HandMADE Montana prepares for 7th annual Bozeman Fall MADE Fair

Get ready to spend money that you don’t have, Bobcats. The seventh annual Bozeman Fall MADE Fair is kicking off this weekend, and vendors and event organizers are dotting their i’s and crossing their t’s in preparation. 

The Fall MADE Fair — which will be held in the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse from Oct. 17 to 18 — will allow attendees to purchase merchandise from artists across Montana. 

The first Fall MADE Fair took place in Missoula in 2007. It was created by HandMADE Montana, an organization that holds arts and crafts markets throughout the state.

HandMADE Montana’s founder, Carol Lynn Lapotka, is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. When she moved to Montana, she noticed a lack of art markets and wanted to recreate ones  similar to those in her hometown.

“I didn’t really see an event like that here,” she said. “So I made friends here in town. Myself and my friend Angie — she had some connections in different places because she had been here longer than me — [we] started our first event. It was about a dozen artists or so.” 

Throughout the year, HandMADE Montana hosts MADE Fairs across the state. There are holiday fairs in Missoula and Helena and a spring fair in Missoula. Since 2018, Bozeman has held a spring and fall fair at MSU.

To be involved in the events, artists go through a jurying process in which their art, social media and overall business are examined by a group from HandMADE Montana. While the event cannot platform all artists who apply, 195 creators will be selling their merchandise at this year’s fall fair. 

“We just finished jurying for [a] holiday event, and it is getting very difficult to select people because there is so much talent applying,” Lapotka said. 

Beth Aimée is an artist and vendor who has participated in several of the fairs throughout Montana over the course of seven years. Aimée creates handcrafted jewelry, primarily with sterling silver.

“Of course, I'm hoping for good sales and for connecting with couples who would like to make their own wedding bands with me in my studio and for connecting with people who are interested in taking my metalsmithing classes,” she said. “I'm also looking forward to seeing friends and acquaintances and to sharing my newest work. I'm looking forward to doing my Christmas shopping.”

Aimée said she appreciates how organized, welcoming and well-advertised the MADE Fairs are. According to her, they are unlike any event in Montana. 

“For starters, the MADE Fair is fun,” she said. “There is a very diverse range of artists and mediums. It's a great place to find affordable gifts or to find a treat for yourself. Shopping at the MADE Fair supports local and regional artists as well.”

Lapotka said that while hosting the Fall MADE Fair in the Fieldhouse is expensive, it is ultimately the best venue for the event. 

“It's a big risk, but we see the rewards in all of the different artists we are able to have,” Lapotka said. 

Each MADE Fair offers an early-bird experience where people can pay a small fee to shop the event when it isn’t as busy. On Friday, early-bird tickets are $10 from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday’s early-bird is from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., with free entry from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Lapotka said all proceeds are donated to a local nonprofit. This year, they will go to the Gallatin Watershed Council.

People attending the event are also encouraged to bring a food donation for the Gallatin Valley Food Bank. 

“One important component is to give back to the community that supports us being there,” Lapotka said. 

She said the market inspires people — not just artists, but anyone who attends. 

“There are a lot of great shops in Bozeman that sell their locally made goods, but [at the MADE Fair] you can make a one-on-one connection with the artists,” Lapotka said.

For information on the Bozeman MADE Fair, visit its website at https://handmademontana.com/pages/bozeman-made-fair.