Handmade Tile Association January 2011 Newsletter

Handmade Tile Association Newsletter

January
2011

12th Year

Greetings!

Every year it is good to review the Mission Statement of an organization and make sure we all know the goals of what our organization is trying to achieve.

The Mission Statement

The Handmade Tile Association is a union of independent artisans who design and create tile and artwork incorporating tile. The goals of this group are to nurture and inspire each member's unique talents and creativity and to trade knowledge, techniques and skills to improve excellence and innovation in design, production and distribution of tile. The association also works to broaden awareness of tiles as a medium with limitless applications, and provides a common entry point for consumers to access a wide array of artisan-made tiles.

With that in mind here are the 2011 Goals

1. To establish a long term branding of the Handmade Tile Association in the Upper Midwest.
2. To build better ties with national tile and mosaic artists and interested parties to help them start the process of branding the Handmade Tile Association in their region.
3. Take advantage of the MN Tile Festival's new location as an opportunity to bring in new patrons and build relationships with new groups.
4. To promote and build the HTA artists memberships events to a national audience.
5. Work with members to create opportunities through events and gallery show to help promote the artists work nationally.
6. To get the distribution of the directory in all 50 states. (this is big one and it will take many years to achieve)

We hope all of those involved with the HTA will find 2011 to be a successful year and you will keep in contact with the HTA with updates on finished projects, tile events, and opportunities that all tile artists should know about. Happy New Year!

In This Issue

Directory is on its way to you

Before and After photos

Minnesota Tile Festival Planning

Join us on Facebook

Welcome New and Renewing Membership

January Jobs

Spotlight on Artist Schedule

Directory is on its way to you

The 12th annual Handmade Tile Association 2011 dir

2011 Handmade Tile Association directory

ectory has been sent and all members and 3000 of our closest friends i.e. designers, architects, trades people, tile showrooms, galleries, gift shops, the press and hundreds of people who requested the directory over the years. You should be receiving your copy in the next couple of weeks. They are being mailed by bulk mail and can take up to 14 days to arrive in some locations.

We want to thank Leann Johnson for her work on setting up the structure of the layout of the directory, Nancy Sartor
and Lisa LaNasa for there editing and all of the members who came and proofed. We also thank Park Printing for going the extra mile to find ways to bring down the cost of the directory and producing another great directory of all of our artists and advertisers.

January is always a busy month for the HTA.

Josh sitting on 9000 HTA directories

Our major project is the mailing of larger packets of 50 to 100 directories to members to hand out in their studios, events and to local business that would be good distribution points for the directory. We have a list of all of our locations we get the directories to annually. We need your help to document new locations where you dropped off directories so we can make sure they are continually stocked.
Each artist member will be receiving a box of 50 to 100 directories to hand out by the end of January. Members in the Minneapolis area are encouraged to stop in and pick them up to help the HTA save money on shipping and office time putting the boxes together.

Before and After Photos

In our talks with Mpls/St.Paul Magazine for sponsorship of the MN Tile Festival they requested artists submit before and after pictures of projects they have completed so it can help tell a story.

This would really help their readers understand how much of an improvement handmade tiles make to a space. So as you start working on new projects ask your patrons to take the before pictures and if you have the opportunity to be in the space during the planning take photos. Submit them to the HTA and we will pass them on to Mpls/St.Paul magazine to be considered for articles.

Minnesota Tile Festival Planning

At the next HTA meeting a main topic will be the planning of the MN Tile Festival. The event is moving to its new location for one year while the American Swedish Institute builds its new addition. This is going to be an exciting but challenging year for the festival. MN Tile Festival Logo

First members voted to make the show a two day event
September 16th and 17th
Friday 5 -8
Saturday - 10 - 5
With the new location we will have a completely new layout from years past. The following issues will need to be discussed:
1. Navigation of the flow of people coming into the Midtown Global Market because all of the vendors will be on one floor and in the same space which is a good thing to work with.
2. Signage
3. Set up and take down and displays
4. We have potential for up to 60 vendors 20 more than in years past. This gives us an opportunity to broaden our reach for types of vendors. but we have to find these vendors. The HTA has been in talks with the National Kitchen and Bathroom Association (NKBA) about having an area. If we invite the NKBA what type of programing would members like them to focus on?
5. A Major PR draw for the event i.e. mosaic a car during the event, have a tile give away, work with a designer, make a tile etc. We want your input and ideas.
We need you help this year more than ever so please contact the HTA and we will get you on the list as a helper.

Join us on Facebook

The Handmade Tile Association is doing regular updates and we invite our members to post new projects and artwork they have completed.

To join the Handmade Tile Association fan page click this icon

Handmade Tile Association Meeting
January 11th
When - Tuesday 6:30
Where - Midtown Global Market
Meet in the main food court
920 East Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN 55407-5449
First meeting of 2011. The new 2011 Handmade Tile Directory will be available for pickup
Tour of Minnesota Tile Festival site
Discussion of Minnesota Tile Festival logistics
Art A Whirl in or out?
The Midtown Global Market has dozens of restaurants so we will not be doing our regular potluck we are asking members to try out the fare available and get the experience that tile festival patrons will have. The scale of pricing is a couple of dollars to full restaurant prices.

We are looking for venues to have meetings in 2011. If you would like to host a meeting please contact the HTA to set one up. info@handmadetileassociation.org

If you are not in the Minnesota region consider creating a meeting of tile and mosaic artists in your area. The HTA can promote your meeting through this newsletter and on the website, Facebook, and Linked in. It is a great way to learn and promote tile ideas.

Sincerely,

Josh Blanc
Handmade Tile Association.LLC

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