Peoria Heights Fine Art Fair 2026

Peoria Heights, Illinois

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Application Fee: $30

Contact Information

Peoria Heights Arts Collaborative

Contact Email: peoriaheightsarts@gmail.com

Contact Phone: 309-645-2558

Requirement Overview

Eligible Applicant Types: Artist
Emerging Artists: Emerging artists may apply.
Submission Limit: 15

Media Requirements

Images | Min: 4, Max: 4
Total | Max: 4

Opportunity Summary

The Peoria Heights Arts Collaborative (PHAC) is excited to announce the 2026 Peoria Heights Fine Art Fair. The 2026 Fair is a two-day event, Saturday May 9, 2026 from 9:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday May 10, 2026 from 10:00am to 4:00pm. The two-day fair will be held in Tower Park located at 4901 N Prospect Road in Peoria Heights. This is a juried event with a top prize of $1,000.

Peoria Heights is home to local restaurants and pubs, art galleries, and unique boutiques.

General Information

The participants in the show will be selected by a jury. (This jury is separate from the jury that will judge the individual artists for cash prizes on the morning of the fair.) The PHAC strives to present a well-rounded fair with a diverse range of media that demonstrate creativity in concept, design, and execution.

Medium Categories:
- Ceramics: Original functional and non-functional works created from clay, porcelain, stoneware, or earthenware.
- Digital Art: Any original work for which the original image, or the manipulation of other source material was executed by the artist using a computer. Work in this category must be in limited editions, signed, and numbered.
- Drawing: Works that are drawn by hand incorporating ink, charcoal, pencil, etc.
- Fiber/Textiles: Works created from fibers, including weaving, papermaking, leather, basketry, and fine wearables.
- Glass: Functional and/or sculptural objects created by blowing, casting, kiln, or molding as well as all cold working processes.
- Jewelry: Personal ornaments, such as necklaces, rings, or bracelets. All work must be handcrafted by the artist.
- Metal: Functional and non-sculptural works incorporating metal.
- Mixed Media: Works, both 2-D, and 3-D, that incorporate more than one type of physical material to produce. Includes non-sculptural work as determined by the artist.
- Painting: Works incorporating oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastels, etc.
- Photography: Photographs made from the artist’s original image and printed either by the artist or under his or her direction.
- Printmaking: Hand-pulled original works from a block, plate, stone, or other objects. Prints must be signed and numbered as limited editions.
- Sculpture: Three-dimensional works incorporating any material that is carved, modeled, constructed, or cast.
- Wood: Works incorporating wood as 90% of the primary material.

Friday Night Packet Pick-Up: Packets can be picked-up Friday evening May 8, 2026 from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm in Tower Park. Packets may also be picked up Saturday morning May 9th beginning at 7:00 am in Tower Park at Village Hall, 4901 N Prospect Road, Peoria Heights, IL 61616.

Judging and Awards: Artwork of participants will be judged between 9:00 am and 11:00 am on the first day of the fair. Awards will be announced at 1:00 pm.
- Awards
  - 1st Place $1,000
  - 2nd Place $500
  - 3rd Place $250
  - Best Booth $100

Parking: Artist parking is free, close and convenient.
Morning Coffee: Complimentary coffee will be provided in the mornings for the artists.
Box Lunches: One free box lunch will be provided to each booth on Saturday and Sunday. Water will be provided throughout the day.
Tent Set-up and Break-down: Friday: Artists who pre-arrange early access will be allowed to set up starting at 5pm and must be complete by 7pm. Early access space is limited and will be restricted to those with double booths and/or large or very heavy pieces. Saturday: Tent set-up begins at 7:00 am and must be complete by 9:00 am. Artists' vehicles will be permitted on Prospect Road until 8:00 am for unloading only. Sunday: Tent set-up begins at 8:00 am and must be complete by 10:00am. Sunday Night: Break-down will begin no earlier than 4:00 pm and MUST be completed by 6:00 pm. Tents will be set up on pavement; therefore artists must be prepared to secure tents accordingly.
Security: During show hours and Friday and Saturday night.
Support: Festival team members will be available throught the day for artist support.
Cancellation Deadline: Cancellations before May 1, 2026 will receive a full refund of the booth fee.
Weather: This is a rain or shine event.

Application Requirements

Artists' work must be of original design and personal execution.Factory-produced items are not allowed.
Artists must be present during the entire festival. Representatives may not attend in place of the artist. Commercial agents, dealers or manufacturers are not eligible.
Collaborating artists may apply to participate, but only joint work may be shown and sold. Names of collaborating artists must appear on all application materials. If artists apply as collaborating artists, each artist must be on site for the festival.
The work must be representative of the images selected through the application process.
No posters or other promotional products are allowed.
All applications will be reviewed by a jury consisting of members of the Board of the Peoria Heights Arts Collaborative and local artists (who are not eligible to participate in the fair). Announcement of successful applications will be on April 19, 2026.
Five images must be submitted with the application. Four are to be samples of the artist's work; the fifth image must be of the booth display. All applications are judged anonymously; therefore the booth image should not contain people or artist identification.
Signed and numbered limited-edition reproductions of artworks are allowed. Artists must disclose limited edition information on prints. Original art must occupy at least 80 percent of the booth.
Artists may submit applications in multiple categories. A separate application and fee are required for each category entered.
All correspondence with artists will be through email.
Artists are responsible for collecting and reporting all taxes.
Participants are required to leave their space clear of all trash at the end of the fair.
Electricity is not available at this event.

Jury Details

Average number of applications submitted each year

Average number of artists selected from the jury to participate in the event

Average number of exempt from jury artists who are invited to participate in the event

Booth Information

The application fee is $30 per entry. The application fee is non-refundable if you are not chosen to participate in the fair, and IS NOT applied to the booth/participation fee.
The booth/participation fee for a 10’ x 10’ space is $250
Artists may reserve a maximum of two spaces side by side.
Exhibitors are required to have a 10’ x 10’ white tent. Weights for tents are mandatory as staking is not possible.
Space assignments are made based upon booth images, exhibit flow, and artists’ requirements. The use of a location is restricted to the artist to whom it is assigned.

Refund Policy

Cancellations before May 1, 2026 will receive a full refund of booth fee.

Additional Fees

Booth Fee: $250