Culturefest organisers stand accused of failing to showcase the event's main ingredient -- arts and crafts.

Vendors complained of shabby treatment after they were hidden away from potential buyers at last weekend's event in Dockyard.

And they are circulating a petition to have their $100 deposits refunded.

Writer/educator Dale Butler, sports photographer Lawrence Trott and artist Sharon Wilson all had concession stands at the Cultural Festival at Royal Naval Dockyard which this year combined with Jazzscape '97.

But what seemed like a good idea turned out to be a disaster for the local artists who hoped to show off their work and make a few sales.

The artists said they were invited to take part in the festival and were required to pay $100 for the two days.

However, according to Ms Wilson the whole event was "not all that well thought out''.

Ms Wilson said the Victualling Yard entrance, where the Arts & Crafts booths were set up, was out of the sight of the general public.

She said Jazzscape also hampered the cultural festival, usually a two-day event, because people could not get in on Saturday unless they bought a $45 or $55 ticket to Jazzscape.

This in turn left only one day, Sunday, truly open to the general public.

"They didn't even put up a banner to let anyone know we were there,'' Ms Wilson complained. "We had a tented area with no lights and when the sun went down we were in darkness. I thought it was the pits.'' Ms Wilson also said although the artists were asked to be a part of the cultural festival, nothing was done to make them feel as though they were part of it.

Mr. Butler agreed. He said several of the artists had already signed the petition which will be sent to the West End Development Corporation which organised the event.

Mr. Butler said the artists would also be seeking some sort of refund as they did not even make profits to cover the entry fee.

Wedco should have followed the set-up they had the previous year, he added. At that time the Arts & Crafts stands were located near the food and alcohol vendors.

"It was most unfortunate to stick us off in a little corner like that,'' Mr.

Butler pointed out. "The previous two years we were centrally located.'' And he said: "They could have put the food stands on the side walk. It was not a happy situation.'' Mr. Trott, who is a free lance photographer and sports writer for The Royal Gazette , said the general concern was disappointing sales which had a lot to do with the location.

Mr. Trott, who was displaying his new book entitled "Bermuda Sports'', said sales were flat.

"On Sunday some of the artists moved towards the front,'' he noted. "My feeling is the public is not likely to go looking for Arts & Crafts, but they will for food.'' He said some of the artists talked about writing letters to Wedco.

Miranda Gilbert, special event coordinator for Wedco, confirmed that the company had received a letter from the artists.

"Wedco did receive a letter from Arts & Crafts participants and we are looking into it,'' she added. "Unfortunately we did not have a chance to talk to artists prior to being contacted by The Royal Gazette .''