For Makers

Handmade Arcade Markets

Does your business fit into Handmade Arcade’s definition of a handmade business?

• You must be the artist(s) of the original products.
• Recycling and repurposing items is permitted.
• You cannot use mass-produced trademarked and licensed items in your work.
• Copyrighted designs not owned by the artist are not permitted.
• Your products must be 80% or more of your original creation.
• You, the artist, must have created the piece.
• You are permitted to reproduce your work in various mediums: as prints, on fabric, as stickers, on mugs, etc.
• You cannot sell merchandise you have made with purchased, downloaded, or copied images and designs.

At this time, Handmade Arcade does not accept food vendors, including chocolates, honey, and candy. If you have specific questions regarding your products, please ask before you apply at info@handmadearcade.org.

Preparing Your Application

All Handmade Arcade markets are juried, curated markets. 

Every application is carefully reviewed and voted on by our jurors. Handmade Arcade’s jury consists of the Handmade Arcade advisory committee and new and rotating guest jurors from Pittsburgh’s arts, craft, cultural, and small business communities. Jurors are paid for their time and expertise.

Every part of your application is essential for success: 

• Images: We recommend using high-quality, high-resolution, clear, and in-focus photographs. Your product photography should bring out the best in your products, highlight the materials and methods used, and demonstrate originality, innovation, and the handmade process.
  • • IMPORTANT: If you are reapplying, use this opportunity to show us something new. Do not use photos that you have submitted in the past.

• Products and process description: A well-written description of your products and creative process is vital to your application.

• Merchandise prices: Share your prices with us so we can ensure that your products are within the range of what our audience expects. 

• Online presence: While it’s not required for makers to have an online presence to participate in Handmade Arcade markets, it is helpful for jurors to view e-commerce or social media accounts for more images and information. If you provide links to your website and/or social media accounts, they should be active and show a representative selection of your merchandise.

• Contact information: Use an email address that you check regularly. Pro tip: double-check that you have spelled your email address correctly.

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Spring Market

May 18, 2024 at Construction Junction

All vendor spaces are filled for 2024.

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Holiday Market

December 6 and 7, 2024 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center

Application will open in early spring 2024. Check back for details.

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Who Does Handmade Arcade Accept?

Before you apply, please make sure your business fits into Handmade Arcade’s definition of a handmade business.

• You must be the artist(s) of the original products.
• Recycling and repurposing items is permitted.
• You cannot use mass-produced trademarked and licensed items in your work.
• Copyrighted designs not owned by the artist are not permitted.
• Your products must be 80% or more of your original creation.
• You, the artist, must have created the piece.
• You are permitted to reproduce your work in various mediums: as prints, on fabric, as stickers, etc.
• You cannot sell merchandise you have made with purchased, downloaded, or copied images and designs.

At this time, Handmade Arcade does not accept food vendors, including chocolates, honey, and candy. If you have specific questions regarding your products, please ask before you apply at info@handmadearcade.org.

Applications should show:

• Craftsmanship and creativity
• Skill and technique
• Traditional handicrafts combined with innovative thinking
• Durability and functionality
• Mindfulness and unique qualities (locally sourced, recycling, upcycling, etc.)
• Crisp and clear photographs
• Range of price points 

Categories include:

• Accessories
• Adult Clothing
• Artwork
• Bath & Body
• Ceramics
• Children’s Products
• Glass
• Housewares
• Jewelry
• Other
• Paper Goods
• Toys
• Wood 

Mass-produced merchandise is prohibited at all Handmade Arcade events. Additionally, accepted vendors are NOT permitted to bring products from anyone not listed on their original application.

Note: Handmade Arcade was founded as an accessible alternative to fine arts markets. Historically, independent crafters, makers, and artists not considered fine artists do best at our events.

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Sharing a Table (Applying with a Friend)

Handmade Arcade is dedicated to helping the maker community grow and flourish. If you’re interested in applying with a friend, we suggest you pair up with a maker whose work complements your own. It’ll give you the best shot at landing a booth in the bustling Holiday Market.

Spring Market: 

• Because of the nature of the Spring Market, you cannot apply for the market as a shared table. 

Holiday Market: 

• The holiday market application allows you to apply for a shared table. 
• Co-applicants are reviewed as one entry. 
• Images must represent both applicants’ products.
• The primary applicant is notified by email.
• In-person Marketplace: Makers will share the vendor space and be listed together on the event map. (e.g., Vendor 1 / Vendor 2)
• All set-up needs for vendors sharing a space must be decided and planned between the vendors before the day of the event.

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Handmade Arcade & Pittsburgh’s Maker Movement 

Handmade Arcade is the spark that ignited Pittsburgh’s robust maker community. Predating all other local craft-focused markets, including national markets like Etsy, Handmade Arcade has been a leader in Pittsburgh’s maker movement long before the term “maker movement” existed—with early credits such as features in MAKE Magazine and hosting the country’s first-ever Craft Congress in 2007. 

Today, the organization operates as a nonprofit and continues to make significant, year-long contributions that directly impact Pittsburgh’s craft, maker, and arts community’s quality of life and economic success.

Between 2004 and 2024, Handmade Arcade has produced: 

• 19 Holiday Markets
• 5 Spring Markets for new and emerging makers
• 8 Virtual Markets and Catalogs
• 7 Youth Maker Accelerator Program cohorts
• 1 BIPOC Maker Accelerator Program cohort

In the past 20 years, we’ve hosted 3,000+ craft and maker businesses and 215,000 shoppers at our events.

The results?

Over $4 million in self-reported sales from our makers. 

Workshops and Professional Development:

Handmade Arcade offers a variety of workshops for all makers. With something for everyone, the maker curriculum covers the following topics: 

• E-commerce Best Practices (Includes website review with an expert!)
• Telling Your Story Online: Creating Compelling Content for Social Media
• Product Photography
• Marketing 101: Strategies and Best Practices
• Customer Engagement and Retention
• Holiday Events: Making the Most of a Gift Market
• Booth Display

Youth Maker Opportunities:

Since 2016, Handmade Arcade has hosted:

• 58 Individual Youth Maker Scholarship Recipients (ages 15 to 19)
• 25 Entrepreneurial Classrooms (grades 3 to 12)
• 10 Schools as Artist Demonstrators in our hands-on activity area at the Holiday Market

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