Youth Maker Accelerator FAQs

If you are an individual youth maker, the following in-person dates are required:

July 16 from 6 - 7:30 PM: Kick-Off Meeting

August 18 from 6 - 7:30 PM: Workshop #1

September 10 from 6 - 7:30 PM: Workshop #2

September 20 from 4:30 - 5:30 PM: Mentor Roundtable #1

October 6 from 6 - 7:30 PM: Workshop #3

October 29 from 6 - 7:30 PM: Workshop #4

November 8 from 4:30 - 5:30 PM: Mentor Roundtable #2

November 17 from 6 - 7:30 PM: Workshop #5

December 4-6: Holiday Market

December 15: Post Market Recap Meeting

The 2026 Holiday Market is December 4-6, 2025. Participation in Friday, Saturday, and Sunday is mandatory for accepted makers. The Holiday Market is held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Downtown Pittsburgh (1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15222).

Yes. Youth Maker Accelerator cohort members must be full-time residents of Allegheny County.

Individual Youth Makers must be between the ages of 15-19 by 2026 Holiday Market on December 4-6.

While we know that many youth makers probably get help and support from family members while building their businesses (we love that!), 95-100% of the products must be created by the youth maker(s).

Applications will be open until May 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM (EST). Late applications will be not be accepted. No exceptions.

We receive many more applications than we can accept for every market. To keep the products sold at Handmade Arcade within the quality standards our shoppers expect, all of our markets are juried. The jury carefully evaluates each application against our Individual Youth Maker Application Rubric. They also evaluate whether or not the applicant fits our definition of a handmade business and if they sell products at a variety of price points, as our shoppers expect. We recommend reviewing the full application and reading through the rubric very carefully before you apply so you know exactly how our jurors are evaluating you.

We define a “handmade business” as follows:

• You, the artist(s), created the original products.

• You did not use mass-produced, trademarked, or licensed items in your work.

• You did not use copyrighted designs that you don’t own in your work.

• Your products are at least 80% of your original creation.

• Your products are not made with purchased, downloaded, or copied images or designs.

While it’s not required for makers to have an online presence to participate in our markets, it’s helpful for shoppers 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.

Accepted categories differ across Handmade Arcade markets. The Youth Maker Program and Holiday Market accepts the following categories:

• Accessories (Not Jewelry)

• Artwork*

• Bath & Body

• Children's Products & Toys

• Adult Clothing

• Housewares

• Jewelry

• Paper Goods

• Wood

• Ceramics

• Glass

• Other

*Handmade Arcade was founded as an alternative to visual arts markets where makers creating handcrafted materials with materials like clay, wood, metal, fiber arts, ceramics, and paper could sell their work. Handmade Arcade does accept visual artists for some of our markets, but artists must be able to demonstrate in their applications how their work is reproduced onto prints, fabric, clothing, stickers, etc. and sell those items at our markets rather than just originals.

Yes. If you decide to apply with a friend for the Youth Maker Program, we suggest that you pair up with a maker whose work complements your own. That will give you the best show at landing a booth at the Holiday Market. Details about applying with a friend:

• Co-applicants will be reviewed as one entry.

• Both makers need to participate in all of the programming including meetings, mentoring, and market days.

• Images must represent both applicants’ products.

• You are required to indicate a primary applicant who will receive notifications by email.

• Vendor space will be shared and 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.

• The $500 stipend given to accepted Youth Makers will be split between two artists if you apply with a friend. Each person will receive a $250 stipend instead.

No. At this time, we do not accept food vendors, including chocolates, honey, and candy. If you have specific questions regarding your products, please ask before you apply by emailing info@handmadearcade.org.

We do have a few food trucks each year at our Spring Market, so feel free to email if you’re interested in bringing your food truck to that event.

Yes. We want to see how your applications change and how your techniques have grown! We encourage makers to reapply.

Yes. Some applicants will be put on a waitlist. Waitlisted applicants will be notified if a maker space becomes available in the category in which they applied.

Yes. On the application, makers can opt-in to receive feedback if they are not accepted.

Handmade Arcade has a jury who reviews all applications. Jurors can be participants of Handmade Arcade’s committees and groups, other market curators, artists from the community, etc. Handmade Arcade staff members and board members are NOT members of the jury.

Youth Maker Jurors have already been selected, but more information on our 2026 Holiday Market guest juror applications will be available soon.