided into the following three classifications:

Maker - one to three full time employees maximum 120 person hours/week.

Producer - four to nine full time employees maximum 360 person hours/week.

Manufacturer - ten or more full time employees 361 or more person hours/week.

New applications to the Market Registry will not be accepted in the Manufacturer classification. Manufacturers must have entered the Market Registry in the Maker or Producer classification.

General Standards Guidelines

Design:

A successful object must be the result of careful designing, with obvious thoughtfulness used in determining the proportions, structural integrity, material and colours used.

Production Quality and Technique:

Whether produced in quantity or as an individual piece, the object must reflect excellent skill and production quality, being visibly well conceived and expertly executed.

Source:

The design of an object must be original, or an adaptation of a traditional design which demonstrates the unique skills of the maker and reflects an individual identity of design. The object must be designed and fabricated by the applying maker, or by employees under the direct supervision of that person.

Material Used:

The object must be constructed of materials which are of high quality and are appropriate to the structural integrity, utility and visual appearance of the object.

Fabricated Content:

Commercially fabricated elements in objects, including packaging, must be subordinate to the overall design of the object. Objects packaged and sold as a prepackaged unit are defined as gift packages and must be submitted for assessment in the ready-for-sale state.

Specific Exclusions:

New forms and innovations will be considered by the Standards Committee. Unfinished items or kits for consumer assembly are not considered acceptable for NSDCC Markets.

Labelling:

All articles must be labelled with the maker's name, address and the pertinent instructions to the consumer concerning care and maintenance as well as any information to the consumer required by law.

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