Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival 2026

Since 1966, Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival has celebrated and shared the arts with the community.  Each year visitors flock to UA on Labor Day to immerse themselves in hands-on art activities, live music, and the opportunity to explore and purchase fine art.  We are excited to produce this event in the central hub for the community; the beautifully designed parking lot adjacent to Northam Park and located between the UA Public Library, Tremont Elementary School, and the Tremont Pool.

Upper Arlington is a community that supports the arts and welcomes the Labor Day Arts Festival every year.  Many attend the event annually as part of the community tradition.  In addition to supportive residents, many travel from the Columbus and surrounding regions to attend the event and purchase art.  Artists love this one day, well organized event with easy setup, teardown and friendly and helpful staff and volunteers.     
 

CONTACT:
Jodi Hatfield, Arts Manager
614-583-5312 (office)
614-955-8271 (cell)
jhatfield@uaoh.net

TIMELINE:
Application Open: December 15, 2025
Application Deadline: February 22, 2026 @ midnight EST
Jury Dates: March 9 – 22, 2026
Artists Notified: April 15, 2026
Full payment due through Zapplication.org: June 15, 2026 @ midnight EST
Deadline to cancel and receive full refund (minus jury application fee): July 15, 2026 @ midnight EST
Festival: Monday, September 7, 2026 from 10 am-5 pm

HIGHLIGHTS: 

• Average Sales:  $3,000 (based on the 2025 Artist Survey)
• 10,000 visitors for a one-day event  
• Approximately 120 Artists accepted with 44 corner booth spaces available
• 5 Emerging Artists accepted
• Free continental breakfast and coffee
• Boxed lunches available for purchase and delivered to tent
• Tent rentals available
• Booth sitting available
• Friendly volunteers and staff 
• Drive up loading and unloading
• Optional setup Sunday before Festival 
• Free Parking with shuttle to booth space
• Artist Awards – range from $200-$600 per artist in addition to automatic acceptance into next year’s show with waived booth space fees

ZAPP APPLICATION

• Jury Application fee: $30 (non-refundable)
• Images: 3 images of individual artwork plus 1 booth image (without signs or identifying factors) – judging is based solely upon the quality of the work as illustrated in the submitted digital images. 
• Images should be void of artist signature or any identifying marks; this will ensure an anonymous and fair jury process. 
• Jury images submitted should represent the artist’s original artwork and must be made by the exhibiting artist(s). 
• COLLABORATING ARTISTS:  Artists working in the same studio and using the studio name may request to exhibit in the same booth for one booth fee, with a maximum of three artists. Artists collaborating on the same work need not apply separately.
• Artists jurying more than one category of work may apply under the same name with a maximum of three mediums.
• Commercial studios involved in multiple or volume production should not apply to the show

JURORS & JURY INFORMATION

• Blind jury – Do not submit booth images with any identifiable sign or image of the artist themselves.  If your signature is visible in the work, please be sure to photoshop or blur the signature out. 
• Artists will be prompted to include an artist's statement.  We recommend a description that provides a balance between material, technique and inspiration.  Jurors can see the statement - do not personalize the information with your name.
• Jurors: 3 experienced arts and industry professionals (paid) and 1 Cultural Arts Commissioner (unpaid)
• We try to have new jurors every year.  Any repeat jurors will have at least one lapse year between shows. 
• Juror’s biographies will be posted to our website at https://www.upperarlingtonoh.gov/187/Labor-Day-Arts-Festival
• Monitor jury - Jurors will view images from their own computers at their own pace.
• Accepted artists will be the top/highest scores in their respective mediums.
• Any artist with applications accepted in multiple mediums must select one to be exhibited.
• The Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival may limit the number of artists accepted in some categories in order to present a balanced show.
• Decisions of the jury panel are final and artist scores will not be released.
• A waitlist will be formed based on the scores and any vacancies will be filled from this list. 

EMERGING ARTIST PROGRAM
The Emerging Artist Program grew from the desire to be a more inclusive Festival and support artists looking to begin their art festival careers.  This program is specifically for artists who have never exhibited their artwork in a juried arts festival.  Interested artists must be a resident or student of Franklin County.  The application procedure and jury process are the same as if you were applying to the standard show however the “Emerging Artist” category must be selected.  See below for additional criteria:

• Up to 5 spaces will be available to emerging artists
• Emerging artist is defined as an artist that has never exhibited in a juried arts festival in the past
• Open to Franklin County residents and students
• Emerging artists should select “Emerging Artist” category when applying
• Images: 4 high quality images of artwork should be uploaded to application - Emerging artists are not required to provide an image of booth space
• Jury Application fee reduced by 50%.  Emerging artists should contact Jodi Hatfield at jhatfield@uaoh.net to receive discount code.
• Invited emerging artists will be provided a 10’ x 10’ tented space for a reduced cost of $75. 
• Invited emerging artists will be required to attend all workshops and meetings prior to Festival.  Additional information and dates will be sent on these workshops after the jury process.  These workshops and meetings are designed to educate and support emerging artists. 

MEDIUM DEFINITIONS

Media categories are used as a tool for organizing artists’ images into logical, related groups for the jury’s review.

2D Mixed Media – Works that incorporate more than one type of physical material in their production and is suitable for hanging.

3D Mixed Media – Works that incorporate more than one type of physical material in their production and is a 3D object suitable for standing or hanging.

Ceramics – All original clay and porcelain.  Machine-made, mass-produced work is not permitted. Embellishment of manufactured materials is not permitted.

Digital Art – Original work utilizing computer software solely to create, design and produce work. Work must be properly signed and numbered as a limited edition of no more than 250.

Drawing & Pastels – Works created using dry media including chalk, charcoal, pastels, pencil, wax crayons, etc. or from fluid media including inks and washes applied by pen or brush.

Fiber – All work crafted from fibers, including basketry, embroidery, weaving, tapestry and papermaking. No commercially machine-tooled, machine-screened patterns or miscellaneous forms of mass production are permitted, including manufactured seams.

Glass – Glass works that are functional or decorative by design and are kiln-formed or have been crafted by glass blowing, fusing, staining, molding, or casting. Works may be etched or engraved.  No forms of mass production are permitted.

Jewelry – ALL jewelry, whether produced from metal, glass, clay, fiber, paper, plastic or other materials. No commercial casts, molds or production studio work is allowed. Limited use of pre-made material such as beads* or small ornamental items is permitted.

*Beads must be made by the artist. There are only two exemptions to this rule:

• If the beads are not made by the artist, they must clearly play a subordinate role in the finished piece
• The requirement that beads must be made by the artist does not apply in the technique known as bead weaving; however, commercial bead weaving kits are not permitted.

Leather - Work where the primary material is leather including belts, handbags, wearables and sculptural work. All factory-produced items prohibited regardless of additional modification or enhancement by the artist.

Metal – Includes all non-sculptural, non-jewelry work crafted from metals. No production studio work is allowed.

Painting – The use of oils, acrylics, watercolors, and tempera suitable for hanging.

Photography and Digital Photography – The process of capturing images that begins with a camera, then printing the images, by chemical or digital means, onto a surface. This category includes traditional film photography and digital photography. All pieces must be signed, numbered and dated in limited editions of no more than 250.

Printmaking – Printed works in which the artist hand-manipulated the plates, stones, or screens. Prints must be signed and numbered as a limited edition.

Sculpture – Three-dimensional original work created in any medium.

Wood – Original works that are hand-tooled, machine-worked, turned or carved. Embellished manufactured wood items and mass-production are not permitted.

Emerging Artist Program – The Emerging Artist Program provides the opportunity for residents or students of Franklin County who have never exhibited in a juried arts festival to participate in the Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival.  Please refer to the “Emerging Artist Program” description for qualifications.
 

The Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival is a juried fine art and fine craft festival.  Hobby crafts, mass produced items, and buy/sell work are not permitted.  

General Guidelines:

• All work must be the original, hand-produced work of the artists and representative of the work submitted to the festival jury.
• Artist agrees that all work submitted to the jury process and displayed and represented for sale has been designed and executed by the artist(s). 
• No mass-production, manufactured work, or work produces from kits is permitted.  No work by apprentices, studios or employees will be accepted.  Commercial agents, dealers, or manufacturers are not eligible to apply.  No “buy/sell” items or prepared food items will be accepted.
• Sale of promotional items prohibited.  Examples include but are not limited to: note cards, postcards, cell phone holders, posters, books, calendars, etc. 
• Artist must be present during the entire event and available to speak with attendees.  Artists will be asked to show ID upon check-in.    
• Booths may not be moved from the assigned space before 5:15 pm on Monday. 
• Electrical service is not available. Generators are not permitted.
• Artists retain 100% of their sales and are responsible for the collection and reporting of all applicable sales taxes.  Franklin County sales tax is 8% (www.tax.ohio.gov).  Artists shall be responsible for obtaining any required licenses, permits or approvals under state laws applicable to his/her activity at the Festival and for paying any taxes, sales taxes, fees or other charges that may be applicable to any exhibitor’s activity at the Festival.
• Artists will abide by load-in/load-out procedures monitored by City staff and volunteers.  Capability to drive up to booth space for load in/out will be during scheduled hours only on Sunday from 1 pm-6 pm and Monday morning from 7 am-8:30 am.   Arrival outside of these scheduled times will require the artists to cart their artwork and supplies from outside the festival area.

Tent/Canopy Guidelines:

• This event is held on pavement – 40 lb. weights are required on EACH corner of your tent.  Additional weight is highly encouraged.
• All fabric canopies must be securely fastened to the frame.
• All tents must be flame resistant.  Documentation is required (typically there is a tag inside your tent with this information)
• UA Fire Prevention will be onsite the morning of the event to inspect all tents. 
• All displays must be kept inside your allotted space. No additional tables or displays are permitted in the right-of-way.
• Responsibility of compliance rests with the artist. Fire Prevention Office personnel can be reached at 614-583-5119 and will answer any questions concerning the above guidelines.
• Why we are strict with these guidelines:  https://sunshineartist.com/articles/2022/10/life-on-the-road-blog-stormy-weather

Reproduction Guidelines:

• Please see Medium Definitions for category-specific restrictions on 2D reproductions.
• All reproductions must be signed and numbered in limited editions of no more than 250. 
• All reproductions whether framed or unframed, must be clearly and individually
  labeled as such.
• Framed reproductions may be displayed on one wall of the booth, not to exceed ten (10) linear feet. All unframed reproductions must be displayed in browse bins.
• Unframed reproductions may not be displayed in the same browse bin with original artworks.

Booth Fees

• 10’ x 10’ Booth Space - $175
• 10’ x 20’ Booth Space - $350
• Corner Booth - +$50 (in addition to booth space fee)
  • Booths at the end of each row
  • 44 available corner booth spaces
  • First come first serve
• Tent Rentals
  • We strongly encourage you to bring your own tent however we can provide a tent through our tent vendor at cost.  Any issues with tents must be dealt with directly with tent vendor.   
  • 10’ x 10’ Tent Rental: +$300 (in addition to 10’x10’ booth space fee)
  • Rental tents include setup, weights and side walls (these side walls are not designed to hold or display artwork).
  • All rented tents will be located in one area and corner booth spaces will be limited

Jury Fee is non refundable.  Booth Fee is refundable by July 15, 2026 with confirmation before the deadline.  An email must be sent to Jodi Hatfield at jhatfield@uaoh.net to request a refund.