The purpose of the National Powwow Arts and Crafts Exhibition/Competition is two-fold.  The first is to showcase the Native American-style craftwork of talented artisans of all ages and, second, to recognize that one craftsperson at National Powwow XIV whose work is deemed to be the most outstanding with the presentation of the 12th Les Bircher Memorial Award for Craftsmanship.  This award was first instituted at National Powwow III held in Danville, Illinois, in 1975.

There will be four craftsmanship level categories at the 2008 National Powwow Arts and Crafts Exhibition/Competition that will compete for the Bircher Award.  These categories are:

• Master Craftsman – 15 years old and up
• Beginning Craftsman – 15 years and up
• Youth Craftsman – 14 years and under
• Professional – 15 years and up and doing craftwork as major means of livelihood

The “Professional” category is for that craftsperson doing Native American craftwork as his or her major means of income.  Persons exhibiting in this category will NOT be eligible for the Les Bircher Memorial Award for Craftsmanship.

Please note, there is no “advanced or pre-National Powwow XIV” registration for the Arts and Crafts Exhibition/Competition.  All registration will take place at National Powwow XIV in Danville, Illinois.  Registration information will be available on-site beginning Wednesday, 9 July 2008.  Packets will be available until Grand Entry on Friday evening, 11 July.  Absolutely no packets will be distributed on Saturday morning, 12 July.

The guidelines are as follows:

1. All persons participating in the 2008 National Powwow Arts and Crafts Exhibition/Competition must be registered participants of National Powwow XIV.  The NP XIV Registrar will be consulted should it be necessary to verify participant registration status.  No day visitors will be permitted to participate.
2. All participants will obtain the Arts and Crafts Exhibition/Competition packet and complete all of the forms contained therein.  These completed forms will be brought to the Exhibition and become part of the exhibitors’ displays.  Several of the forms will be collected and used in the tabulation process to assist in determining Competition winners.
3. The exhibitors will be limited to displaying five (5) items.  If several items comprise a “set,” the “set” will be considered as one item.
4. Judges and past Bircher Award winners may compete for the Bircher Award.  The exception will be those persons exhibiting in the “Professional” category.
5. Display space is limited to the size of one Pendleton blanket (such as a Chief Joseph, approximately 60 inches by 80 inches).  If you wish to use a table and chairs, you will have to provide your own.  If you do use your own table, its dimensions cannot exceed the size of a Pendleton blanket (maximum length approximately 6-8 feet).
6. Exhibitors are responsible for the safety and security of their displayed items.  Please have someone with your exhibit at all times (except during set-up and judging).  While National Powwow XIV will do its best to protect the displayed items, it assumes no liability for any damage that may occur.
7. Items that may contain components from proscribed (illegal) species are not to be displayed.  There are adequate substitute materials for these proscribed components.  We do not wish to incur a visit by either State or Federal Fish and Game personnel.  Exhibitors showing items containing proscribed components will be asked to remove them from their display.
8. Items displayed may not have been displayed at a previous National Powwow.  Displayed items need not have been created since the last National Powwow.