Fairs/Festivals
Festival of the Arts 31st Annual - 2026
Destin, Florida
Jury Fee: $30
Contact Information
Requirement Overview
- Eligible Applicant Types: Artist
- Emerging Artists: Emerging artists may apply.
- Submission Limit: 1
Media Requirements
- Images | Min: 4, Max: 4
- Total | Max: 4
Opportunity Summary
The 31st Annual Festival of the Arts takes at the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village in Destin, Florida on October 24 & 25. The Festival features juried artists from around the United States, continuous live music, Cuisine on the Green (beer, wine, bloody marys, food trucks and local restaurants) kids art projects and more. This is a juried show that includes artists in the categories of Watercolor, Acrylic, Clay, Mosaic, Metal, Jewelry, Sculpture, Photography, Oil, Pastel, Collage, Fiver, Pen & Ink, Glass, Wood, Paper, Mixed Media, Pottery, Resin, Ceramics, Fiber, Glass, Jewelry, Metal, Mixed Media, Oils & Acrylics, Original Digital Art, Photography, Sculpture, Wood and Works on Paper (Watercolor, Printmaking, Pastels, Pencils, Ink). Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation awards $12,000 in cash prizes and is a rain or shine event.
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General Information
In its 31st year, the Festival of the Arts offers continuous live music, artist demonstrations and art projects for children as well as local cuisine. The Festival is held in Destin, Florida an affluent and residential destination.
Jurying is by three art industry professionals. Repeat attendance by the public insures potential multi-year sales. Presented on the grounds of the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village, hospitality is a high priority. Staff and volunteers fork year-round to create a pleasant envorinment for artists. Awards are given based on the Judges’ scoring of each artist’s body of work as displayed in their booth. As a one of the Foundation's signature events, the Festival of the Arts helps us fulfill our mission to enhance and inspire every life through Arts and Culture.
The $12,000 in cash awards include, Best in Show, People's Choice Award, Awards of Excellence, Awards of Merit and Judge's Recognition Awards.
Amenities:
*Limited to 105 juried artists
*Attendance of 6,000 quality art buyers
*Color image in program (print and digital) with artist contact info and links on website in the Artist Preview
*Exceptional artist hospitality
*Artist awards $10,000
*Easy, convenient Friday load-in
*Drive to your booth for load in/load out
*Discounted hotel rooms close to the festival site
*Free, on-site artist parking and overnight parking
*Complimentary continential breakfast prior to show opening Saturday & Sunday
*Artist award dinner Saturday after the show on the festival grounds
*Limited Corner booth option (returning artists first right of refusal)
*Booth Sitters available throughout the weekend
*Overnight Security Friday and Saturday
*Artist ticket to Arty Party kick off event on Friday night
*Water delivered by volunteers during the festival
*Indoor Bathroom Facilities
*Continuous live music and entertainment
*Food trucks, Cocktails, Wine & Beer
Jurying is by three art industry professionals. Repeat attendance by the public insures potential multi-year sales. Presented on the grounds of the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village, hospitality is a high priority. Staff and volunteers fork year-round to create a pleasant envorinment for artists. Awards are given based on the Judges’ scoring of each artist’s body of work as displayed in their booth. As a one of the Foundation's signature events, the Festival of the Arts helps us fulfill our mission to enhance and inspire every life through Arts and Culture.
The $12,000 in cash awards include, Best in Show, People's Choice Award, Awards of Excellence, Awards of Merit and Judge's Recognition Awards.
Amenities:
*Limited to 105 juried artists
*Attendance of 6,000 quality art buyers
*Color image in program (print and digital) with artist contact info and links on website in the Artist Preview
*Exceptional artist hospitality
*Artist awards $10,000
*Easy, convenient Friday load-in
*Drive to your booth for load in/load out
*Discounted hotel rooms close to the festival site
*Free, on-site artist parking and overnight parking
*Complimentary continential breakfast prior to show opening Saturday & Sunday
*Artist award dinner Saturday after the show on the festival grounds
*Limited Corner booth option (returning artists first right of refusal)
*Booth Sitters available throughout the weekend
*Overnight Security Friday and Saturday
*Artist ticket to Arty Party kick off event on Friday night
*Water delivered by volunteers during the festival
*Indoor Bathroom Facilities
*Continuous live music and entertainment
*Food trucks, Cocktails, Wine & Beer
Application Requirements
RULES OF PARTICIPATION
All tents must be staked and weighted (grass surface) in the instance of wind. Artists should be prepared for inclement weather. The use of pop-up tents is discouraged due to instability during wind and rain.
Exhibits may not be removed before closing of the show on Sunday. All visitors MUST be off the grounds prior to breaking down and exiting the show. NO vehicles/trailers allowed on the festival grounds until ALL guests have left.
DIGITAL IMAGE SUBMISSIONS
An artist may only show work in categories approved for that artist by the jury. All work exhibited must be the quality & type of work shows in the jury images. Only an artist accepted in the jewelry category may display or sell jewelry. Artists may not share booth space with another artist or sell t-shirts or posters. Generators and amplified music are not permitted. An artist’s work that does not match the quality of their images will be asked to remove their exhibit without a refund.
Each artist is responsible for collecting Florida State sales tax of 7%. Forms are available at www.FloridaRevenue.com Click on General Tax and follow the instructions.
Each artist much be present duing the show to to be eligible for judging. No gallery or artist representative may take the place of an artist. Artists may not share a tent.
As an outdoor venue there is a rain or shine policy. Cancellation due to hazardous weather conditions or acts of God is at the discretion of the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation Festival of the Arts Committee. No refunds or credits given.
A processing fee of $50 will be deducted from an approved refund before 8/31/2026.
No refunds after 8/31/2026.
ENTRY FEES
One application per artist.
Each media requires a jury fee of $30.
$350/single space; $400corner (limited); $700/double space (limited).
Before applying please make sure your work meets the following criteria.
By applying you agree to abide by the rules, policies and decisions of
Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation and its Board of Directors.
Each artist provides their own white, 10x10 tents.By applying you agree to abide by the rules, policies and decisions of
Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation and its Board of Directors.
All tents must be staked and weighted (grass surface) in the instance of wind. Artists should be prepared for inclement weather. The use of pop-up tents is discouraged due to instability during wind and rain.
Exhibits may not be removed before closing of the show on Sunday. All visitors MUST be off the grounds prior to breaking down and exiting the show. NO vehicles/trailers allowed on the festival grounds until ALL guests have left.
DIGITAL IMAGE SUBMISSIONS
- Submit 4 images (3/represented work, 1/booth set-up. The entire booth image is required to be juried, no exceptions. Booth image must represent the type of work which will be juried. The jury will base scoring on these four images. A PROFESSIONAL BOOTH IMAGE (INCLUDING SETUP AND DISPLAY) IS CRITICAL IN TOTAL SCORING FOR ARTIST ACCEPTANCE.
- High resolution JPG images are required. Please do not include your name or image on any of the images.
- Artists must be at least 18 years of age. Creations must be deemed Fine Art or Fine Craft (defined as difficult to learn, produces work that is complex and is completely designed and produced from scratch by the maker as reflected by the price).
- All artwork must be original. No kids, buy-sell, mass-produced, manufactured goods, ceramics cast from commetical molds, decals or patterns permitted. Only 25% total maximum artist reproductions of original work will be permitted for sale in a booth. NOTE: Specify if/how much is AI assisted.
- As a juried show, judging will be done on the entire body of work, not just one piece.
- Collaborating artists (limited to 2) MUST have all names on the application. Noconglomerate, co-op, group workshop, galleries or apprentice work is allowed. This will be strickly enforced
An artist may only show work in categories approved for that artist by the jury. All work exhibited must be the quality & type of work shows in the jury images. Only an artist accepted in the jewelry category may display or sell jewelry. Artists may not share booth space with another artist or sell t-shirts or posters. Generators and amplified music are not permitted. An artist’s work that does not match the quality of their images will be asked to remove their exhibit without a refund.
Each artist is responsible for collecting Florida State sales tax of 7%. Forms are available at www.FloridaRevenue.com Click on General Tax and follow the instructions.
Each artist much be present duing the show to to be eligible for judging. No gallery or artist representative may take the place of an artist. Artists may not share a tent.
As an outdoor venue there is a rain or shine policy. Cancellation due to hazardous weather conditions or acts of God is at the discretion of the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation Festival of the Arts Committee. No refunds or credits given.
A processing fee of $50 will be deducted from an approved refund before 8/31/2026.
No refunds after 8/31/2026.
ENTRY FEES
One application per artist.
Each media requires a jury fee of $30.
$350/single space; $400corner (limited); $700/double space (limited).
Jury Details
Average number of applications submitted each year
170
Average number of artists selected from the jury to participate in the event
105
Average number of exempt from jury artists who are invited to participate in the event
5
Booth Information
ENTRY FEES
One application per artist.
Each media requires a jury fee of $30).
$350/single space; $400/corner (limited) Corner spaces will be released after the jury process to returning artists first; $700/double (limited). Double spaces will be released after the jury to returning corner space artists first, then if available any corners will be released to artists on a first come, first served basis. Please note if you would like to be on this list.
Booth space requests are honored in the following priority:
a. 2025 award winners
b. returning artists from 2025
c. new artists
Load in date is Friday, October 23 from 8:00am-7:00pm.
Each 10x10 space will have 3'-4' of space between tents and 8'-10' for storage behind your tent.
One application per artist.
Each media requires a jury fee of $30).
$350/single space; $400/corner (limited) Corner spaces will be released after the jury process to returning artists first; $700/double (limited). Double spaces will be released after the jury to returning corner space artists first, then if available any corners will be released to artists on a first come, first served basis. Please note if you would like to be on this list.
Booth space requests are honored in the following priority:
a. 2025 award winners
b. returning artists from 2025
c. new artists
Load in date is Friday, October 23 from 8:00am-7:00pm.
Each 10x10 space will have 3'-4' of space between tents and 8'-10' for storage behind your tent.
Refund Policy
No refunds for cancellation of the event due to weather or Acts of God.
A processing fee of $50 will be deducted from an approved refund before 8/31/2026.
No refunds after 8/31/2026.
A processing fee of $50 will be deducted from an approved refund before 8/31/2026.
No refunds after 8/31/2026.
Additional Fees
Alan Moore Only - Double: $700
Patrick Reynolds Only - Double: $700
Ricky Steele Only - Corner: $400
Karl Stelzer Only - Corner: $400
Jeff Waldorff Only - Corner: $400
Jenny Wang Only - Corner: $400
Mary Lee Only - Corner: $400
Kristine Senft Only - Corner: $400
Martin Figlinski Only - Corner: $400
Jordan Aucoin Only - Corner: $400
Jamie Babula Only - Corner: $400
Loran Chavez Only - Corner: $400
Shari Coan Only - Corner: $400
Tony Cray Only - Corner: $400
Evie Davis Only - Corner: $400
Bob Ferraro Only - Corner: $400
Kathy Schumacher Only - Corner: $400
Marise Fransolino Only - Corner: $400
Chris Glennon Only - Corner: $400
Kipley Meyer Only - Corner: $400
Kelly Pierre Only - Corner: $400
Kelly Rysavy Only - Corner: $400
Thomas Sanders Only - Corner: $400
Anne Schroeder Only - Corner: $400
Ben Foster Only - Double: $350
Megan Welch Only: $350
John Halliday Only: $350
Katie Hughes Only: $350
Tony Mitchell Only: $350
Joycelyn Flores Only: $350
Norman Gardner Only: $350
Jesse Kraker Only: $350
Kelly Kirschner Only: $350
SINGLE BOOTH FEE : $350
George Bragg Only - Corner: $50
Emily Granfield Only - Corner: $50
Laurell Szczepanski Only - Corner: $400
Terms to Apply
Jury Fee: $30