ArtFest Fort Myers 2027

Fort Myers, Florida

Contact Information

ArtFest Fort Myers, Inc.

Contact Email: grisel.martin@artfestfortmyers.com

Contact Phone: 239-768-3602

Requirement Overview

Eligible Applicant Types: Artist
Submission Limit: 10

Media Requirements

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

Opportunity Summary

Join us for ArtFest Fort Myers' 27th Festival, Friday, February 5 to Sunday, February 7, along the waterfront in downtown Fort Myers.

200+ artists from across the country and worldwide will showcase their work along the picturesque riverfront.

Southwest Florida's strong economy has created a demand for art. Your participation in ArtFest Fort Myers is an opportunity to showcase your work to over 95,000 attendees throughout the festival weekend.

Here's why you should join us in 2027:
- An exciting Friday night opening celebration
- A two-day, free community event that draws from neighboring counties and beyond
- A highly professional staff, a dedicated steering committee, and engaged volunteers ready to assist you with your needs
- A combination of traditional and cutting-edge artwork
- Loyal art buyers, art enthusiasts, and influential VIP Club patrons
- Family-friendly activities that encourage future artists
- Oversized booth spaces
- Discounted hotel rates
- And more!

General Information

27th Annual ArtFest Fort Myers
Downtown Fort Myers, Florida
February 6 and 7, 2027
Opening Night February 5 (participation is optional)
Application Deadline: September 18, 2026

There is so much information to share - please read all of it.

Fort Myers is the largest metro area in Southwest Florida, with corporate headquarters, booming residential and commercial markets, and a Visitor and Convention Bureau dedicated and funded to building our record-breaking tourism. As a result, your target audience of upscale and savvy art patrons grows daily. This dedicated community of art lovers and collectors waits all year to enjoy and purchase the incredible artwork of fabulous professional artists nationwide.

Artists are selected in a blind jury based on the quality of artistry, workmanship, originality, and artistic conception. All work must be done solely by the exhibiting artists. ArtFest Fort Myers strives to create a well-balanced show that represents diverse styles and techniques in the following categories: Ceramics, Digital, Drawing/Graphics, Fiber, Glass, Jewelry, Metal, Mixed Media 2-D, Mixed Media 3-D, Painting - oil/acrylic, Painting - watercolor, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Wearable, and Wood.

ArtFest Fort Myers is a community event that entices people to buy art. The festival includes the largest high school art exhibit and competition in Southwest Florida, a popular high school sidewalk chalk competition, a children’s Art Yard with interactive art projects, and a Community Stage featuring regional performing arts organizations. Our upscale dining areas with shaded table seating provide ample food and beverage options.

Important Deadlines:
September 18, 2026: Application deadline
September 21 to September 25, 2026: Jury Days
October 9, 2026: Invitations sent
November 11, 2026: Acceptance by artist due
November 11, 2026: Booth fees due
December 4, 2026: Withdrawal date without forfeiture of booth fee
January 5, 2027: Artist certificate of insurance due
February 5, 2027: Artist setup, with staggered assigned load-in times beginning at 7:30 am
February 5, 2027: Opening Night, including approximately 85 festival artists from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. (participation is optional)
February 6, 2027: ArtFest Fort Myers, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
February 7, 2027: ArtFest Fort Myers, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Opening Night on Friday (participation optional):
The evening includes approximately 85 festival artists. The artist sections flanking the VIP Club are open from 5 to 9 p.m. If you want to participate in this exciting additional selling opportunity on Friday night, please mark “YES” on the application under Friday Night Opening to receive further information. There is an extra fee for participation on Friday night. Please note that artists will be responsible for their battery-powered light source; no electricity is provided.

Jury Process:
ArtFest Fort Myers uses Zapplication™ to administer its application process. It is a Monitor
Jury. The Jury is blind, meaning the jurors do not know the artists' names or other information. The five-member jury panel is made up of a diverse group of experienced art professionals who are selected for their art background and knowledge. This often includes but is not limited to, museum curators, gallery owners, Master's or higher-level art instructors, etc. Our jury members vary annually.

Ninety percent (90%) of the exhibitor spaces will be selected through the jury process. The remaining spaces are for past Best of Show winners, the past year’s Poster Artist, current Poster Artist, and artists invited by the Executive Director.

The booth image should show your booth as it is set up for exhibition at an outdoor show with your work displayed, but it must not reveal the artist’s name or have people standing in the booth. The image description and Artist Statement will be available to the jurors on their computer monitors. Please use the Artist Statement to convey the process used to create your work and not the inspiration behind your artwork, as that should speak for itself.

The Jury's decision is final and based solely on the images provided. Images from accepted artists will be retained to promote and ensure adherence to the rules and regulations.

A waitlist, by category, will be established based on jury scores.

Jury Prep Assistance for Artists:
We can review your images before the application deadline and provide feedback on “jury appropriateness.” We enjoy helping artists and are happy to share our insights to support your success. Please get in touch with us well in advance so you have time to adjust images as needed.

Promotion:
All advertising messages and media will be targeted to bring art buyers to you. Our primary goal is to draw in art lovers, experienced and new collectors, and educated buyers who are year-round residents and those visiting Southwest Florida during the season’s peak.

Our marketing plan takes a synergistic approach that combines all types of media. The plan includes television, radio, newspaper, magazines, billboards, theater and symphony programs, ArtFestFortMyers.com, e-newsletters, and year-round Facebook posts, with paid ads and organic postings. In addition, promotion to our robust tourist and visitor market includes online display ads in a 150-mile radius. The plan is valued at $125,000+ and results in over 7.2 million advertising impressions targeted to art buyers throughout South Florida.

ArtFest Fort Myers is active year-round on Facebook and Instagram and focuses on our organic and paid campaigns to best bring more buyers to artists. Social media works best when artists and art festivals work together. We encourage artists to send stories about you, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and Like, Comment, and Share our posts to amplify reach. We follow hundreds of artists and Like, Comment, and Share your posts.

Artist Amenities:
ArtFest Fort Myers is an artist-friendly outdoor fine art festival. Our staff and volunteer
committee want your experience with us to be enjoyable and profitable. Our local businesses support us so that we can continue to provide you with the following:

Artists’ Hospitality includes daily complimentary continental breakfast, water, juice, coffee, and private indoor restrooms.
Booth sitters and dedicated Artist Ambassadors
Friday setup, with staggered times beginning at 7:30 am
Drive up access for ease in unloading and loading.
Professional 24-hour security
Oversized booth spaces with at least three feet between each booth and ample storage space located behind
Reserved artist parking with complimentary trolley service
The on-site host hotel, Luminary Hotel & Co., includes covered parking with special artist rates.
Special group rates at other nearby hotels - information will be HERE as it is finalized.
Free and secure parking for artist RVs
Opportunity to participate in artist-based promotions
Opportunity to increase sales by participating in our Friday Night Opening
The artist acceptance notice will include the festival site plan, directions, and helpful information.

Accessibility:
ArtFest Fort Myers is accessible to all artists, including those with disabilities. Physical
accessibility includes:

Booths with no physical barrier to entry and same-level storage area
Parking on a solid surface with accessible trolleys or special parking accommodation with a continual paved path to the artist’s booth
Accessible bathrooms and on-site artist support volunteers for questions and solutions

Please indicate any specific accommodations needed in your ZAPP application.

Young Art Collectors Gallery - “Creating Art Buyers of the Future”:
The Young Art Collectors Gallery is designed for young art patrons in elementary school to
choose and purchase original artwork at a child-friendly price of $5 without the influence of their parents.

Participating festival artists are requested to donate a small piece of work, $25 value or less, to stock the Young Art Collector Gallery. More than one piece of work will be graciously accepted. This donation may or may not be a part of your current body of work - we understand that many artists still need to have recent work valued at $25 or less. All donating artists will be presented with a “Young Art Collectors Participant” ribbon for display in their ArtFest Fort Myers booth. Young patrons and their parents will be advised of your booth number so that they may enjoy your body of work.

Category Descriptions:
If artists have questions regarding the appropriate category or apply in more than one category, please call and chat with an ArtFest staff member. We enjoy talking with artists and are happy to share our insights.

Ceramics - Art objects, either functional or decorative, of earthenware, porcelain, or tile, made by shaping and then firing a nonmetallic mineral, such as clay, at a high temperature.

Digital - Images made with the assistance of computers. Computer graphics are often made with software called drawing, painting, illustrating, and photographic programs or
applications. Traditional photographs taken with digital media should apply in the Photography category.

Drawing/Pastels—Drawings are works on paper made with pencil, crayon, ink, charcoal, pastels, and other marking media.

Fiber - Includes non-wearable artwork from fibers such as basketry, embroidery, weaving,
tapestry, and papermaking.

Glass - Art expression from blowing, fusing, or otherwise fashioning glass.

Jewelry - Ornaments, such as bracelets, necklaces, or rings, made of precious metals set with gems, semi-precious gems, ceramic, glass, or any other product. Jewelry must always be entered under this category, and not in glass, ceramic, etc., that may be the type of material used – jewelry is always jewelry.

Metal - Creating artwork by forging, twisting, and fabricating various metals.

Mixed Media 2-D - Works that incorporate more than one type of physical material in their
production. 2-D Mixed Media work should include more than one of the following: paint, pencil, watercolor, photography, printmaking or drawing, fabric, or other found objects.

Mixed Media 3-D - Works that incorporate more than one type of physical material in their
production. 3-D Mixed Media should include more than one of the following: clay work, fiber,
glass, metal, wood, or other 3-D objects.

Painting: Oil/Acrylic — The Creation of a still life, portrait, landscape, abstract, or another image on a flat surface, such as canvas, with oil and/or acrylic paint or sticks.

Painting: Watercolor—Creating a still life, portrait, landscape, abstract, or other image on a flat surface with watercolors.

Photography - Process of capturing images of objects by the action of light, then printing the images, by chemical or digital means, onto a flat surface.

Printmaking/Graphics - Printmaking is a transfer process of producing original art, usually
multiples. It involves creating a drawing or composition on a surface other than paper for transfer to paper through a press or impressions made by hand.

Sculpture - Shaping figures or a design in the round or relief by chiseling marble, modeling clay, casting metal, or other materials.

Wearable — This category includes clothing or leather goods, such as belts or purses, that can be worn. Factory-produced items, regardless of additional modification or enhancement by the artist, may not be exhibited.

Wood - Art objects, functional or decorative, may be hand-tooled or machine-worked in wood.

Application Requirements

Artwork must be original in design, and an artist may display and sell only in the medium category in which the work has been accepted. Work displayed and sold at ArtFest Fort Myers must be consistent with work represented by jury images. Artists are prohibited from selling non-original promotional items (i.e., posters, postcards, note cards, calendars, tee shirts, etc.) during the festival.

Artists wishing to rent a booth setup may do so only through The Tent Guys, which
supplies artist-style tents and equipment for the festival. No other tent rental companies are allowed.

Artists sitting in chairs outside their booth in attendee-walking areas must use high chairs only. Low chairs in the way of attendee traffic is a tripping hazard and safety concern. There are no exceptions to this rule.

Artists must confine their setup to the space allocated by ArtFest Fort Myers and not infringe on neighboring artists’ space. Space allocations are based on the Fire Marshall rules, and no infringements will be tolerated.

Artists cannot park their vans, trailers, RV, or similar within two blocks of the entrance areas or perimeter of the festival site at any time over the festival weekend or during setup and breakdown preparation. This rule is a Homeland Security issue for the perimeter of an outdoor event as significant as ArtFest Fort Myers. The festival perimeter area will be monitored for artist vans, trucks, etc., close to the site. If an artist’s vehicle is found within the festival’s defined perimeter, they will be notified to move their vehicle, or it will be towed.

If two or more people collaborate to produce original work, each person must be identified on the application. These must be genuinely artistic rather than business collaborations. For example, framing or printing work does not constitute a creative partnership; therefore, individuals involved in those processes should not be listed on the application as partners. Likewise, work created by apprentices or employees will not be accepted.

Artists and all collaborating partners must be present on-site with their booths for business during the festival. If two names are on the application, both must check-in and show photo ID, and both should be present for the entire festival.

Commercial agents, dealers, manufacturers, or buy-sell vendors are not eligible to enter, nor can they be proxies for artists.

Artwork produced with kits, castings from commercial molds, patterns, plans, or other
commercial means is prohibited.

Artists must display an Artist Information Statement in a prominent place within their booth.
Materials and processes used must be disclosed in this statement.

Displaying ribbons and awards from previous shows or other shows is prohibited.

Original art must occupy at least 50% of the artist’s wall space. All artwork on walls must be
framed or otherwise professionally hung. Browse bins may occupy only minimal space and must be aesthetically pleasing and not obstruct patron flow. All artwork displayed must be for sale.

Limited edition, signed, and numbered artwork reproductions are allowed (including copies
printed on paper, canvas, metal, etc.). The artist must define “limited edition” in their Artist
Information Statement and disclosure of their reproduction process to buyers. All reproductions must be marked as such.

Artists must comply with all safety requirements, including weighted tents, and vehicles must be parked only in designated areas.

Exhibitors are responsible for collecting and paying 6.5% of Florida sales tax.

Artists are responsible for procuring and maintaining liability insurance and must provide ArtFest Fort Myers with a Certificate of Insurance by January 5, 2027.

No artist-owned animals are allowed in or around artists’ booths (service dogs are always
permitted).

Acceptance into ArtFest Fort Myers is non-transferable. Only artwork of the accepted artist may be displayed.

ArtFest Fort Myers’s Compliance Team will inspect booths on-site to assure compliance with the Rules and Regulations and reserves the exclusive right to interpret and enforce them. In any dispute, the decision of the Executive Director shall prevail. Please comply with the rules to avoid removal from ArtFest Fort Myers without a refund or jeopardizing your participation in the future.

Artists may withdraw from ArtFest Fort Myers and receive a refund of their Booth Fee (less $75) if a written request is received on or before December 4, 2026. No refunds will be issued after that date under any circumstances. This includes artists called off the waitlist, no matter the invitation date, with no exceptions. ArtFest Fort Myers is a rain-or-shine festival. Therefore, no refunds will be issued for weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

Reproduction Policy:
To foster an appreciation and value of the arts in all people, including those who cannot afford original work, offering attendees the opportunity to buy reproductions is vital. As their incomes grow, they will turn to original work. This transition is possible only if buyers understand what they are buying and the process behind it. Therefore, ArtFest Fort Myers’s guidelines are as follows:

All reproductions must be clearly and individually labeled as such. The labels must say
“reproduction”. This includes any framed, printed on canvas, metal, etc.
They must be signed and numbered editions.
No hand-colored or enhanced reproductions will be considered “original” works and regarded as reproductions.
These are considered an ancillary part of the artists’ display.
Violators of the spirit and the letter of this policy will be asked to remove their unlabeled
reproductions. In any dispute, the decision of the Executive Director shall prevail.

Jury Details

Average number of applications submitted each year

700

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

220

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

Booth Information

Application Fee: $35
The non-refundable Application Fee is due and payable upon submitting an application to participate in ArtFest Fort Myers. Applicants make their payments through ZAPP using a credit card. Applications will be processed once the Application Fee is received.

Booth Fees:
- 1 Sided Single - 10 x 10: $517 (Includes Florida Sales Tax)
- 2 Sided Single - 10 x 10: $624 (Includes Florida Sales Tax)

- 1 Sided Double - 10 x 20: $1034(Includes Florida Sales Tax)
- 2 Sided Double - 10 x 20: $1140 (Includes Florida Sales Tax)
- 3 Sided Double End Cap-10 x 20- $1,246 (Includes Florida Sales Tax)

OPTIONAL BOOTH UPGRADES (Limited quantity available, first come first serve)
Premium Location Upgrade- $50 (Includes Florida Sales Tax)
Friday Night Participation- $100 (Includes Florida Sales Tax)
Premium Friday Night Participation- $150 (Includes Florida Sales Tax)

Please Read:
Our booth allocation process is designed to be fair and transparent. Premium spaces are determined by location, specifically high-traffic areas along the main run of the festival on Edwards Drive, and are not based on the number of open sides of a booth.

A one-sided single booth (10' x 10') includes one open side facing the front. A two-sided single booth (10' x 10') includes the front and one side open. The same configurations apply to double booths (10' x 20'), which may have one or two sides open depending on selection. A double end cap (10' x 20') features three exposed sides—the front and both sides—providing maximum visibility.

Friday Night Participation allows artists to open during our exclusive VIP event, offering an additional evening of sales. Friday night booth spaces are located in prime areas, including the festival entrance and along the main run, ensuring strong exposure and foot traffic.

Premium location upgrades and double booth spaces are limited. Please indicate your preferences in your application. Artists selected for premium locations or double spaces will be notified approximately one week after the invitation date, at which point payment for these upgrades will be made available.

Artists selected by the jury and invited to participate in ArtFest Fort Myers must remit the Booth Fee online by credit card through ZAPP. The deadline for payment is November 11, 2026.

Artists are responsible for procuring and maintaining their liability insurance and must provide ArtFest Fort Myers with a Certificate of Insurance by January 5, 2027.

Artist Setup:
Staggered artist setup times are scheduled for Friday, February 5, 2027, beginning at 7:30 a.m., with consideration for good traffic flow and artist access. A vehicle staging lot is designated for artists who arrive early. Volunteers are conveniently stationed at access points and throughout the festival to facilitate a stress-free set-up experience. Details and maps will be available at ArtFestFortMyers.com in January 2027. If you have any specific requests for your setup time, please include them in your application.

Refund Policy

Artists may withdraw from ArtFest Fort Myers and receive a refund of their Booth Fee (less $75) if a written request is received on or before December 4, 2026.

No refunds will be issued after that date under any circumstances. This includes artists called off of the waitlist, no matter the date of the invitation, with no exceptions. ArtFest Fort Myers is a rain-or-shine festival. Therefore, no refunds will be issued for weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

Additional Fees

10x20 Double 3 Side- End Cap: $1,246

10 x 20 Double 2 Sided: $1,140

10 x 20 Double 1 Sided: $1,034

10 x 10 Single 2 Sided: $624

10 x 10 Single 1 Sided: $517

Booth Upgrade- Single to Double: $410

3-Sided 10x20 upgrade fee: $106

Friday Opening Night : $100

Festival Program Ad: $70