Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Art Market 2026 (AMFA Art Market)

The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Art Market (AMFA Art Market) celebrates the institution's mission of creating an inclusive cultural space that inspires and builds community through the visual and performing arts. This market will showcase a variety of artists whose work is dynamic, unique and features artistic excellence. Up to 50 jury-selected artists within the event spaces of this award-winning building will be featured.

The AMFA Windgate Art School will have an Emerging Artist Marketplace featuring a rotation of 20 Arkansas artists who have little to no experience exhibiting and selling their artwork. Emerging artists will participate and sell their work on Saturday or Sunday of the Art Market.

Entrance to the Art Market and the museum is free. AMFA invites artists to participate in this show and exhibit their talent and artistry. The dates are September 11 - 13, 2026. 

Thursday, September 10, 2026 / Artist arrival and set-up.
Friday, September 11, 2026 / 10 am – 8 pm Open to all AMFA Members
Saturday, September 12, 2026 / 10 am - 5 pm Open to the public.
Sunday, September 13, 2026 / 11 am – 4 pm Open to the public.

Address: 501 East Ninth Street Little Rock, AR 72202 
Telephone: 501.372.4000

AMFA’s Art Market strives to deliver an experience for the community that allows them to engage, experience, and grow their appreciation of the arts, and offer them the opportunity to expand their private collections with local, regional and national artists.

Artist Application Details
Images: Submit 4 hi-resolution images of artwork and 1 booth image. Select artists will be featured in advertising and promotion of the Art Market. High quality photos are highly recommended. Photos featuring great composition, lighting and focus will provide a better opportunity to be selected as one of our featured artists, and give the best representation of your work. Professional photos are always welcome.

The purpose of the booth image is to help show an overall continuity, scale and presentation of the collection of work being submitted. The work shown in the the image is what is expected to be presented at the show. The images will be referenced on the set-up day. Any work shown to not be consistent with the images submitted in the Zapp application will be removed from the booth without recourse. Refusal to remove work not approved by the jury in advance will be grounds for removal from the show.

Please be sure you do not reference either your name, your business name, or have people in your booth image. This is a "blind jury" and names are not disclosed to the jurors to keep the selections fair. If names or people appear in your booth image, your application will be rejected.

Artist's Statement: This is required as it will help guide the jurors and collectors in understanding your artistic vision, philosophy and process behind your work.

Application Fee: The early bird application fee is $40 and is active through 11:59 pm CST, March 27, 2026. The regular application fee of $50 runs through May 8, 2026, 11:59 pm CST.

All artists must plan to have enough artwork to support their booth space until the end of the event.

JURY PROCESS 
Up to 50 artists will exhibit at the AMFA Art Market, and 25 spots will be available for juried applicants. These spots will be determined through a competitive monitor jury process. A total of 7 artists or galleries will be invited by the Art Market Director. Emerging Artists submissions are reviewed in a separate process. The jury is comprised of three art professionals. The jury will review applications in a “blind jury” process and will view each artist's set of five images individually on a monitor, arranged by the date the artist's application was submitted. The process, materials, and dimensions for each image and artist information statements will be 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 exhibiting artists. An additional number of artists will be retained for a waiting list of alternates based on the scores received in their category. Decisions of the jury panel are final. Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts reserves the right to reject any application if it does not comply with the rules outlined in the application process. 

MEDIA CATEGORIES PERMITTED
Ceramics: All original hand-formed, wheel-thrown, sculpted clay and porcelain work may be submitted in this category. Other unique applications can be included. Each must be signed. Ceramic jewelry should be entered in the jewelry category. No machine-made or mass-produced work is permitted. If multiple pieces of the same design are displayed, each must be signed. 

Drawing/Pastels: Original 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 permitted. Limited edition signed prints are permitted, and they can be featured in bins. Original works must be featured on the walls.  

Emerging Artist: This is for artists who have limited to no experience exhibiting and selling their artwork in a juried festival, market or fair. You must be based in Arkansas. If you attended the 2025 AMFA Art Market as an Emerging artist, you cannot apply as an Emerging Artist in 2026. The application procedure and application fee are the same as the regular show; however, upon acceptance, Emerging Artists will pay a reduced booth fee of $150. The booth is limited to one 3' x 6' studio table (with white tablecloth) and both will be provided. Artwork must be contained to the table, unless cleared by the Art Market Director. In additon, artists will only feature their work on one day, Saturday or Sunday. The Art Market Director will decide the date. The Emerging Artist Marketplace will be in one of the Windgate Art School studio spaces. Artists meeting the requirements of residency may apply in this category with any media of work, and will be juried and scored among other Emerging Artists. Final invitations will be made based on scores within this category, with an intent to have a broad mix of media. Artists may only apply as an Emerging Artist or as a regular Exhibiting Artist.  Artists applying under both the Emerging Artist and the regular artist program will have their Emerging Artist application denied. Artists must be a resident of Arkansas. Students are encouraged to apply. AMFA reserves the right to pre-screen emerging artists to make sure they are a fit for this category.

Fiber: All work hand-crafted from fibers including basketry, embroidery, weaving, leatherwork, tapestry, and papermaking are permitted. This can be wearable or non-wearable. No factory-produced wearable items or machine tooling or screened patterns can be included. 

Glass: Only hand-blown, kiln-formed, and other forms of original glass artistry is permitted. Mass produced glass cannot be accepted. 

Jewelry: All jewelry must be entered in this category. Materials can include metal, glass, clay, fiber, paper, plastic, or other materials. No commercial casts, molds, or production studio work will be permitted. 

Metal: Includes works crafted from metal. No production studio work is allowed. 

Mixed Media: Works that include both 2 and 3-dimensional, that incorporate more than one type of physical material in their creation. Non-sculptural works as determined by the artist may be included. Limited edition signed prints are permitted, and they can be featured in bins. Original works must be featured on the walls.
 
Painting - Oil/Acrylic: Original works created in oil or acrylic. Limited edition prints are permitted, and they can be featured in bins. Original works must be featured on the walls. 

Painting - Watercolor: Original work created in watercolor. Limited edition signed prints are permitted, and they can be featured in bins. Original works must be featured on the walls. 

Photography: Photographic prints made from the artist's original image, which have been processed by that artist, or under their direct supervision, are included in this category. Photographers are required to disclose both their creative and printing processes on prints that have been properly signed and numbered as a limited edition.
 
Printmaking/Graphics: Hand-printed works for which the artists worked on plates, stones, or screens are permitted. All photogravure, giclee, photocopy, and/or offset reproductions may not be entered. Printmakers are required to disclose both their creative and printmaking processes in their artist statement. 

Sculpture: Three-dimensional works done in any medium. 

Wood: Hand-tooled, machine-worked, turned, or carved are accepted in this category.

Artist Selection 
All submitted ZAPP applications are reviewed and juried before acceptance is offered. Artists may jury in more than one category, but not with the same body of work. Only one application may be submitted per body of work with an application fee for each category. An artist must use the same name for all applications and can submit up to 5 applications.The artist's work is juried; therefore, any change will require approval from the Art Market Director before the show. Absolutely no consideration will be made if the work is of a different category. Work that is not consistent with the submitted images will be refused.  
 
Artists whose work is selected in multiple categories will exhibit in one booth space. Submitted application and signature on the Artist Agreement (for those invited) confirm acceptance. 
 
Artist Eligibility 
Artists at AMFA’s Art Market may only exhibit original and limited-edition, signed work as specified in the medium(s) in which they are juried. Mass or factory produced work done by a production studio, in classes or workshops are not permitted. AMFA reserves the right to refuse the exhibition of work that is not consistent with the application submitted images and Art Market rules. No booth fee refund or compensation will be made if an artist is removed from the show for noncompliance. 

Artists must define “limited edition” through their Artist Statement. This includes whether it is an original limited edition print, or open edition. This must be disclosed to the buyer. At least 75% of the applicant’s booth space must be occupied by original art. Books for sale that contains the artist’s work are permitted. Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts will have the right to identify the Artist as a participating Artist and use their name, submitted images and trademarks in advertising and promotion of the AMFA Art Market at no cost. 
 
Artist Payment 
Booth fees and a signed Artist Agreement are due by June 12, 2026, to confirm participation. All payments will be made on ZAPP. Artist payment to the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts is not tax-deductible under federal income tax laws or otherwise. 

An official exhibiting Artist list announcement will be posted on AMFA's website shortly after.

Booth Space
Event Set-Up Date is Thursday, September 11, 2026.
More information will be sent after acceptance and in the Art Market artist packets.

Single Booth Fee: $450
Booth Sizes: 10’ x 10’ and 12' x 8' 

No tents may be installed as this Art market will be held inside the museum’s Atrium, Cultural Living Room and Glass Box event spaces. A white pipe and drape along the back of the booth will define the space. Professional display walls are highly recommended to exhibit 2D work. If you are using Pro-Panel or custom walls taller than 7 ft, we may remove the pipe and drape from your area, as it will not be visible. No grid-wire walls are allowed. Nothing may be attached to the museum walls, beams or glass. One table with black cloth, and a chair is included with the booth fee. If accepted, please specify the table size you would like when paying your booth fee. 6' and 8' tables are available. A limited quantity of each are available. An additional table with black cloth will be a $10 fee. All storage MUST be arranged neatly and safely within the Artist’s booth.

Booth Assignments 
Booth assignments are made after receipt of payment and artist agreement and are assigned by the Art Market Director. We will do our best to honor the booth size that you request, although we may have adjust booth placements based on the curation of the show, or requirements needed for traffic flow. Booth locations will be assigned and shared with the acceptance packets. No booth location assignment changes will be honored on-site. 
  
Due to the architecture of the building, booth spaces are approximately 10’ x 10’ and 12' x 8'. Currently, there are (23) 12' x 8' and (2) 10' x 10' booths. There are three event locations within the museum in which the Art Market will take place. All artists must be present on-site during the entire festival and exhibit during the festival hours. No spouses or other representatives will be permitted in place of the artist. No sharing of booths except under extraordinary circumstances and ONLY if prior approval is provided in writing from the Art Market Director. The booth and display must remain intact during all hours of the show. This booth information does not apply to Emerging Artists.

Tent 
No tents will be allowed since the event will be held inside the Museum. 
 
Electricity 
Electricity must be requested at the time of acceptance so it can help determine placement. There is no fee. If requested, artists are allotted one 110v/20a outlet per booth. Most booth spaces have an outlet nearby. Generators are prohibited. Surge protectors are required. 
 
Sales and Sales Tax 
Artists retain all revenue from the sale of their work and are responsible for state and local sales tax. The artist is responsible for collecting and safekeeping its money and property and the festival assumes no responsibility for lost or stolen money. Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts will not provide change for the Artist. The artist is responsible for collecting and reporting all taxes for sales made during the festival and reporting them as being sold in Little Rock, Arkansas. We will provide you with a form from the state to be completed and turned in to the Art Market Director at the end of the event. The state sales tax rate is 8.63%. For more information on the filing for this 3-day event call 501.682.7003. 
 
Insurance 
Artists are responsible for proper insurance and protection of their work during Art Market hours and set-up. Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts will not be responsible for damage to artist work or set-up. All artists are encouraged to maintain insurance. 
 
Security 
Security will be 24 hours each day during the Art Market. The event will be held inside the Museum's event spaces. Cultural Protection Officers and security cameras are in use. Any merchandise left overnight is at the artist’s risk and responsibility.