Taste of the Arts 2026

Under the shade of the majestic live oaks on the front lawn of the USCB Center for the Arts, the first annual Taste of the Arts invites artists from across South Carolina and Georgia to showcase their work during a two-day juried outdoor exhibition and market.

As part of the iconic Taste of Beaufort Festival, this event celebrates fine art, community, and the creative spirit of the Lowcountry.

More than 35 artists will be selected to display original oils, watercolors, acrylics, photography, sculpture, and more. The event offers strong regional marketing exposure, dedicated volunteer support, and an engaged audience of over 8,000 visitors throughout the weekend.
Important Dates

Application deadline: February 16, 2026

Notification of acceptance: March 1, 2026

Booth fee payment deadline: March 15, 2026

Applicants must submit the following materials for consideration:

• Completed online application form (link to be provided).
• Four (4) digital images of recent work representing the body of work to be exhibited.
• One (1) booth image (must not show the artist’s name, logo, or identifiable signage).
• Artist statement or brief description of work (200 words or less).

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Medium Catetories include:  original oils, watercolors, acrylics, photography, sculpture, and more. 

Artist Perks

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  Media Categories
  Artists may apply in one or more of the following categories:
  Artists may apply in one or more of the following categories. Each application must represent a distinct body of work. If accepted in multiple categories, artists must exhibit only the work submitted and approved through the jury process.

• Ceramics- Original handmade clay and porcelain works. No machine-made or mass-produced pieces permitted. Each piece of similar design must be individually signed. (Wearable ceramics must be juried under Jewelry.)
• Drawing- Works created using dry media such as chalk, charcoal, pastel, pencil, crayon, or fluid media like ink and washes applied by pen or brush.
• Fiber- Original work crafted from natural or synthetic fibers, including weaving, basketry, leatherwork, tapestry, and papermaking. No machine-screened patterns, kits, or factory-produced wearable items. (Wearable fiber jewelry must be juried under Jewelry.)
• Glass- Blown, fused, or stained glass created by hand. No mass production or commercially manufactured components. (Wearable glass pieces must be juried under Jewelry.)
• Jewelry- Original jewelry designs created from metal, clay, glass, fiber, or mixed materials. No commercial or production studio work permitted.
• Metalworks- Non-jewelry works created from metal, including sculpture, wall hangings, forged utensils, or architectural elements. No manufactured components or mass production. (Wearable items must be juried under Jewelry.)
• Mixed Media- Two- or three-dimensional works incorporating multiple materials or techniques that do not fit neatly into another category.
• Painting- Original works created in oil, acrylic, watercolor, or other traditional painting media. Reproductions must be clearly labeled and limited to 20% of booth display. AI-generated work is not permitted.
• Photography- Original photographic prints made from the artist’s own image, processed by the artist or under their direct supervision. Artists must disclose both creative and printing processes.
• Printmaking- Original hand-pulled prints, including etching, woodcuts, lithography, and screen printing. Works must be signed and numbered as limited editions. Photocopies or digital reproductions will not be accepted.
• Sculpture- Three-dimensional works created from any material, designed for indoor or outdoor display.
• Wood- Original works hand-tooled, turned, or carved from wood. No manufactured or mass-produced items allowed. Selection Process
• Submissions will be juried by a panel of art professionals.
• Artwork will be rated on a 1–7 scale based on originality, technique, and presentation.
• Balanced category representation will be maintained across all media.
• Waitlist applicants will be notified as spaces become available.

To participate in the 2026 Taste of the Arts Juried Fine Arts Exhibition, artists must meet the following requirements:
Artist Eligibility

• Open to artists aged 18 and older.
• Applicants must reside in South Carolina or Georgia.
• Collaborative teams are eligible but must apply jointly and exhibit only their collaborative work.
• Artists must be present and personally staff their booth for the duration of the event (May 1–2, 2026). Representatives or substitutes are not permitted.

Artwork Eligibility

• All artwork must be original and created by the exhibiting artist.
• Works must reflect the same style and medium represented in the application submission.
• No mass-produced, kit-made, or commercially manufactured items are allowed.
• Reproductions are permitted only if clearly labeled and limited to no more than 20% of the display.
• AI-generated artwork and resale of commercially produced items are strictly prohibited.
• Only white tents/canopies are permitted for booth setups.

Application & Jury Process

• All applications must be submitted by January 9, 2026.
• Submissions will be juried by a panel of art professionals and rated on a scale of 1–7.
• Acceptance notifications will be sent via email by January 23, 2026.
• Booth fee payment deadline: February 14, 2026.
• Only one application per body of work is permitted. Multiple applications must represent different media categories or distinct bodies of work.
• A waitlist will be maintained by category and filled based on jury score if spaces become available.

 

Booth & Display Rules

• Booth size: 10x10 feet, white canopy/tent required.
• Artists may store materials behind their booth.
• Setup begins at 9 AM Friday, May 1, and booths must be ready by 1 PM. Saturday setup begins at 9 AM, ready by 11 AM.
• Tear-down begins at 4 PM Saturday, May 2.
• Artists are responsible for insurance and protection of their work and structures. The festival is not responsible for damage or loss.
• Artists are liable for any damage caused by their tents or structures.

Exhibitor Requirements

• Artists must personally staff their booth for the duration of the festival; substitutes are not allowed.
• Work displayed must be original and created by the artist. Reproductions must be clearly labeled and cannot exceed 20% of the booth display.
• No mass-produced, kit-made, resale, or AI-generated items are permitted.
• Collaborative teams must apply jointly and exhibit only the approved collaborative work.
• Booths must remain intact until festival closing at 4 PM on May 2, 2026.

 

Key Refund & Cancellation Rules:

• • Deadline Policy: (Booth Fees )Cancellations before a set date April 10 may receive a partial refund, while late cancellations result in total forfeiture of fees.
  • Weather Clause: Taste of the Arts is a rain or shine event. 
  • No-Show Policy: If an artist fails to show up or check in by a designated time, they forfeit their booth fee.
  • Entry fee is non refundable.