There are several ways artists, craftspeople and performing artists can participate at Artisans at the Dahmen Barn. - Rent and work in studio space in the art center.Renters may be individuals or groups. Items sold directly from studios pay no commission.
- Offer work for sale on consignment in The Shop at the Barn. A commission is charged, part of which goes back to the Barn. Julie Hartwig at The Shop at the Barn can provide information on the commission structure.
- Outside artists may conduct demonstrations, classes or workshops.Fees are structured so that some funds go to the operation of the Barn.
- Exhibit work in the Hay Loft Hall. A commission is taken on items sold. Julie Hartwig at The Shop at the Barn can provide information on the commission structure.
- Perform in the Hay Loft Hall. Space may berented or the door may be split with the Barn. See information page.
- Rent space for rehearsals, meetings and special events. See information page.
Comprehensive Marketing strategy provides participating artisans exposure. Artisans at the Dahmen Barn was conceived to bring exposure to regional visual artists, craftspeople and performing artists through a carefully developed marketing program. With the exception of art and craft books and books and products from the Palouse or about the Palouse, only things created by regional artists and craftspeople or made from products coming from the Palouse are for sale at the art center. The Barn is highly visible on highway 195, where an average of more than 6000 cars pass each day. The Barn is an historic landmark in itself that has been featured in many magazines, including National Geographic. The facility is on the Palouse Scenic By-ways route, and will incorporate a visitor information center. A building behind the Barn will eventually become a display area for restored agricultural equipment. Artisans working in their studio spaces during open hours attract people interested in seeing the creative process. In addition, programs have been designed to bring the public to the art center. Both regularly scheduled and special events such as dances and musical performances are held and promoted. A barn dance held in October '05 attracted 400 people from as far away as Spokane! In addition to classes resident artisans teach, classes, demonstrations and workshops are regularly scheduled each month. Promotion includes distributing brochures to visitor information centers and hotels within a 100 mile radius to announce the facility as a destination, marketing the Barn to group tour businesses operating in the area, writing pitch letters to travel magazines and providing a website. The Barn is a member of 5 area chambers of commerce, and is featured on each of their tourism websites. Each resident artist has his/her own page on the web site and a password for editing posted text and photos. The Shop at the Barn page is set up for on-line purchasing, and each resident artisan may have their items for sale linked to The Shop page. The website is kept in the forefront of the search engines, and is linked to tourism sites and sites of similar art type activities. The schedule of classes and special events is posted on the website's calendar, the address for which will be included in all promotion. Classes, workshops and special events are promoted through news releases and calendar item listings in newspapers and with public service announcements to radio and TV stations within a 100 mile radius. As a non-profit organization, the Barn enjoys excellent coverage by the media. The reader board portion of the highway sign is kept current with activities happening in the Barn.For more information about the programs and activities at the Barn, contact the Manager of the Artisan at the Dahmen Barn, Leslee Miller, by email at info@artisanbarn.org or by phone at 509/229-3655.
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