General Information About the CCAF Art Auction

• Purpose of the Auction
• Where the Art Comes From
• How the Auction Works
• Using the Site
• Bid Closing Times
• How Bid Winners Are Selected and Notified
• How Bid Winners Pick Up Their Art
• How to Contact Us

Purpose of the Auction
Art Auction Supports Year-Round Arts Education Programs
Proceeds from the Art Auction benefit the Cherry Creek Arts Festival’s extensive year-round education and outreach programs. Through efforts such as the Mobile Art Gallery and Artist in Residence workshops, the Arts Festival has touched the lives of more than 100,000 members of our community in area schools, at-risk programs and senior centers. By simply placing a bid in the Art Auction, you help the Arts Festival continue to reach out to more individuals in the coming year. For more information on the Arts Festival’s year-round art outreach programs click here  http://podcast.cherryarts.org/2007/04/15/mobile-art-collection.

Where the Art Comes From
Generous donations from the artists in this year’s show.
More than 130 artists voluntarily donate one or more pieces of art to the auction.  Please join us in thanking the artists in this year’s Cherry Creek Arts Festival.  The Auction Tent is a great way to preview artwork from the majority of the exhibiting artists all in one location. 

How the Auction Works
Specialized software developed for the Online Auction has helped to make the Cherry Creek Art Festival one of the most technologically advanced of any art festival in the United States.  Individuals can bid on-site, by going to the Art Auction tent, located between 2nd and 3rd Avenues on St. Paul Street, and utilize a laptop computer or may bid from the comfort of their own home.  In fact, individuals can bid from anywhere that they have internet access at http://www.cherryartsauction.org/.

Art Auction Tent Location and Hours of Operation
All original art is on display in the CCAF Art Auction tent, located between Second and Third Avenues on St. Paul Street.  The Auction tent is open to Festival attendees at the following times:

Using the Web Site
     The CCAF Art Auction web site allows you to:

• Bid online: You will need to register first by providing some simple information and choosing a username and password. Once you are registered, you may begin bidding.
• Bidding may be done manually or by proxy: For information on these different methods of bidding, click on the HELP button at the top of your screen and look under “Tips for Bidding.”
  
• Check the status of your bids or make new bids: Once you have registered, the auction system will create a special page for you and you alone. It will show items you have bid on, the current status of your bids and your account information. That page is always available to you; just click the MY AUCTION button at the top of your screen.
  
• View the art without bidding: We encourage you to browse. Simply click on the VIEW ART/BID button at the top of your screen

Bid Closing Times
NEW FOR 2009- Bidding on all items end in a staggering format at the close of the Arts Festival starting at 6:15 p.m.
Bidding closes between 6:15 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 5th. Each item has a specific closing time. This time is posted on the placard identifying the original artwork. It is also listed on the bidding page for the item. To find the bidding page for an item, click on the VIEW ART/BID button at the top of your screen.



How Bid Winners Are Selected and Notified
The auction system will chose all winners.
The system will automatically stop accepting bids at the designated closing time for each item. However, that does not mean that all bids submitted just before the closing time will be recognized. Because it can take anywhere from several seconds to several minutes for the Internet to relay a bid to the system, last-minute bids may not arrive at and be recognized by the system before the cutoff time. Keep in mind that there is a delay between recognition and display of bids, so the bid shown on your screen at the closing time may not be the actual winner. Also, please remember that not all clocks are synchronized to Greenwich Mean Time, so your watch or the clock on your computer may not indicate the same time as the clock on the auction system.

The last bid that is recognized by the system before the cutoff time will be the winning bid. The system will automatically send a congratulatory e-mail to the winning bidder, provided she or he listed an e-mail address when registering. Please remember, it will take about 10 minutes after the designated closing time for the system to select and verify each winner.

How Bid Winners Pick Up Their Artwork
Winners may complete their purchases between July 7 and July 10
If you win a bid, you will need to arrange to pickup your artwork from the Arts Festival Office or have artwork shipped to you. Or, you may complete your purchase at the Arts Festival Office later that week. The CCAF Office is located at 2 Steele St., B100 (corner of Steele and Ellsworth directly East of Cherry Creek Shopping Center in the Bank of the West Building). Contact phone number: 303.355.2787,  ext. 204 or 219. *Please call to setup an appointment to pick up your artwork. 

Hours of Operation

Payment
You may pay with cash, check or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover).

Sales Tax
Winning bids do not include applicable sales tax. Applicable state and local taxes, currently 7.72%, will be determined upon sale. Out-of-state Internet sales are not subject to tax.

Shipping & Insurance
If you request that an item be sent to you, shipping and insurance costs will be added to the bid price and sales tax. Art Auction items are sent UPS Ground. The Arts Festival is not liable for items lost or damaged during shipment.

How to Contact the CCAF Art Auction
We want to answer your questions.
If you have questions about the Auction or the auction site, please feel free to contact us. To reach us at various times:

• During the Festival’s hours of operation on July 3, 4 and 5 (see above):  please email cherryartsauction@yahoo.com
• After the Festival’s hours of operation on July 3, 4 and 5 (see above): you may email visualarts@cherryarts.org or call 303-355-2787 x 204 or 219.