An Occasion for the Arts 2026

The 58th Annual An Occasion for the Arts, October 3-4, 2026 is dedicated to maintaining high standards and working diligently to foster a positive environment for artists and patrons. Our commitment is to balance the show so it showcases every artists’ unique work. 

• Friday set-up and Sunday tear-down drive adjacent to booth
• 38,000 loyal, art educated patrons (Geofencing Data 2024)
• Onsite staff and fabulous volunteers
• Every Booth is a Corner 
• Reserved artist-only parking (No Camping or Overnight Stays in any parking lot)
• Booth sitters and lunch delivery (pre-ordered/paid from local restaurant Aromas)
• 24 hour security using local police
• Full color printed program sent to 20,000 households prior to the show
• Awards Reception Saturday Evening 
• $6,000 in awards; winners jury-exempt the next year

 

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How to Apply

• Each application must include five (5) images: four (4) of artwork and one (1) of booth display.  We encourage artists to prepare images to meet ZAPP requirements prior to uploading them to your ZAPP profile. Visit this link to the ZAPP Help Center to learn about Image Preparation.
• Thursday April 23 is a our preferred deadline, the application fee is $40.
• Thursday April 30 is our final deadline, the application fee $50. 
• Artists creating work in different media must submit a separate application for each body of work. If you are planning to showcase any jewelry in your booth, you must apply in the Jewelry category. 

Booth Image Requirements

• Do not submit a booth image with identifiable signage or with the artist in the image. Jury selection is anonymous, as much as possible. This can disqualify you from the jury process.
• It is preferred that the booth image be taken from the front showing two or three walls and giving the best overall sense of the artist’s work. 
• The purpose of the booth image is to show scale of work and ensure that you have a complete body of work, as represented in the first four (4) images.  It will also provide a fair and accurate portrayal of your overall presentation AS IT WILL APPEAR AT AOFTA. Select a booth image that shows the professionalism of your set up, as this is considered in the jurors’ assessment of your application.
• The booth display image may also be used on site for quality control purposes.

Show Requirements

Adherence to the following rules during the show is necessary to maintain the quality of the show at a high level for artists and patrons. An Occasion for the Arts considers the enforcement of its rules to be a necessity and a responsibility. Non-compliance with the rules, outlined below, can result in requests for work to be removed from display and for sale, and/or expulsion from the show. If an artist is removed from the show, no booth fee refunds will be issued.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

 

1. Artists must be present in their booth during all open hours of the event (other than brief breaks relieved by booth sitters) No dealers, agents or representatives will be permitted. A photo ID (drivers license or passport) of the artist is required during check-in. Artists must wear their Festival Name Badge at all times during the Festival open hours, or when setting up or cleaning up in their booth. In addition the show has the right to check ID during the show.
2. All artists' work on display must be original, hand-crafted artwork, made by the artist and available for sale. 
   1. Work done by a production studio is not acceptable. The Festival wants artwork made by the hands of the artists selling the work. If the hands of others make the artwork, please don’t apply to the show. You will not be accepted. If you are a production studio, then An Occasion for the Arts is not for you.
   2. Buy-sell and/or imports are not allowed. Work from kits, commercial designs, or done in classes/workshops are prohibited. Artists selling work that is not their own will be expelled from the show.
   3. No sharing of booths is allowed. Only artists who have been juried will be allowed to display
3. Artists may only exhibit work in the category in which they were juried. Exhibited work must be consistent in style, quality, and method with juried images. (e.g., All jewelry must be juried in the jewelry category; no glass jewelry in a glass booth unless a jewelry application has also been submitted and  juried in.)
4. An Occasion for the Arts Policy Regarding Reproductions: We realize that in order to make shows financially feasible, some artists must sell less expensive, "bread & butter" creations. Our guidelines regarding the sale of "bread & butter" pieces: 1) must NOT be the largest part of inventory that is displayed and they should occupy only a small part of your booth and less than 10% of stock, 2) must be in the same style and category as the work you were accepted in. For example, a) note cards reproduced from an artist’s original work may be exhibited but in small quantity, or b) a wood turner may sell wooden pens provided they have created them and are displayed in small quantity. What you have juried with into the show should be the prime focus and occupy the vast majority of your booth.Prohibited are: commercially manufactured or reproduced items; (For example: posters, mouse pads, magnets, etc.); T-Shirts and commercial clothing; any item that employs the use of commercially available molds or patterns; items that have been purchased and then embellished. 2D Reproductions: All reproductions must be clearly labeled "reproduction" on the front of the piece or clearly labeled on front of a display bin, and comprise no more that 10% of stock.
5. An artist’s statement describing the techniques, materials, and processes used in the creation of work should be posted visibly in the booth. Our patrons will appreciate this.
6. Artists are required to provide their own Tents/Canopies (White) which must be professional grade (e.g. Trimline, Showoff, Lite dome, Caravan, Ez-Up, Crafthut) with a minimum of 40-pound weights on each corner to provide safety to artists and guests.
7. Artists must provide a Certificate of Insurance (COI) naming An Occasion for the Arts as an Additional Insured no later than 60 days prior to the festival. Artists are required to maintain commercial general liability insurance with coverage of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence.
   Artists are solely responsible for securing property insurance, which is strongly recommended for the protection of their artwork, equipment, displays, and personal property. An Occasion for the Arts is not responsible for loss, theft, or damage to artwork, equipment, or booth materials due to weather, accidents, vandalism, or any other cause.
8. All participating artists are required to register with the City of Williamsburg for a Business License. This is a simple online process and for most artists, the fee will be approximately $30. For out of state artists operating LLC’s, the artist must register with the Virginia SCC and retain an in-state Registered Agent. In order to streamline this process and help artists overcome the logistical and financial barriers that this might present, An Occasion for the Arts Board Member will offer registered agent services at a nominal fee through their professional legal practice.  More details on these requirements and links to forms and resources will be provided to all invited artists.  If you have questions before applying please reach out to Festival Director Hannah Barco at aofta.director@gmail.com.

Booth Fees and Information

Our show layout takes advantage of the buying energy around Merchants Square. The show is arranged into 3 artist's sections: Section 100 is on Boundary Street, and 2 sections on Duke of Gloucester Street (200 and 300). All booths are arranged so each artist has a corner booth.
 

Booths on Duke of Gloucester or on Boundary Street

If the layout map does not appear below click here

$495 –Booths on Boundary Street (10 X 10 w/ two exposed outside walls) Description: Booths on Boundary Street have limited (must be very clean) storage behind and are placed only on one side of a wide street.  $495– Booths on Duke of Gloucester (10 X 10 w/ two exposed outside walls) Description: Booths on Duke of Gloucester are placed in two rows that are back to back. All storage must be contained within 10X10 space. $990 –Double Booth  (10 X 20) w/ both outside walls exposed) Description: Limited number (approx. 10) and scattered throughout the show ELECTRICITY IS NOT AVAILABLE to artist booths. Generators are not allowed but batteries or battery packs can be used.

Refund Policy

The application fee is non-refundable. Booth fees will be refunded if a refund request is submitted to aofta.director@gmail.com by July 9, 2026 Once an artist accepts the invitation to participate in the Festival, and pay booth fee, the artist automatically guarantees commitment to comply with event policies and to participate in the An Occasion for the Arts. In the event a registered artist cannot participate:

• the artist must email aofta.artists@gmail.com, on or prior to July 9, 2026 
• the artist will be refunded their full booth fee, less the $80 processing fee for a 10x10 booth or $160 for a 10x20 unless otherwise specified 
• at their discretion,the Festival Director may invite an alternate exhibitor

Artists are not eligible for a refund based on accepting an invitation to another show.