Fairs/Festivals
GLASS Arts Festival 2026
Contact Information
Requirement Overview
- Eligible Applicant Types: Artist
- Emerging Artists: Emerging artists may apply.
- Submission Limit: 1
Media Requirements
- Images | Min: 5, Max: 5
- Total | Max: 5
Opportunity Summary
Glass artists are invited to enter the GLASS* Arts Festival, an exclusively glass festival held outside on the grounds of Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass in Neenah, WI. Glass artists and collectors from across the country will gather to celebrate glass art during the Friday night VIP collectors’ shopping experience Friday, August 7, 5:30-7:00pm, and the Saturday, August 8, 10am-5 pm GLASS Arts Festival, open to the public. In addition to the best in glass art, visitors will enjoy live music, artisan food and beverages, children’s art activities, and glass blowing demonstrations. Artists will enjoy amenities such as opportunities to explore exhibitions in the museum, $3,500+ in cash prizes, a solo exhibition at the museum in 2027 for the top prize winner, appetizers and beverages on Friday evening, continental breakfast, box lunch and booth sitting on Saturday. Artists will be provided with a 10’ x 10’ booth space, under a festival tent with electrical available.
The 2026 GLASS Arts Festival juror is ______
*Glass Lakefront Art Show and Sale
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General Information
Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass, established in 1959 in Neenah, WI, has been an exclusively glass museum since 2012. The permanent collection began with the Bergstrom collection of paperweights and the Mahler collection of Germanic glass vessels, housed in a 1929 mansion on Lake Winnebago. Today a growing collection of contemporary glass art and changing exhibitions bring in tourists from across the country and the world.
We encourage artists to become Artist Members of the museum (for $45.00) with a FREE jury fee, via coupon.
Non-member jury fee is $45.00; member jury fee is $0.00.
If you are already a Museum Member, or wish to become a member, contact Kelly at stoll@bmmglass.com to receive a coupon towards the $45.00 fee.
TIMELINE
- January 1, 2026 Application open.
- May 1, 2026 Application deadline.
- June 1, 2026 Artists will be notified.
- July 1, 2026 If accepted to show, artist invitation must be accepted and all booth fees paid by this deadline. Booth fees are nonrefundable.
- Booth selection offered when booth fee is paid; early fee payment provides preferred location.
- Registration packets will be emailed to artists.
- Friday, August 7, 2026 All booths set-up from 10am - 4pm; 5pm - 7pm VIP Collectors’ Shopping Experience
- Saturday, August 8, 10am -5pm Artists will remain onsite throughout the festival.
ARTIST AMENITIES
- Appetizers and beverages Friday night, 5:00-7:00 pm; Artists and collectors mingle in an exclusive pre-festival evening of conversation and sales opportunities.
- Continental artist breakfast Saturday morning 9:00-10:00am, before the show starts. Complimentary box lunch will be delivered to artist and helper.
- Complimentary booth-sitting service will be provided, subject to availability.
- Security guards patrol the grounds Friday night, but artists should have all artwork secured. The museum is not responsible for damages, loss, or theft.
- The GLASS Arts Festival features up to 50 artists, creating an intimate festival that caters to the artists.
Medium Categories:
Beads/Jewelry
Blown
Cast
Fused
Kiln-formed
Lampworking/flameworking
Mixed media (with primary medium glass)
Mosaic
Stained Glass
Sculpture
Paperweights
All objects displayed in the Artist Booth must be for sale to the public (sold designation dots are acceptable).
Awards
1st Place $2000 and solo exhibition at Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass in 2027; free booth fee in 2027.
2nd Place $1000 and free booth fee in 2027.
3rd Place $500 and free booth fee in 2027.
Application Requirements
Exclusive to glass artists.
The Application fee and the Booth Fee are non-refundable.
All objects displayed in the Artist Booth must be for sale to the public (sold designation dots are acceptable).
Artists must be present to exhibit and manage their displays during GLASS Arts Festival. Artists should be present to speak with the Juror durring the show. Artists are limited to the booth space(s) they were assigned; booth spaces are non-transferable. Any artist who has not been juried into GLASS Arts Festival and/or has not paid the jury and booth fees, will not be allowed to exhibit.
All sales will be conducted between the artist and the purchaser. Participating artists must obtain a State of Wisconsin seller’s permit prior to the fair and must collect and pay Wisconsin sales tax (5.0%) on all sales made during the fair.
Jury Details
Average number of applications submitted each year
100
Average number of artists selected from the jury to participate in the event
40
Average number of exempt from jury artists who are invited to participate in the event
3
Booth Information
Booth Information
Large pavilion tents will be provided by BMMOG and each artist will be assigned a 10’ x 10’ booth space for $300.00 or two adjacent booths for $500.00. The booths are within the large pavilion tents, the tents are on the lake lawn grass. Artists will supply their own tables, chairs, display units, and accent lights (LED required), which will all fit within the assigned 10’ x 10’ space. Electrical hook-up is available. Artists may choose to set up a pop-up tent under the big tent, but it is not necessary.
Refund Policy
Refund and Cancellation Policy
The Application fee and the Booth Fee are non-refundable.
Additional Fees
Single Booth Fee: $300
Second Booth Fee: $200
Terms to Apply
Application Fee: $45
