Fairs/Festivals
SMASH Summer Fine Arts Festival 2026 - 9th Annual
Denver, Colorado
Application Fee: $35
Contact Information
Requirement Overview
- Eligible Applicant Types: Artist
- Emerging Artists: Emerging artists may apply.
- Submission Limit: 2
Media Requirements
- Images | Min: 4, Max: 4
- Total | Max: 4
Opportunity Summary
Hosted in the premier, pristine Fillmore Plaza - the center/heart of & gateway into the Cherry Creek North District — an unmatched world renowned and reputable art/cultural venue, (Fillmore St. between 1st & 2nd Ave.) amidst affluent luxury condominiums, shops, and restaurants. This is our 8th straight year in the CCN District - by far the best hot spot nationwide for top shelf art and affluent clientele. A boutique, highly selective, upper echelon outdoor fine-art exhibit - showcasing top-tier in/out-of state artists. Live Violin/Piano music both days of the weekend + Fine-catering. Direct-mailing to CCN Neighborhoods targeting all art collectors; outdoor signage, flyers, social-media, magazine publications, email-blasts/newsletters, and TV News media advertising.
General Information
Show Hours
Saturday August 8th (10am - 5pm)
Sunday August 9th (10am - 5pm)
- tear down Sun. August 9th @ 5pm
- set up Friday August 7th @ 11am/4pm
Saturday August 8th (10am - 5pm)
Sunday August 9th (10am - 5pm)
- tear down Sun. August 9th @ 5pm
- set up Friday August 7th @ 11am/4pm
Application Requirements
- White canopy tents only.
- Tents must have weights (+40lbs) on each corner of upright tent - to protect against any unfavorable wind conditions.
- Booth set-ups must be tidy, professional, and kept visually appealing - with minimal (if any) extraneous items on sides, back, and front of tents.
- 2d artists are recommended to showcase with pro-panels, in some instances mesh panel walls (no grids) may be considered.
- Jewelers are required to showcase with, at a minimum, a type of sheers, curtains, and/or high-quality fabric to cover white tent side-walls (they cannot be visible)
- Tents must be open (w/ out tent sidewall) in the back to showcase exhibiting walls & artwork.
- All work exhibited must be original art produced by the artists (includes limited editions of artist's original artwork); vendor must be the one who creates the work and not an artist representative or wholesaler.
- Tents must be set up 2 ft. away from the butting curb (aligned with the front of neighboring tent) - to leave 2 ft. of extra room behind tent -- please keep items (if any) in this space minimal and tightly/neatly kept.
- Tents must be spaced ~ 2 ft. away from each other on the sides.
- If weather permits, during open show hours white tent front/side walls must be unzipped & stored inside tent - not rolled up.
- Smash in the Square LLC reserves the right to alter exterior tent/booth appearances (in collaboration/communication with the artist) if set up is not up to par.
- Any tables utilized in booths must be covered in clean, untarnished, quality-looking cloths or made up of professional panels.
- Electricity battery generators are available for power, but it is recommended artists supply their own battery generators. Artists needing/having electricity must supply 1-2 of their own extension chords + any/all necessary items to properly manage/operate their lights/electricity.
- All artists are required to have Liability Insurance. If you don't already have an annual policy you can purchase a show-policy from ACT Insurance.
- All artists must be ready/on-site to showcase their booths/tents no later than 10am on Saturday (August 8th) and host/manage tent to at least 5pm & arrive no later than 10am on Sunday (August 9th). Tear-down begins at 5pm on Sunday August 9th.
- Set-up will begin on Friday (August 7th) in intervals starting at 11am. The festival will communicate with each individual artist about specific allocated times for unloading & booth set-ups. Each artist will be provided with a detailed site-map of property and their confirmed/booth tent space/location.
- Vendors are responsible for cleaning up in and around their space during and after the festival.
- A Denver Special Event Sales Tax License is required. If you're a regularly licensed Denver vendor no additional sales license is required. You can register and file online, visit this link: https://www.denvergov.org/ebiztax/_/ Click 'Register or File for Special Event'. The total sales tax in Denver, CO, is 9.15%.
- Artists are responsible for collecting and paying/reporting all sales-taxes
- ZAPPlication Notification Date is applicable for accepted artists.
Jury Details
Average number of applications submitted each year
200
Average number of artists selected from the jury to participate in the event
35
Average number of exempt from jury artists who are invited to participate in the event
2
Booth Information
10' x 10' Booth-space - $625
10' x 20' Booth-space - $1,150
Corner add-on - $125
Electricity add-on - $45
10' x 20' Booth-space - $1,150
Corner add-on - $125
Electricity add-on - $45
Refund Policy
Open Jury process; accepted artists can be notified prior to app. deadline and follow on-boarding process therein. Prior to May 7th '26, artists' opt-outs can receive a 100% booth-fee refund; prior to May 12th '26 - 50% refund; after May 12th '26 no refunds can be made. If for unforeseen circumstances the Smash Summer Fine-Arts Festival is cancelled - then Smash in the Square LLC will reimburse artist 100% of booth-fee.
Terms to Apply
Application Fee: $35