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Friday, July 23, 2010

NYIGF Funds New "Maker-to-Market" Scholarship in Tribute to Carol Sedestrom Ross

A new Carol Sedestrom Ross “Maker-to-Market” Scholarship, funded by the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®), will be presented annually to two emerging artisans displaying the greatest potential for success in the wholesale craft arena. Beginning in summer 2011, applicants to NYIGF’sHandmade® Designer Maker and Handmade® Global Design, will be eligible to receive one free booth in the Fair, complimentary travel and hotel during market and business-to-business marketing support.

The scholarship is named in honor of the late Carol Sedestrom Ross, GLM’s former director of craft marketing, and an instrumental force in the development of NYIGF’s
Handmade division. An advocate of craft artisans since the early 1970’s, Ross also was the founder and chief executive officer of American Craft Enterprises (A.C.E.) and senior vice president of A.C.E.’s parent organization, the American Craft Council
(ACC). Ross died unexpectedly in June 2010.

“This scholarship is a tribute to Carol and her impact not only on NYIGF, but also on the craft industry,” said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director and GLM senior vice president. “Carol had a keen eye for talent, as well as a self-less willingness to help fledgling designers develop business and marketing savvy.”

Every 
Handmade applicant automatically will be considered for the scholarships as part of the application review and acceptance process. The Handmade juries will recognize and reward artists they believe have the greatest potential for creativity, craftsmanship and unique artisanry.

The inaugural winners will be announced in spring 2011. The prize is free exhibit space – one 100 square foot booth in 
Handmade Designer Maker and one in Handmade Global Design – at the summer NYIGF, in addition to a five-night hotel stay in New York City during market week and round-trip transportation to New York City. Winners also will receive tradeshow marketing support, such as free advertisements in the NYIGF directory and listings in the Online Catalog Gallery, as well as some market-readiness consultation from industry experts.

In addition to development of an annual scholarship, GLM will host a “Celebration of Life,” honoring Carol Sedestrom Ross, during the summer 2010 NYIGF. The memorial service will be held at 6:15 pm on Saturday, August 14 – opening day of NYIGF’s
Handmade division – at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

NYIGF is the nation’s premier gift, home and lifestyle marketplace, with 2,800 exhibiting companies featuring an extraordinary breadth and depth of design-driven home fashion products and complementary giftware. The summer market takes place Saturday, August 14, through Thursday, August 19, 2010, at New York City’s Javits Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 and 94. Some 35,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 85 countries worldwide are expected. Information and registration is available online at 
www.nyigf.com.

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