Sioux City Art Center's ArtSplash 2026

ARTSPLASH 2026

The Sioux City Art Center’s ArtSplash Festival has been a successful and beloved community tradition for three decades. ArtSplash attracts a loyal, supportive audience of 10,000-15,000 arts enthusiasts from throughout the upper Midwest. Located in downtown Sioux City on and around the beautiful Art Center campus, ArtSplash invites you to apply to be one of up to 100 exhibitors at the 2026 event, marking the festival’s 32nd year. The Art Center staff and festival volunteers are fully committed to making the experience for artists as comfortable and positive as possible. Net proceeds from ArtSplash directly support the exhibitions and educational programming of the Sioux City Art Center, western Iowa’s only nationally accredited art museum.

During its first 30 years, ArtSplash traditionally occurred over Labor Day Weekend. Beginning in 2025, the festival was rescheduled to two weekends after Labor Day Weekend. The festival will open each day at 10 a.m. and will remain open through 8 p.m. on Saturday and through 4 p.m. on Sunday. Each booth will have access to 400 watts of electricity to allow artists to keep their artworks lit after sundown on Saturday.

2026 ARTIST PROSPECTUS & APPLICATION
ArtSplash, an outdoor art festival managed by the Sioux City Art Center, cordially invites you to apply to be an exhibitor at our 2026 festival of the arts, in its 32nd year! The festival is located in Downtown Sioux City around our beautiful Art Center and is FREE to the public. A celebration of the visual and performing arts, the two-day event provides the region with a family-friendly arts adventure of exceptional quality.

Proceeds from ArtSplash fund education and exhibition programs at the Sioux City Art Center. The Sioux City Art Center believes that art should be accessible to everyone and representative of all. This commitment reflects who we are, but also who we seek to become, as a diverse, inclusive, and equitable organization.

WHAT THE ARTISTS SAY… Comments from the 2024 Artist Survey:
“Great layout, INCREDIBLE volunteers, good crowd and artists are treated so well.”
“As an artist, I love showing at ArtSplash! The attention to detail is beyond comparison. Your treatment of artists is truly amazing. The volunteers are so friendly and check on us at least once an hour. Check-in runs extremely smooth.”
“ArtSplash was very well organized. Art Center staff and volunteers were welcoming and supportive of every artist. The event overall was well organized, promoted, and attended. It was a great weekend.”
“Your team really treats artists well. And the security is top-notch.”
“Well organized, artists leave feeling validated/well taken care of, easy load in/out, great buyers and competition! Overall it is my top show.”
“Easy load in and out, show organization, quick communication post show, and very easy to work with.”

THE ARTSPLASH MISSION & MANAGEMENT
ArtSplash strives to bring the excitement of the visual arts to the region through family-friendly education, exhibition, and entertainment. ArtSplash is managed by a team of professionals from the Sioux City Art Center. Proceeds fund education and exhibition programs and help the Sioux City Art Center remain free to the public.

THE ARTSPLASH FACT SHEET (all information subject to change)
EVENT NAME: ArtSplash
PROFESSIONALLY MANAGED BY: Sioux City Art Center
LOCATION: Downtown Sioux City, Iowa, on Sioux City Art Center Campus and surrounding streets. Free patron admission, free downtown parking, free shuttles to festival entrances.
CONTACT: Summer Amman, Development Coordinator, Sioux City Art Center
MAILING ADDRESS: 225 Nebraska Street, Sioux City, IA  51101
TELEPHONE: 712-279-6272
IMAGES:  3 images of work + 1 booth image (SPLASH Artists submit 4 images of work)
JURORS:  3 paid. Includes MFA-level academics and working artists.
SCORING:  Scoring is 1-7. Single round.
JURY/APPLICATION FEE:  $15 Jan. 1 - 31; $25 Feb. 1 – May 1; $45 May 2 - 10. 
BOOTH SPACE FEE: $295 for 10’x10’. A limited number of Double-WIDE booths available for $575. NO Double-DEEP booths are allowed. An additional $100 is charged for a corner booth.
CASH AWARDS:  $7,500 at press time.
BOOTH SPACE:  10’x10’ with 1’ buffer all around (2’ between each tent), most with abundant storage behind the booth. A limited number of 20’ (front) x 10’ (deep) interior and corner booths are available. We do not offer 20' deep booth spaces.
ELECTRIC:  Included in booth fee. Fueled generators are not allowed. Each booth will have access to 400 watts of electricity to allow artists to keep their artworks lit after sundown. The artist is responsible for providing their own lights and fixtures and should be prepared to bring at least 100 feet of extension cord.
ARTIST PRESENCE:  All required (individual and partner(s)/collaborator(s)).
NO. OF EXHIBITORS EXPECTED FROM JURY POOL: Approx. 85-100
NO. OF ARTISTS EXEMPT FROM JURY:  No more than 9 (award winners from the previous year, Signature Artist)
CASH AWARDS: $7,500
ATTENDANCE: Approx. 10,000-15,000 projected (based on most recent years)
FESTIVAL HOURS: Saturday, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
SECURITY:  24-hour
ARTISTS PARKING:  Free/reserved/off-site dedicated.
INSURANCE: Upon acceptance, artists must provide the Sioux City Art Center with an appropriate Certificate of Insurance, naming The City of Sioux City as an additional insured pursuant to a general liability insurance policy with a minimum coverage of $1,000,000/occurrence and $2,000,000 general aggregate. This is to protect not only each individual artist, but those around them and all guests on site in case of rapidly changing weather. ACT offers affordable options for event insurance for artists and even has time length options for as short as a few days to cover one event, starting at $49. ACT Insurance
STRUCTURE:  Tents must be WHITE, commercial or professional grade with heavy weights (minimum of 60 pounds, though 80 pounds is recommended) on each corner with stabilizing maneuvers that provide maximum safety to artists and guests.

ARTIST AMENITIES
Artists are our priority at ArtSplash. Our volunteers are dedicated to making your festival experience great! Artist amenities include:

• $7500 in cash awards at press time. Best In Show: $2500, 2nd Place: $1500, 3rd Place: $1000, Five Awards of Excellence: $500 each
• Leisurely Friday set-up (timely unload is requested)
• Complimentary Artists’ Cocktail Hour late Friday afternoon – day before the festival
• Artists’ breakfast and awards ceremony Sunday morning
• Favorable hotel rates at two downtown hotels within 3 blocks of the festival grounds
• Integrated Zapp® Gallery on website and marketing campaigns before and during the festival
• Booth sitters and long-time volunteers dedicated to making our artists happy!
• Hospitality Team dedicated to artists' needs
• Complimentary beverages and snacks delivered to your tent throughout each day
• Optional boxed meals delivered to your booth each day for additional fee (option at confirmation)
• Convenient and accessible parking
• 24-hour security
• Festival Guide distributed on-site during event.
• Booth Amenities:
  • 10' x 10' Booth with at least 1’ between booth spaces
  • All booths on street at press time
  • Storage behind booth. Booths will have 2-3’ behind booth

IMPORTANT DATES
January 1, 2026
2025 Application available

May 1, 2026 11:59 p.m., CST
Application deadline

May 10, 2026 11:59 p.m., CST
LATE APPLICATIONS DUE

May 13-16, 2026
Our three-person jury convenes to select a maximum of 85-100 exhibiting artists

May 26, 2026
Notification by email
*Juried artists will receive an invitation to exhibit, dependent upon quality and medium of applications.
*Artists not invited to exhibit but placed on the wait list will be notified of their alternate status.

July 8, 2026
Deadline to accept invitation to participate and remit booth fee.

Friday, September 18, 2026
Artist Load-In begins at 8 a.m. (Schedule is set one month out and sent by email)

ARTSPLASH FESTIVAL
Saturday, September 19 - Public Visual Arts Show, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sunday, September 20 - Public Visual Arts Show, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

SPLASH ARTIST PROGRAM
Designed specifically for artists who are beginning their career with very little experience exhibiting and selling their artwork at any venue. The application procedure is the same as the regular show however, upon acceptance, SPLASH Artists are accepted into a mentoring program and have a tent and some display elements provided for them at no charge. Enter the coupon code SPLASHAPP to waive the application fee. SPLASH Artists participate in ArtSplash at no charge thanks to generous sponsors. SPLASH Artists are ineligible for cash award prizes. Artists may only apply to either the SPLASH Artist Program or for the general show; they may not apply to both.

If applying for the SPLASH Artist Program, the artist must meet these criteria:

• The Artist lives within a 60-mile radius of the Sioux City Art Center (must submit proof of residency with application).
• The Artist has not previously participated in a professionally run art show.
• The Artist is attempting to launch a professional career in the Arts or is an artist taking their established career to another level.
• The Artist has a significant body of work for jurying.

ArtSplash will screen all applying artists to make sure they meet the criteria for this category. All work submitted is juried by the same jury. All rules and submission requirements remain the same for Splash Artist applicants, aside from the following:

SPLASH Artists are asked to apply with a 4th image of their work instead of an image of their booth. When uploading your images, you will upload the 4th image of your work by selecting 'YES' this is your booth shot, even though it is not. Then select 'SPLASH Artist' as your medium category and you will be ready to complete the application.

JURY PROCESS
No more than 100 artists will exhibit at the 2026 event. The identities of artists are not disclosed to jurors. All work must be original and created by the applying artist, it should be well-conceived and expertly executed. Artwork is considered solely on the merit of the work projected. The better the image presented, the better your opportunity for this highly competitive jury process.
 
The jury is comprised of three art professionals. The jury will view each artist's set of four images projected simultaneously in a horizontal grouping, arranged by the date the artist's application was submitted. The process, materials, and dimensions for each image as well as artist information statements will be made available to the jury. A well-balanced show of artistic excellence, quality, creativity, and overall impression of work are the criteria for the selection of exhibitors. ArtSplash does not have any quotas.

A wait list will be developed based on the results of the juried selection process. As space becomes available, wait-listed artists who are selected to participate in ArtSplash will be notified by email.

The following guidance is given to the jurors:

• Your selection criteria should be based on ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE of the quality, creativity, and overall impression of original hand-crafted work created by the artist. The ideal work will be well conceived and expertly executed.
• There is no entitlement or quota per category, or ratio of applications received to the number of artists selected.
• We are looking for a show that is representative of diverse styles and techniques. We are also looking to include a broad range of pricing. 
• We are asking you to bring your areas of expertise to the forefront as well as make the effort to look beyond your area of expertise, keeping in mind that we are aiming for a diverse, well-balanced show formed by consensus.
• We hope that you look beyond your own personal taste, which is different than critical observation assessment.

IMAGES

• Four images are to be submitted for each application entered by the artist. Three images must be of individual pieces of work. The fourth image, must be of a booth or display of the artist's work, showing overall continuity and presentation of your current body of work. PLEASE NOTE: The fourth image is mandatory. *Only SPLASH Artist Applicants may apply with a 4th image of their work instead of a booth shot.*
• If a booth image is not available, submit an image taken of a grouping of works in a gallery or other setting representative of the works to be exhibited at the show.
• The purpose of the booth image is to ensure the artist has a complete body of work which is represented both in the first three images and within the fourth image. It also helps to quickly identify the scale of the artist's work for the jury.
• Note: this is a blind jury process. Do not submit booth images with any identifiable sign or photo of the artist. You risk automatic elimination if the booth image does not comply.
• Images must be in 1920-pixel horizontal x 1920-pixel vertical format.
• Images must accurately represent the body of the artist's work to be exhibited at ArtSplash.
• Upon acceptance to the festival, artists agree that ArtSplash may use images of their work for promotion, website, or other publicity purposes in printed or digital form.

ARTIST STATEMENT
The application will automatically have a question for an artist's description of material and technique of up to 300 characters. You are encouraged to enter a description of material and technique that is concise and explains well the body of work. The jury responds best to a description of technique rather than how you are inspired.
 
NOTIFICATION
Festival will notify applicants of results using the email provided in your ZAPPlication.
In addition to the email notification, accepted artists will be posted on www.siouxcityartcenter.org.
Results will not be given over the phone.
All decisions of the jury are final. ArtSplash reserves the right to reject any application if it does not comply with the covenants and rules set forth in this document.

MEDIA CATEGORIES
Media categories are used by ArtSplash as a tool for organizing artists' images into related groups for the jury's review. While a balanced show that equitably showcases both works of fine art and fine craft, as well as diversity among media, is a principal objective, ArtSplash establishes no quota or entitlement by media category.
Ceramics: All original clay and porcelain work other than jewelry is accepted in this category. No machine-made or mass-produced work is permitted. If multiple pieces of the same design are displayed each piece must be signed.
Digital Art: This category includes any original work for which the original image, or the manipulation of other source material, was executed by the artist using a computer. Artwork must be in signed and numbered limited editions, on archival quality materials. Traditional photographs taken through digital media should apply in the photography category.
Drawing: Works created using dry media including chalk, charcoal, pastels, pencil, wax crayon, etc. or from the fluid medium of inks and washes applied by pen or brush are to be entered in this category.
Fiber: All work crafted from fibers including basketry, embroidery, weaving, leatherwork, tapestry, and papermaking.  This can be wearable or non-wearable. No machine tooling, machine-screened patterns or other forms of mass production are permitted. No factory-produced wearable items, regardless of additional modification or enhancement by the artist, may be exhibited.
Glass: No forms of mass production are permitted.
Jewelry: All jewelry whether the work is produced from metal, glass, clay, fiber, paper, plastic, or other materials must be entered in this category. No commercial casts, molds or production studio work is allowed.
Metalworks: Includes all non-sculptural, non-jewelry works crafted from metals. No production studio work is allowed.
Mixed Media: This category includes works, both 2 and 3-dimensional, that incorporate more than one type of physical material to produce. Includes non-sculptural work as determined by the artist.
Painting: Works created in oils, acrylics, watercolor, etc. are in this category. 
Photography: Photographic prints made from the artist’s original image, which have been processed by that artist, or under his or her direct supervision, are included in this category. Artwork must be in signed and numbered limited editions, on archival quality materials. Photographers are required to disclose both their creative and printing processes.
Printmaking: Printed works for which the artist's hand manipulated the plates, stones or screens and which have been properly signed and numbered as a limited edition may be entered in this category. All photocopy and offset reproductions will be rejected. Printmakers are required to disclose both their creative and printmaking processes.
Sculpture: Three-dimensional original work done in any medium.
Wood: Original works in wood that are hand-tooled, machine-worked, turned, or carved are accepted in the wood category. 

PROMOTION
Integrated Zapp® Gallery on website, social media campaign, comprehensive media relations campaign, and radio and television advertising. 
 

ARTSPLASH FESTIVAL RULES OF THE SHOW
1. All work must be original, handcrafted work. Artist guarantees the accuracy of the description of the works presented and the authenticity of the work as the creation of their own hands.
2. Work done by a production studio, apprentices, or employees is not acceptable. All work must be designed and executed by the accepted artist.
3. No more than two artists may collaborate on artwork. Both must be included on and sign the application. Both must be present at ArtSplash.
4. Artists must be present with their work for the entire two days of ArtSplash. Representatives may not attend in place of the artist. ArtSplash requires photo identification at check-in to ensure compliance.
5. Artists may only show work in the discipline selected by the Jury. All work exhibited must be of the quality, category, and body of work of that shown in the images juried.
6. All jewelry, regardless of material, must be entered in the Jewelry category. Only artists accepted in the Jewelry category may exhibit or sell jewelry.
7. Any artwork, reproduced by mechanical means, i.e., photo-offset, or any other reproduction technique must be labeled as a “REPRODUCTION” and placed in browse bins. Framed reproductions may be hung on only one wall of the booth not to exceed 10 linear feet and they must be labeled as reproductions. Limited editions and monoprints of photography/digital art excluded.
8. Artwork produced with commercially acquired casts, molds, prefabricated forms, studio volume production or other commercial methods will not be permitted.
9. No Buy/Sell, posters, postcards, t-shirts, food products, or mass-produced merchandise permitted.

PLEASE NOTE:

• This is a rain or shine festival. There are no refunds due to inclement weather.
• The decision to close the show due to weather is at the sole discretion of the Show Director.
• Hardship refunds can be made up to the show date and must be accompanied with acceptable documentation (accident report, doctor’s note etc,), at the sole discretion of the Show Director.
• Jury fees are non-refundable.
• A no-call, no-show artist will be ineligible for future shows.
• Leaving early without an acceptable excuse will make exhibitors ineligible for admission to future ArtSplash festivals.

ARTSPLASH BOOTH INFORMATION
Booth spaces are on asphalt and measure 10’x10’ or 10'x20', with minimum of 1' buffer between booths. Any 10'x20' space is a double wide space and will not be permitted to set up otherwise. Participants are expected to remain within the confines of the allowed booth space. Artists are expected to provide their own 10’x10’ or 10'x20' professional grade, canopied, white tent and displays, which should be sufficiently sturdy to withstand weather and crowds. Artists should be prepared for inclement weather with rain covers, tie-downs, and weights. Booths must have a minimum of 60 lb. (80 lb. recommended) weights on all four corners, with additional weight required if wind gusts are forecasted. Artists will be held liable for any damages made by their tents and/or displays. Each artist is responsible for their own tent and display in case of damage or loss. There will be room measuring approximately 3' wide behind the tent for storage. All storage must be neatly concealed within space provided. ArtSplash will attempt to accommodate specific booth requests; however, no booth space request will be guaranteed. A limited number of corner spaces are available for an additional fee. Artists will have the opportunity to purchase booth spaces upon notification of acceptance. Generators are not permitted; however, each booth will have access to 400 watts of electricity to allow artists to keep their artworks lit after sundown. The artist is responsible for providing their own lights and fixtures and should be prepared to bring at least 100 feet of extension cord. The artist assumes all risk of loss, theft or damage to any of their personal property, equipment or supplies arising from or connected to their participation in this event. 

LOAD-IN/PARKING/LOAD-OUT
Parking will be available in a designated artists’ area. Load-in for most locations is drive-up ready for initial drop off. Communication on set load-in times is sent well in advance of the show. Load out will commence as soon as we have guests off-site. This may take a few minutes to clear the site, and we ask for your cooperation in not blocking streets with trucks and trailers. Streets must be clear of all tents, artwork, and supplies by 7 p.m. on Sunday, September 20, in order for the streets to reopen.

REFUND POLICY
Your submission of this application creates an obligation and expectation for you to exhibit and participate in the festival according to the itemized guidelines. Cancellations must be in writing, faxed, or emailed for a refund. The following refund schedule will apply:

• 31-60 days before the show: 50% will be refunded.
• 30 days before the show: No refunds given.