2026 Important Studio Tour Resources & Documents
Eldorado Studio Tour™ 2026
EACA 2026 Studio Tour: September 19 & 20, 2026
Thanks for your interest in the 2026 Studio Tour, our 34th Tour. Eldorado has a significant place in the arts and crafts history of New Mexico, with our tour being the second oldest and usually the largest in the state.
The organization and management of the tour are all accomplished by volunteers. Each artist who is contributing his/her time to make it happen would prefer to be making art. We do it in recognition that volunteering is the obligation of each member if we are to continue to have this event. It is imperative that all participants contribute some time and effort through committee work so that we build a pool of experienced members for future years.
This document will provide basic information about applying for and participating in the tour. Additional information, the application, the calendar, and much more will be available on our website, eldoradoarts.org, and at the mandatory meetings.
Eligibility and Responsibilities:
To participate in the Studio Tour, the artist must be a member in good standing of the Eldorado Arts and Crafts Association. You can join us at eldoradoarts.org.
Each participant must also live in and show their work within the geographic area accessed by the three Eldorado entrances: Avenida Amistad, Avenida Vista Grande, and Avenida Eldorado (as far south as Avenida Las Nubes offof Avenida De Compadres)
Participants are expected to receive communications, access information, and track dates and deadlines electronically. Internet access and computer literacy are basic requirements.
Participants must keep track of the relevant meetings, dates, and deadlines on their own. Reminders may be sent out, but are not to be relied on totally. A Studio Tour calendar will be available on the website.
Flags and number signs will be handed out when you drop offyour art for the Preview Gallery. These must be returned on Monday, Sept 21, at the prescribed time. Failure to get your flag or sign returned at the correct time, and in good condition, may result in a
$25 fine.
The Application Process
The application will be available on April 3 on our website eldoradoarts.org. The fee this year is $175. Fees are due by April 17, but may be submitted after that date with a $50 penalty. No applications are accepted after April 22. Completing your application and paying your fee will be done online on our website.
Feb 15 Sponsor documents available for downloading and printing on the website
April 3 Application available on the website eldoradoarts.org
April 17 Last date for on-time applications and Studio Tour drop-out with full refund
April 22 Last date for late applications with $50 fee. No application accepted after this date
April 28 Last day to drop out of tour with $50 late drop out fee. The rest of the
application fee will be refunded.
Forfeiture of the full amount of the entry fee after this date.
The Application Process:
You will be asked your name, your medium (media), and the address where you will be showing. If you are sharing a studio, make sure the studio address is the one you list.
Sharing a Studio:
You will be asked if you would like help finding an artist to share your studio, or someone looking for an artist to share their studio. Our survey data shows that multi-artist studios get more visitors and more sales.
Health Guidelines:
EACA will be complying with any health requirements during the Tour, if there are state-mandated restrictions.
Flag Holders:
You will be asked if there is a flag holder installed at the studio where you are showing. These are metal pipes that are permanently near on the road and the driveway, which will hold a colorful banner. If your studio does not have a flag holder, you will need to alert the flag committee immediately. Do not try to install one yourself. They will arrange a time to install it, and coordinate with the utility companies as needed.
Committees:
You will be offered a choice of committees on which to serve. A list of committee descriptions will be attached to the application. To strengthen everyone’s sense of “ownership” of the Tour, committee participation is mandatory; there is no opt-out. Every effort will be made to match any time, mobility, or health constraints you may have with a compatible committee task. If circumstances change for you, you can be reassigned to a different committee.
(Please note that at the end of the tour, committee chairs will be asked if any member failed to meet their committee work obligation. If so, the EACA will impose a $200 fine on that member; the member will not be able to participate in any EACA shows or tours until the fine is paid.)
Sponsorship:
Each participant is expected to support the tour financially by obtaining a minimum of $100 sponsorship funds from local businesses. A list of businesses that are already “taken” will be available on the website for downloading and printing.
If your sponsor donates money but less than $100, you are responsible for making up the difference or finding an additional sponsor to make up the difference.
You have the opportunity to opt out of finding sponsors for a fee of $150.
An artist may self-sponsor (appear in the catalog as a sponsor) instead of seeking other sponsors for a $200 fee.
All documents for downloading and printing of pertinent information and forms for sponsors can be located on the Eldorado Studio Tour! Tab/Important Documents page.
All sponsorship and underwriter monies are due by June 26.
Mentors:
You will be asked if you would like to work with a Mentor. Studio Tour Mentors are available to new or returning participants to help guide artists through the Studio Tour process. Mentors and mentees will meet in person or by phone and email, as needed - to be determined by each pair. Mentees may request, for example, that mentors visit their studios before the tour to give them feedback on their set-up.
Required Meetings
May 18 6:00-7:30 PM
Orientation meeting, mandatory for all new participants, optional for others. This
meeting will cover the tour process and requirements, tips for success, questions & answers, and provide an opportunity to meet the Mentors.
May 27, 6-7:15 PM.- OR -June 1, 1-2:30 PM
First of two mandatory meetings for all tour participants. You will be asked to indicate which of the two meetings you plan to attend.
August 19, 6-7:30 PM OR August 25, 1-2:30 PM
Second of two mandatory meetings for all tour participants. You will be asked to indicate which of the two meetings you plan to attend.
Preview Gallery:
The Preview Gallery will be set up at the Community Center and will show one piece by each participating artist other than Jewelers/small pieces. Visitors can view the art, get catalogs and maps, and plan which studios they wish to visit. All art in the preview gallery will also be available for sale. (Note that if your item sells, you’ll be called so you can have someone bring in a replacement piece.)
Prior to the Tour, the Preview Gallery committee will send guidelines for your art/display and collect information to create a display card for your piece.
You will drop offyour artwork for the gallery on Wednesday, September. 16; at that time you will also pick up your flag and number sign.
The Preview Gallery has a gala opening on Friday evening, September 18 from 5 to 7 PM. During the weekend of the tour, it will be open 9 to 5 on both Saturday & Sunday.
On Monday, September 21, you will return your flag and number signs and also pick up your art from the Preview Gallery.
Voluntary Donations:
We invite the Studio Tour participants to donate 5% of their sales (up to a maximum of $75) to support Eldorado community resources. The Board determines the recipients and amounts of the donations. In past years we have supported the Library, Senior Center, Eldorado School arts program, and 285 Recycles. Your donation will be accepted at the time you pick up your artwork and drop offyour signs and flags.
Catalog:
Our catalog includes an alphabetical list of our artists and their locations on a map; a list of sponsors and underwriters; and for each artist, a photograph of your work, basic information about your medium, contact information, and your studio location.
Several months prior to the Tour you will be contacted with instructions about submitting your photo and your accompanying text and to provide information for the Studio Tour app, Toureka!
The publicity committee has decided to direct mail catalogs to selected zip codes this year.
You will be asked how many catalogs you would like for your own personal use and for you to deliver to your sponsor.
Website:
The website will list all participating artists alphabetically and by genre along with Sponsors and Underwriters for the Studio Tour.
Important dates for the 2026 Studio Tour
A complete calendar is on the website:
https://www.eldoradoarts.org/calendar-1
Feb 15 Sponsor documents are available for downloading and printing on the website
April 3 Applications available online at eldoradoarts.org
April 17 Deadline for applications with no penalty
April 22 Deadline for late application with $50 late fee
April 25 Final drop-out date with full refund
April 28 Last day to drop out of tour with $50 late drop out fee. The rest of the application fee will be refunded.
Forfeiture of full amount of entry fee after this date.
May 20 Orientation meeting, mandatory for new participants; optional for returning participants
May 27, 6-7:30 PM
First Mandatory meeting for all participants OR
June 2, 1-2:30 PM
First Mandatory meeting for all participants
June 4, 4-6 PM Workshop on photographing your work for the catalog (optional) June 19 Text and image submission for catalog, website and app due date June 26 Sponsor and Underwriter monies due
August 19, 6-7:30 PM
Second mandatory meeting for all participants OR
August 25, 1-2:30 PM
Second mandatory meeting for all participants
August 28 Deadline to submit information for Preview Gallery Art
Sept 16 Drop offartwork for gallery, pick up flags and number signs
Sept 17 4:30 - 5:30 Preview Gallery open to Artists and Underwriters/Platinum sponsors
Sept 18, 5-7 PM Opening reception at Preview Gallery
Sept 19 Studios open 10 to 5
Preview Gallery open 9 to 5
Sept 20 Studios open 10 to 5
Preview Gallery open 9 to 5
Sept 21 Pick up artwork, return flags/signs, bring community donation
Eldorado Studio Tour™ 2026 VOLUNTEER COMMITMENT GUIDELINES
The Eldorado Studio Tour™ is run by and dependent upon volunteers. It is mandatory for Studio Tour Participants to agree to volunteer for a committee, assisting that committee with the completion of its assigned Studio Tour duties and responsibilities. The Tour’s success is dependent on all volunteers to make a successful tour.
Committee Guidelines are as follows:
1. Prior to filling out your participant application, review the committee descriptions to see
which committees will best suit your abilities.
2. On the application, choose 2 committees that you would like to work on. We will try to assign
you your first choice, but it’s not guaranteed. There will also be a place to list any limitations
(physical or time constraints) you may have for us to consider when assigning you to a
committee. For example: if you have a bad hip and have difficulty walking, we will not place you
on the distribution committee, which requires a lot of walking.
3. At Participant Meeting 1, you will meet with your assigned committee chair or coordinator
who will review the committee’s tasks and duties.
a. If a participant feels they are unable to meet that committee’s needs, they will have the
option (at that time) of being reassigned to a different committee.
b. If they agree that they can meet those needs, they will remain on that committee and
be expected to fulfill that commitment.
4. Failing to complete your committee’s volunteer requirements and/or the committee tasks
you signed up for and still participating in the Studio Tour will be grounds for non-
compliance.
a. The Committee Chair and/or Coordinator will maintain a record of any issues that arise
concerning non-compliance with the Volunteer Commitment Guidelines.
5. Non-Compliance Penalties
a. At the end of the tour, if you are deemed non-compliant, you will be notified by the
Treasurer and be required to pay the $200 Volunteer penalty fee.
b. Non-compliant participants will have the right to have their case reviewed by the EACA
Board
c. Anyone deemed non-compliant who refuses to pay their $200 penalty will be deemed a
member not in good standing and will not be permitted to participate in any EACA events
activities, nor will they be permitted to renew their EACA membership until said fees are
paid.
Eldorado Studio Tour™ 2026
COMMITTEE DESCRIPTIONS
The Eldorado Studio Tour is only possible due to the volunteer work of the EACA members. Therefore, all Studio Participants are required to serve on one of the various committees. Committees are listed alphabetically. When deciding on a committee to volunteer for, be sure you are aware of and capable of the tasks involved.
DIRECTIONAL SIGNS COMMITTEE
Purpose: The purpose of the directional signs is to help the public find studios and to prevent each studio from placing its own number of signs at major intersections thus avoiding a confusing eyesore of individual signs at these intersections.
Committee Members are responsible for the maintenance, preparation, disbursement, and collection of the directional signs that are placed around Eldorado, pointing to clusters of studio locations. Must be available the morning and evening of each studio tour day to place and remove the 3-4 directional signs you are assigned (driving will be required).
DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE
Purpose: Purpose: The purpose of the Distribution committee is to ensure that the Studio Tour Catalogs are placed in local and surrounding areas high-profile locations for access by locals and visitors. Committee Members are responsible for distributing the catalogs to area businesses and hotels. Volunteers must be willing and able to drive and walk to their assigned distribution areas mostly the first three weeks of September.
Committee Members are responsible for distributing brochures and marketing materials to area hotels and businesses. Must be willing and able to drive and walk a lot.
EDUCATION COMMITTEE - STUDIO TOUR MENTOR & TECH SUPPORT
Purpose: to provide guidance to new or nearly new participants throughout the Studio Tour Process. Commitment is from May through September, as needed.
Studio Tour Mentors assist new and/or returning participants who would like additional guidance throughout the Studio Tour Process. The Mentorship Program is overseen by the Education Committee Chairs. Thorough knowledge of the Studio Tour procedures as well as experience in all aspects of the tour from a participant’s perspective a must. Must be committed and available throughout the tour process to assist your mentee, including attending the Orientation Meeting. Commitment is from May through September, as needed.
Studio Tour Tech Support will help artists navigate the online submission process, organize and upload images, prepare artwork descriptions, and answer questions about photographing their work. Familiarity with the EACA submission process and comfort using Mac and/or Windows is essential. Patience, responsiveness, and a supportive attitude are a must!
FLAGS & BANNERS COMMITTEE
Purpose: The participant flags are used to easily identify the locations of Studios participating in the tour. The banners at the entrances to Eldorado alert the public to our Studio Tour.
Committee Members are responsible for the maintenance, preparation, disbursement, and collection of the 10’ flags that are used to designate the locations of studios and are responsible for installing the banners and feather flags at the entrances to Eldorado. Some committee members are responsible for the installation of the Flagpole Holders for new participants. (Very physical work required, pickup truck also helpful).
GALLERY HOST COMMITTEE
Purpose: The purpose of the Gallery Host Committee is to procure Gallery Hosts for the Preview Gallery and to prepare the materials needed or taking care of sold items.
Committee Members are responsible for the recruitment of Gallery Hosts. Note: Committee
members will NOT be Gallery Hosts themselves. Each committee member is required to recruit a minimum of 5 Gallery Hosts.. Gallery Hosts are EACA members, friends, relatives, neighbors, and community members who are not participating in the Studio Tour. Lists of previous Gallery Hosts will be provided as a starting point Committee members will begin recruiting Gallery Hosts in June and will continue until all slots are filled.
NUMBER SIGNS COMMITTEE
Purpose: The purpose of the number signs is to help direct the public to an actual studio. The Preview Gallery directional signs direct the public to the Preview Gallery location.
Committee Members Are responsible for the maintenance, preparation, disbursement, and collection of the number placards for the individual studios Must be available from 3-6 pm on the Wednesday prior to the tour to assist with disbursement of signs and/or 8-11 am the Monday after the tour to assist with sign collection. Someone with a pickup truck would be helpful.
PREVIEW GALLERY COMMITTEE
Purpose: The Preview Gallery is the Studio Tour’s public venue where guests can get a glimpse of the artwork produced by every studio in the tour. Artists’ work is also available for sale at the Preview Gallery.
Committee Members are responsible for setting up the Preview Gallery and all that it entails: manning stations set up for the collection of the participants’ art piece, setting up and taking down of the gallery structures, placement of the artwork, manning of stations set up to return participants’ art. Strong able-bodied people with trucks needed to help transport grid panels, pedestals, and other Gallery set-up materials to and from the storage unit. Must be available the week of the tour and the day after the tour.
PROOFREADING COMMITTEE
Purpose: The purpose of the Proofreading Committee is to ensure that all the Studio Tour catalog and print and graphic materials used for publicity and marketing are sent out without errors.
Committee Members are responsible for proofreading materials needed for print and website publication. Must have email and document editing skills. Time management skills are also important as you will be required to work with deadlines.
RECEPTION COMMITTEE
Purpose: The Preview Gallery Opening Night Reception is the Tour’s premier social
event, a place and time where the artists and guests can mingle and see each other’s work as well as enjoy some refreshments and light musical entertainment.
Committee Members are responsible for food & drink procurement, such as tray and food pick up, preparation, set-up and clean up for the Preview Gallery Opening Reception held the Friday night of the tour weekend.
Committee members need to be available for shifts during opening night and possible
ACQUIRING STUDIO TOUR SPONSORS GUIDELINES
Please read carefully even if you have done it before, some things may have changed.
I.If you participated in the 2025 Studio Tour Sponsorship Program last year AND are planning to participate inthe 2026 Studio Tour
A.Your 2025 sponsors will automatically be reserved for you to seek their sponsorship of the 2026 Tour. B.If you no longer wish to pursue your 2025 sponsors this year, let the Sponsorship Committee Chair knowasap. That sponsor will be made available to be reassigned to another artist.
C.Refer to the 2025 Reserved Sponsor-Artist List
II.If you participated in the 2025 Studio Tour Sponsorship Program but you ARE NOT planning to participate inthe 2026 Studio Tour but want to keep your reserved sponsors for 2027.
A.You are responsible for soliciting and obtaining those sponsors reserved for the 2026 Studio Tour in yourname to maintain those sponsors for yourself in the 2027 Tour.
B.You must inform the Sponsorship Committee Chair, in writing, about each sponsor you plan to retain forthe 2027 studio tour by April 25, 2026.
C.Failing to do the above will forfeit your right to claim this sponsor and they will be made availableto be reassigned to another artist.
III.Reassignment of Sponsors on the 2026 Reserved Sponsor-Artist List.
A.At the close of tour registration sponsors reserved for artists not participating in this year’s tour willbe available to be reassigned.
B.An email will be sent to all 2026 Tour registered participants from the Sponsorship Committee Chairlisting those sponsors available for reassignment.
1.Each participant may select up to three of the available sponsors, in ranked order (1, 2,3) andrequest that one of them be assigned to them.
2.Send available sponsor requests by e-mail to the Sponsorship Committee Chair.
3.Requests will be considered in the time stamped order of receipt.
4.Your first requested sponsor will be assigned to you if available at the time of receipt of your email.C.Only one sponsor will be assigned to each requesting artist. Assignment of a sponsor means you are theartist who has been designated to approach the business or individual but does not guarantee that they willagain contribute to the Studio Tour this year.
D.No sponsors are “assigned” by the Studio Tour other than the Reserved Sponsor-Artist List of lastyear’s sponsors and the re-assignment of some of those artists as described above.
IV.Who should you ask to be a sponsor?
A.Ask people you know or with whom you do business: your doctor, dentist, hairdresser, favoritelocal businesses, friends, family, clients.
B.Think about who would be a good match for Eldorado – businesses that market or should marketto the residents of Eldorado.
C.Participants may self-sponsor their own Art or Business for an additional $100 beyond the $100Sponsorship Commitment.
D.Check the 2026 Reserved Sponsors-Artist Assignment List to see if that person or business is already a
sponsor and assigned to someone else.
1.Be respectful of these sponsor/artist relationships as many have been paired up for a longtime.
2. IMPORTANT: if you obtain a sponsorship from a person or business allocated to anotherartist, the original artist will get the credit for the sponsorship.
3.If in doubt, contact the Sponsorship Committee Chair.
E.If a person or business is not on the 2026 Reserved Sponsors-Artist List, it is considered available to anyartist.
1.Keep in mind even if not on the list, they may have already been newly solicited by anotherartist, be respectful of that.
V.How to approach a sponsor
A.Call and ask for an appointment to go over the information with them (best for businesses andprofessionals)
1.You may also have success emailing if someone knows you well, attaching the Sponsor BenefitLevels and Sponsor Contribution Form
B.Ideally you would drop off the information in person with the intention of reviewing it with them at thattime.
C.Tell them you think their sponsorship would be a good match for their marketing efforts and it supports theStudio Tour’s advertising throughout Eldorado and Santa Fe.
1.Talking points:
a.Ours is the largest studio tour in the state of New Mexico
b.We typically have 100 +artists showing in 60+ studios during studio tour weekend.
c.Approximately 8,000 to 10,000 Catalogs are distributed throughout the Santa Fe metropolitanarea with sponsors listed in catalog according to Sponsorship Levels.
d.Exposure for businesses on our website listed by Sponsorship Levels.
e.The EACA is a 501(c) (4) Education Tax-Exempt non-profit organization, but donations are NOT taxdeductible
1)This means they cannot use the contribution as a tax-deductible donation, but they areable to write it off as a business expense.
f.EACA and artists in the Studio Tour support local non-profit organizations by donating aportion of their sales proceeds.
g.Review the sponsorship levels and the associated benefits.
h.Ask them if you can leave information for them to review if no decision is made immediately.
D.Print out and carry with you copies of the Sponsorship Benefit Levels and Sponsor Contribution Form toshow and share.
VI.Sponsor Contribution Form
A.Once you have the commitment from the sponsor, do your best to complete the Sponsor ContributionForm and collect the check at the time of your visit.
1. Have them fill out the form or you fill it out – print neatly
2. Staple the sponsor’s business card to the form
1) Printed business cards eliminate mistakes being made from handwritten information
3. We do not include logos or benefits other than those stated in the Benefit Levels document.
B. If they want to think about it,
1. Preprint your name on the Artist Name line prior to leaving the paperwork with them.
2. Follow up soon and if they agree, consider picking up the form and check which is better than trusting them to mail it in on time.
C. Once the form and check (made out to EACA) are completed they should be mailed to the following address:
EACA-C/O Treasurer
7 Avenida Vista Grande
Suite B-7, PMB # 261
Santa Fe, NM 87508
D. You will receive an email from the Sponsorship Committee Chair once the treasurer receives and logs in your sponsorship and check amount.
E. The Deadline for receipt of sponsorship form and payment is June 26, 2026.
VII. After you receive confirmation of the sponsorship make sure to thank your sponsor and invite them to join you at the Preview Gallery Opening Reception, Friday September 18, 2026, 5:00 – 7:00 pm at the Eldorado Community Center (1 Hacienda Loop, Santa Fe 87508)
VIII. Non-Compliance with Sponsorship Commitment
A. All participants who committed to provide studio tour sponsors in lieu of the opt-out fee, will be deemed non-compliant after the deadline for receipt of sponsorship payments. They will be notified by the Treasurer and required to pay the opt-out fee of $150.
B. Non-compliant participants will have the right to have their case reviewed by the EACA Board. C. Anyone deemed non-compliant who refuses to pay their penalty fee will be deemed a member not in good standing and will not be permitted to participate in any EACA events or activities. Nor will they be permitted to renew their EACA membership until said fees are paid.
IX. If you have any questions or need assistance, contact the SPONSORSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIR, Chuck Boxwell (213) 304-8022 cboxwell@mindspring.com
Eldorado Studio Tour™ 2026
Sponsorship Benefit Levels
501(c) (4) Educational Tax-Exempt Organization - donations are not tax deductible
UNDERWRITERS ($1000 and above)
Catalog: Logo of company or individual displayed prominently.
Select Print Advertising: Name of company or individual listed
Website: Name of company or individual, contact information and a link to your website or email address
Preview Gallery: Exclusive underwriter banner prominently displayed at the entrance with your logo. Opportunity to display promotional material in the Gallery throughout the Studio Tour weekend.
PLATINUM ($500-$999)
Catalog: Name of company or individual, larger typeface in prime location
Website: Name of company or individual, contact information and a link to your website or email address
Preview Gallery: Opportunity to display promotional material in the Gallery throughout the Studio Tour weekend.
GOLD ($250-$499)
Catalog: Name of company or individual
Website: Name of company or individual, contact information and a link to your website or email address
SILVER ($100-$249)
Catalog: Name of company or individual
Website: Name of company or individual, a link to your website or email address
BRONZE ($50-$99)
Catalog and Website: Name of company or individual
ALL SPONSORS WILL HAVE THEIR NAMES LISTED BY LEVELS ON A
DONOR BOARD AT THE PREVIEW GALLERY
Eldorado Studio Tour 2025 Reserved Sponsors/Artists
(Last Updated February 15, 2026)
If you find what you believe to be errors or omissions, please immediately notify
Chuck Boxwell atcboxwell@mindspring.com.
Eldorado Studio Tour™
The Business Tax Identification Number (BTIN) used to be known as the CRS number
Go to the website tap.state.nm.us > scroll down to the Business Block > click on apply for NM Business Tax ID. Follow the instructions given from there.
How to Apply for a Business Tax Identification Number
You can apply for a Business Tax Identification Number Online at our website tap.state.nm.us. You will click “Apply for a New Mexico Business Tax ID” and follow the prompts. Upon completion and approval of the online application you may log in with the credentials set up during the application.
Any entity other than a sole proprietor/individual owner that does not have employees must obtain a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN). The IRS issues this number. To contact the IRS, call 1-800-829-4933, or click FEIN online.
There is no fee to register or obtain a Business Tax Identification Number.
You may also submit an ACD-31015 Business Tax Registration to any district tax office with an appointment. Applications submitted by mail are processed in the order received and processing times may vary. We then mail the Registration certificate for your Business Tax Identification Number to you. Applications for Business Tax Identification Numbers are also
available at many city, village, and town halls around the state.
2026 Eldorado Studio Tour™ Closing the Sale: Point of Sale information
How to accept payment is the artist’s individual choice. Some points to consider:
Handling sales tax. Current sales tax, which you report to the state as Gross Receipts Tax, for Santa Fe County is 6.8750%. Some options:
You can include the 6.8750% in your overall price. This is easy—but you need to keep a record so you can report and pay the correct amount later when you file your GRT. • You can add the 6.8750% when you ring up the sale. If you use a Square to take a credit card payment, you can program Square in advance to add that tax to every sale so you don’t have to do the math for each sale.
Cash: Some buyers like to pay cash for small ticket items. If you take cash, and you add sales tax to your price as you ring up the sale, be prepared to make change. You might want to round up the sales tax so you don’t have to deal with coins. Have plenty of singles, fives and tens on hand.
Check: Totally up to you whether to accept personal checks, and what information you would like the buyer to include on the check.
Credit cards: It is highly recommended that you accept payment by credit card. People are more likely to spend more and to buy larger-ticket items with a card. Yes, there is a processing fee from the card merchant of 2.75% or more, but most artists find it more than pays for itself in increased sales and convenience. (You can build that extra fee into your prices.)
Many artists use squareup.com to handle credit card sales. https://squareup.com/us/en?v=all You need to purchase a card reader from squareup and set up an online account with them.
2026 Eldorado Studio Tour™
ARTWORK & DESCRIPTION SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
ONLINE SUBMISSION DEADLINE: June 19, 2026
We have a lot of opportunities to showcase you and your artwork as we lead up to the tour, so the more information that you can provide, the better!
START BY PREPARING ALL YOUR MATERIALS: Gathering, sizing, labeling all your images, and writing a bio before starting the online form will make the process easier.
1) Prepare all your images in the following format: 7”x7” square, 300dpi, JPEG.
Once you begin the online form, you will have the opportunity to upload the following:
1 photo of your artwork for the catalog (required).
1 additional photo of your artwork for the website (optional – if you have two art mediums).
1 photo of you working in the studio to be used for promotional purposes (optional).
4 additional photos of your artwork to be used for website and the app (optional).
1 profile photo to be used for the app (optional).
2) Title all your image files correctly using the following format: Name (Last name First name), Underscore, Medium, Underscore, Catalog.jpg.
Examples: SmithFred_Painting_Catalog.jpg
SmithFred_Sculpture_Website.jpg
SmithFred_Promo.jpg
SmithFred_App_1.jpg
SmithFred_App_2.jpg
SmithFred_App_3.jpg
SmithFred_App_4.jpg
SmithFred_Profile.jpg
3) Write a short phrase to describe your artwork (50 characters or less including spaces).
Example: Landscape paintings & scenes from the Southwest.
4) Write a bio or artist statement (500 characters or less including spaces).
5) Go to: https://www.eldoradoarts.org/image-submission to begin the submission process.
6) Fill in the appropriate form fields to submit images of your artwork and descriptions for use in the catalog, website, promo, and app.
REQUIRED Information for the catalog:
Enter your name and email address.
Choose your primary art medium.
Upload one digital image of your artwork to be used in the Studio Tour catalog. This image will be shown in a 2-inch square format in the catalog. If you do not submit a square format, the committee will crop your image to the necessary specifications. You can show your whole piece within this square or you can do a creative crop of detail of the piece. We recommend 3D artists (jewelry, ceramics etc.) use plain backgrounds and limit the number of pieces included in your shot – this results in better imagery for the catalog. Use a computer with an image manipulation program (such as Photoshop) to size your digital image to the following specifications: JPG file format, at least 7 inches square, at 300 dpi.
Write a short description that describes your artwork in 50 characters or less (including spaces).
OPTIONAL Information for the website, app, and promotion:
If you work in multiple mediums you may submit a second image and description of the artwork.
Pictures of you working in the studio, you may submit them to be used for promotional purposes.
Extra images of your work in addition to what was submitted for the catalog.
Artist bio or artist statement.
Social media channels that promote your work.
7) When you have filled in all the fields, hit the SUBMIT button. When the submission is complete, you will receive a confirmation email. We will contact you if there are any questions.
8) If you have questions or concerns, please contact: StudioTourText.Images@gmail.com
2026 Eldorado Studio Tour™
PREVIEW GALLERY GUIDELINES AND INSTRUCTIONS
Saturday, September 19, 2026 and Sunday, September 20, 2026
PREVIEW GALLERY LABELS DUE - FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2026
•Please email label information to celtic_zina@yahoo.com
•You may begin sending your title information on Saturday, August 1, 2026.
Please submit your title card information in the exact order of the sample below, so the Preview Gallery Committee can print your title card for your art piece. The Preview Gallery Committee will place the title cards on your work in the Preview Galleries.
Donna Sherry Boggins
“Old Calcutta Gourd Vessel”
Mixed Media 11 x 9 x 9
$450
Studio# 48
Title cards are the size of business cards. The information on them needs to be consistent and concise to achieve a professional look.
Here are the six required fields:
Artist name
Title of work
Medium (Pastel, Watercolor, Steel, Oil, Pottery, Mixed Media, etc.)
Dimensions (H x W x D)
Price (Please use round numbers, no cents)
Studio #
Jewelry in cases should be individually priced in the case. Example:
Karla Hackman
Contemporary Hand-crafted Jewelry
Sterling Silver and 18 Karat Gold
Pieces Individually Priced
Studio# 20
PREVIEW GALLERY GUIDELINES
Only members of the Preview Gallery Committee are responsible for the placement and exhibition of artwork in the Preview Galleries.
Artists will forfeit their place in the exhibition if any artwork is moved or placed elsewhere.
All artwork must be gallery-ready. (Wire on the back and ready to hang.)
All artwork must have artist information attached to the back of the artwork.
All artwork on display must be for sale.
Artists are limited to one piece of art, except for jewelers who display their work in cases.
Wall art size is limited to no wider than 30” W and length to 42” H. (Must get approval for larger pieces)
Jewelry case size is limited to 12” H x 18” D x 12” W with a limit of five pieces.
Artist’s business cards will be available at the Preview Galleries.
Please bring a stack of your business cards when you check in your artwork.
Please have a standby piece of your work ready to deliver to the gallery in case your original work sells.
We look forward to an exciting 2026 EACA Studio Tour!
If you have any questions, please email me at celtic_zina@yahoo.com
Thank you,
Donna Boggins
Chair, Preview Gallery
Zina Hogan
Co-Chair, Preview Gallery
2026 Eldorado Studio Tour™
DROP OFF AND PICK UP OF ARTWORK TIMELINE
WHERE: Eldorado Community Center
DROP OFF ARTWORK:
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2026 (4:00 - 6:00 pm)
DROP OFF ARTWORK AT CHECK-IN TABLES
Must be Gallery ready.
PICK UP ARTWORK:
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2026 (8:00 - 10:00 am)
PICK UP ARTWORK
Sign out artwork
2026 Eldorado Studio Tour™
FACEBOOK/SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS
EACA Facebook Address: https//www.facebook.com/eldoradoarts
EACA Instagram: https//www.instagram.com/eldoradoarts or search #eldoradoarts
Facebook is used by nearly 2 ½ million people around the world – approximately 1/3 of the world’s population. It is a wonderful free resource for promoting your own work and for the organizations to which you belong
To Promote Your Work
If you have a personal page, also start a page just for your artwork
Note: you do not have to sacrifice your security to do this. Do not give your personal details like family members, where you work, your birthday, etc. Use fictitious dates, names, etc if you must supply an answer. Keep your business page, strictly business related.
Be sure to invite all your friends on your personal page to like and follow your new business page
To Promote the Studio Tour (All EACA Members)
Like, Follow and Share our EACA page: https//www.facebook.com/eldoradoarts
Visit the page as often as possible and Like, Comment, and Share posts about everyone – not just when posts are about you or someone you know. This builds traffic. Also, Tag friends who may also like a specific post. • If you have a business page for your art – Like the posts from that page because you will then get added exposure yourself! Also, consider Sharing pages now and then from your business page.
Go to the Events page https//www.facebook.com/pg/eldoradoarts/events and indicate that you are going.
General Guidelines
Do not use text in images
IF there is a physical piece, like an invitation to post, scan it – do not photograph it
Be sure all images are of high quality and sized correctly – 72 dpi and approx. 756 pix wide (height is whatever the format of the image needs)
Try to post 1-3x’s per week but not more often – people need time to see and react to the posts • The EACA Hashtag is #eldoradoarts use this to be seen by those who follow us.
Interesting Stats About Effective Marketing on Facebook
Video is the best-performing post type (15-30 seconds)
Evenings are the best time to post, Thursdays best day to post
Weekends see the most engagement
Shorter posts perform better
Instagram is a very visual and image-based communication owned by Facebook. It is a social media platform mostly for use on your smartphone (although you can log onto Instagram from a computer but with limited functionality).
General Guidelines
If you already have a business Facebook page, you can work simultaneously with Instagram and Facebook. You can post in one format and with a click of a button share to your Instagram account.
Gather photos from previous events, photos of your studio, photos of your work
Note: Instagram works with photos in a 1:1 aspect ratio so you may need to edit them to fit. On most phones, you can do this easily by going to your photo edit feature then click on the 1:1 ratio.
Instagram works best from your phone (more features) but can be accessed on your computer.
The most efficient way to work your Instagram posts is to write your text in a Word document or something similar and save it on your computer. (Sometimes you will want to repost the same copy if it is saved you will always have it)
Include any tags and hashtags you choose with your post text.
Plan your content - When putting together your post you have several options
Use your computer to initially start the post – upload the photo to Instagram, then copy & paste your text from your saved document, then go to your phone for any additional features if needed
Use your phone for all. If you save your photos and documents to a cloud service, you should be able to retrieve them on your phone.
Use a service like Canva.com (free) to develop your post. You can upload photos, add text (again copy and paste), and other decorative elements. Save and download to your computer then upload to your Instagram account when ready to post it.
Types of posts
Short videos, Photos with you in them (people like to see who you are, it helps to create a better connection), Photos of your work or interesting sections of your work, Notifications for upcoming events you will be participating in.
Ask for engagement – “For more info go to my website”, ask a question and encourage them to answer in the comments, ask for feedback if adding something new to your repertoire, ask them to like and follow you, etc • Hashtags and tags
A hashtag (#) puts your post on the feed for that hashtag. Example: #eldoradoarts, when used your post will show up on the feed for those who follow our Instagram account or who search for us. ▪ Note: unlike Facebook, your post will not show indefinitely. So be mindful of when you post (see Stats on Effective Marketing on Facebook on page 1). Also, don’t be afraid to repost that same post every couple of months for those who may have missed it the first time around
You can use up to 30 hashtags per post
Brainstorm a list of hashtags that will work for your type of art and those that are your target audience that you will use all the time. Then add some that are very specific to that post.
A Tag (@) will notify that person or organization that you have mentioned them in one of your posts. Example: @eldoradoarts will let us know that you mentioned or tagged us in one of your posts. We can then be aware of that post and can comment or like it to help with your post traffic and hopefully draw people to ours. Tags work great when you tag the organizations you belong to and vendors whose products you used in a particular art piece.
To Promote the Studio Tour
Start posting tour-related material several weeks prior to the tour, your art, work in progress, your studio, you working in your studio, etc.
Be sure to mention the dates of the tour, the preview gallery, and that along with yourself there will be lots of other artists showing a wide range of arts and crafts at in all price ranges. Be sure to list our webpage so they can see the catalog online (eldoradoarts.org) and don’t forget your studio number or other artists sharing your studio.
If you obtained sponsors for the tour, be sure to tag them on your posts,
especially those talking specifically about tour dates/times.