River Clay Fine Arts Festival 2026

JOIN US OCTOBER 23, 24 and 25, 2026
Now scheduled in gorgeous late October each year! 

For 10 years now, our participating artists report great sales, exceptional event organization and unparalleled volunteer assistance and community enthusiasm.

River Clay can’t wait to do it all again!

• Ticketed Patron Preview Friday evening, October 23
• Festival dates October 24 & 25
• 75-80 artists
• $175 for 10x10, $350 for 10x20 (limited availablity)
• Patron Program and River Clay Cash funds dedicated to purchases from artists
• Indoor restrooms for artists only!
• Strong volunteer presence at load-in and load-out
• Artist parking FREE and close to the event
• Park-like greenspace with great layout
• Professional looking event designed especially for professional artists
• High-quality work, absolutely no buy-sell
• Balanced category representation
• Enthusiastic, art buying population supporting a fast-growing arts-driven economy

"Very professionally run from application, to set up, to load out. The artists are appreciated with an exceptional party with patrons, not to mention they provide us lunches! The art is exceptional, and show is well balanced... they appreciate fine art and artists!" ... Roger Poer, Designs by R and R

"I just wanted to thank you for a great show this year.  It was the best show I had, not only in sales, but in terms of ease of set up, helpfulness of the staff and just the general atmosphere of fun among both patrons and vendors.  I look forward to River Clay every year and it is one of the very few shows I will travel out of town to do anymore.  You all make it a pleasure to be a part of the River Clay Experience!" ... David Byland, Bison Ridge Leather


Located in the beautiful Tennessee Valley of north-central Alabama, Decatur is a fast-growing, established arts community and home to the Carnegie Visual Arts Center, Alabama Center for the Arts and the Princess Theatre. The festival site, located on the Decatur City Hall campus, is surrounded by Alabama’s largest Victorian historic district and a picturesque, revitalized downtown complete with numerous bistros, galleries, restaurants and unique retail boutiques. The fast-growing city of Decatur is conveniently located midway between Nashville and Birmingham, just 10 minutes west of I-65.  You'll find that River Clay is a great draw to patrons from all over North Alabama, including Huntsville, Alabama's fastest growing city and home to NASA, Redstone Arsenal and numerous world-class technology/engineering firms, boasting the highest per-capita level of education and income in Alabama, just 25 minutes to the east.

Type of Show:  Outdoor Fine Art Show
 
Spaces Available:  75-80 spaces available

Important Dates:

• Application deadline 7-7-25
• Artist notification 7-26-25
• Deadline to accept and pay booth fee 8-19-25

Patron Preview and River Clay Rendezvous Event:

• Friday evening event from 5 - 9 pm begins on the River Clay site with a ticketed Patron preview of artist's booths and works.  Many sales are made this evening!  Light fare and beverages are provided for patrons, each artist and one assistant. 
• **At approximately 6:30 p.m., artists close up and everyone walks across to the Rendezvous event located at the Alabama Center for the Arts for heavy hors d'oeuvres and beverages.  It's a great kick off to an even better weekend event! (Make your plan for battery-operated booth lighting for Friday night, there is no electrical service available and GENERATORS ARE NOT ALLOWED.)  

Artist Amenities:  

• Indoor restrooms for artists
• Air-conditioned hospitality center (water, snacks, swag bag, etc.)
• Artist helpline
• Booth sitters available
• Breakfast and lunch, both Saturday and Sunday for artist and one assistant - FREE!
• Easy load-in by appointment
• Volunteer help for load-in and load-out
• Close, free parking
• Tax booth on site
• Artists will have an active link from the River Clay site to their artist website and social media and will also be provided with information to drive customers to their booth

 
Marketing Strategy:  The majority of our growing River Clay budget is used in marketing this festival.  In-depth, highly professional marketing includes extensive use of social media, regional TV and radio, electronic billboards, regional and local print publications.  Our support system includes the City of Decatur, the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, Decatur/Morgan County Tourism, Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority, the Carnegie Visual Arts Center, Athens State University, the Alabama Center for the Arts, Calhoun Community College, numerous local industry, corporate and private entities allowing the award-winning* professional River Clay marketing team to aggressively promote this event. 
*Festival Marketing Sponsor, McComm Group was awarded the 2016 Gold ADDY Award for Integrated Brand Identity Campaign by the American Advertising Federation North Alabama for their work on River Clay..

RIVER CLAY POLICIES: 

River Clay works very hard to maintain a blind jury process - BE SURE YOUR BOOTH SHOT HAS NO ARTIST/STUDIO NAME OR PEOPLE SHOWN IN IT.  Artist submission photos including artist name or studio name will be flagged for correction and not be seen by jurors unless necessary corrections are made.

**Artists must be present during the entire festival and must personally staff their exhibit space. Event is rain or shine, no early departures permitted. No spouses, agents, dealers, or representatives may attend in place of the artist. Artists who sell their entire body of work must remain with their booths for the duration of the festival. Artists who break down displays or depart before closing time on any day of the festival will not be allowed to return the following day or to future shows unless proof of an emergency is presented.
 
**Artists are responsible for proper insurance and protection of work and structures. The festival is not responsible for damage to work or structures due to weather or unrelated incidents. Each artist is responsible for his/her own display in case of damage or loss. Artists will be held liable for any damage made by their tents or structures.

ONLY white canopies/tents are to be used during River Clay.
 
Collaborative Works:  Artists must submit separate applications, unless applying as a team. If artists are accepted as a team they may only exhibit the collaborative work they were accepted for and both artists must be present during the entire festival.
 
Artists wishing to exhibit work produced in more than one media category must create separate Zapplication accounts with separate online user IDs, set of digital images and jury fee for each category. Jewelry may be sold only by artists who are juried into the jewelry category. Only one application may be submitted per body of work represented. Multiple applications must represent either work in different media categories or distinctly separate bodies of work within one category. No advantage is gained by submitting multiple applications for the same body of work in multiple categories.

Waitlist Policy:  Waitlist will be constructed from applicants within each category by score.  Should the waitlist from a category be exhausted, the next highest scoring applicant (from all remaining waitlist applicants regardless of category) will be contacted.


RIVER CLAY Media Categories 
River Clay will use the below stated media categories as a resource for organizing artists' images into logical, related groups for jury review. A balanced show, equitably showcasing exceptional works of fine art and fine craft as well as diversity among media, is our principal objective, therefore River Clay will establish no entitlement or quota by media category.
 
Ceramics: Original handmade clay and porcelain work (other than jewelry) is accepted in this category. No machine-made or mass-produced work is permitted. If multiple pieces of the same design are displayed each piece must be signed.  (Wearable ceramic works must be juried into the Jewelry category.)
 
Digital Art: This category includes 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 on archival quality materials. Traditional photographs taken through a digital media should apply in the photography category.
 
Drawing: 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 to be entered into the drawing category.
 
Electronic Art: This category is for artwork making use of electronic media and technology including projection work, video art, interactive electronic work, new technology work, light sculpture, etc.
 
Fiber: All work crafted from fibers including basketry, embroidery, weaving, leatherwork, tapestry and papermaking. No machine tooling, machine-screened patterns, kits or other forms of mass production are permitted. Absolutely no factory produced wearable items, regardless of additional modification or enhancement by the artist, may be exhibited. (Bracelets, necklaces, earrings and rings must be juried separately into the Jewelry category.)
 
Glass: No forms of mass production will be permitted. Lampworking, blown or fused and stained glass would be applicable to this category.  (Wearable glass works must be juried into the Jewelry category.)
 
Jewelry: All jewelry produced from metal, glass, clay, fiber, paper, plastic or other materials will be entered into this category. No commercial casts, molds or production studio work is allowed.
 
Metalworks: This category includes non-jewelry, non-sculptural works crafted from metals. Hand forged items such as knives, wall hangings, architectural elements and found materials are included in the metalworks category.  No addition of cut or other appliques to manufactured items or substrates.  No production studio work is allowed.  (Wearable items must be juried separately into the Jewelry category.)
 
Mixed Media: This category includes works, either 2 or 3-dimensional, incorporating more than one type of physical material to produce. This category includes non-sculptural work as determined by the artist.
 
Painting: Original works created in oil, acrylic, watercolor, etc. are to be entered in this category. Reproductions must be clearly labeled as such. No more than 20% of works displayed for sale may be reproductions.
 
Photography: Photographic prints made from the artist's original image, which have been processed by that artist, or under his or her direct supervision, are included in this category. Photographers are required to disclose both their creative and printing processes.
 
Printmaking: Printed works for which the artist's hand manipulated the plates, stones or screens and which have been properly signed and numbered as a limited edition may be entered in this category. All photogravure, photocopy and/or offset reproductions will be rejected. Printmakers are required to disclose both their creative and printmaking processes.
 
Sculpture: Original three-dimensional work done in any medium.  Works designed to be displayed in either indoor or outdoor settings.
 
Wood: Original works in wood that are hand-tooled, machine-worked, turned or carved are accepted in the wood category.



 

River Clay works very hard to maintain a blind jury process - BE SURE YOUR BOOTH SHOT HAS NO ARTIST/STUDIO NAME OR PEOPLE SHOWN IN IT.  Artist photos showing artist name or studio name will be flagged and not seen by jurors unless necessary corrections are made.

Artists must be present during the entire festival and must personally staff their exhibit space. Event is rain or shine, no early departures permitted. No spouses, agents, dealers, or representatives may attend in place of the artist. Artists who sell their entire body of work must remain with their booths for the duration of the festival. Artists who break down displays or depart before closing time on any day of the festival will not be allowed to return the following day or to future shows unless proof of an emergency is presented.
 
**Artists are responsible for proper insurance and protection of work and structures. The festival is not responsible for damage to work or structures due to weather or unrelated incidents. Each artist is responsible for his/her own display in case of damage or loss. Artists will be held liable for any damage made by their tents or structures.
 
Collaborative Works:  Artists must submit separate applications, unless applying as a team. If artists are accepted as a team they may only exhibit the collaborative work they were accepted for.
 
Artists wishing to exhibit work produced in more than one media category must create separate Zapplication accounts with separate online user id's, set of digital images and jury fee for each category. Only one application may be submitted per body of work represented. Multiple applications must represent either work in different media categories or distinctly separate bodies of work within one category. No advantage is gained by submitting multiple applications for the same body of work in multiple categories.
 
 
**WAIT LIST
A wait-list, by category, will be established based on jury scores. Wait-listed artists will be notified when a space becomes available within their medium. In the event that no one in the open category is available, the space will be filled by the wait-listed artist with the highest score from all categories.

**RCFAF is a pet-friendly festival.  Your pet must be on a leash at all times and under control. In the case of aggression or incessant barking, your pet may need to be removed from the festival therefore be certain to have alternative care if you choose to bring your pet. Please be certain to clean up any messes left by your pet.

Exhibitor Obligations
 
1.  All work shown must be created by the exhibitor.  No mass-produced or commercially made items are acceptable.  Items made exclusively from commercial molds are prohibited.  Reproductions of original artwork may only be displayed in print stands, bins, or portfolios and must be clearly marked as reproductions.  No more than 20% of works displayed for sale may be reproductions. The only exceptions to this rule are digital work and photography.
 
2.  River Clay is a rain or shine event.  Exhibitors must be present with their work for the duration of the show. Exhibitor’s employees may not substitute for the exhibitor. Booth displays must remain intact until the show ends at 4 pm on Sunday, October 26, 2025.
 
3.  Photo ID is required at check-in.
 
4.  Only work representative of that submitted for jury may be exhibited. Displays will be viewed throughout the Festival. River Clay reserves the right to require removal of any work that differs from the images submitted and accepted as well as any inappropriate work or display. Failure to remove such work or abide by other rules set forth may result in applicant’s removal from the Festival and/or applicant being prohibited from future application. Applicant agrees to abide by all regulations outlined in this application, in the load-in and load-out instructions, the River Clay Exhibitor Information packet, security procedures, or any rule promulgated by the Board. Applicant acknowledges that failure to abide by regulations and repeated non-compliance will result in expulsion and ineligibility for judging, awards, and participation in future River Clay events including but not limited to its annual outdoor show. Expulsion of an exhibitor or participant from River Clay is without the necessity of any written notice and without legal recourse or right to rebate any portion of the fees paid.
 
5.  Each exhibitor is responsible for collecting Alabama state, county, and city sales taxes as required by law. Tax forms will be provided with registration packets at the festival, and tax personnel will be on site to facilitate tax collection prior to artists leaving River Clay grounds on Sunday, October 26, 2025.
 
6.  River Clay Fine Arts Festival retains the right to prevent an artist from exhibiting for conduct deemed, in the association’s sole discretion, unacceptable and/or detrimental to the mission and reputation of River Clay Fine Arts Festival.
 
7.  Exhibitors who violate rules or obligations, (such as exhibiting mass-produced or inappropriate merchandise, being incapacitated, leaving site), will be escorted from the site and will be required to return at the end of the festival to remove their work and may be prohibited from future application.

8.  Payment of booth fee automatically implies acceptance and participation in the 2025 RCFAF and allows RCFAF to use artists images in RCFAF marketing materials be it in print or by electronic means.  

9.  Extensive circulation of printed marketing materials leaves us unable to make last minute booth assignment changes.  If you have requirements for your booth location, please be certain you notify artistinfo@riverclay.org at the time of your acceptance and payment of booth fee.  We will try to accommodate reasonable and timely requests but can make no guarantee that your request can be met.

 

Booth fee:  $175 
 
Booth size:  10x10 feet.  Your canopy/tent/booth must be WHITE.  Artists will share space behind their booth for storage.  A limited number of double booths are available, contact artistinfo@riverclay.org for availability.  Double booth fee $350.
 
Booth Set Up/Tear Down:  Check in by appointment begins at 9 am on Friday October 24, 2025. Upon check-in, vehicles will be unloaded and moved before booth setup can begin.  Artists must plan to cart their supplies and artwork a short distance to their booth sites. (Artists who have not checked in by 3 pm on Friday must wait until Saturday morning to unload and set up.)  Booths must be set up and ready for business by 4 pm on Friday to participate in Friday evening’s activities.  Artists who are unable to complete set up by 4pm on Friday may still attend the evening activities on Friday.  Saturday morning set up will begin at 5:30 and late arrival booths must be set up and ready for business by 9 am.  Booth tear-down begins at 4 pm on Sunday.
 
Security:  Professional overnight security will be provided.
 

Refunds will be considered on a case-by-case basis.  It is River Clay's mission to be fair and reasonable in all dealings with our artists, patrons and the public.