Fairs/Festivals
Desert Art Festival - February 12 - 14, 2027
Contact Information
Requirement Overview
- Eligible Applicant Types: Artist
- Emerging Artists: Emerging artists may apply.
- Submission Limit: 3
Media Requirements
- Images | Min: 5, Max: 5
- Total | Max: 5
Opportunity Summary
The Desert Art Festival, on President's Weekend, a three-day Holiday event. The Desert Art Festival will be held at The River at Rancho Mirage.
One hundred of the finest artists will display their original work in all mediums of fine art and fine craft.
The Desert Art Festival is a three-day outdoor celebration of the visual arts. This event typically features the work of 100 exhibitors. Our goal is to provide a venue for creators of quality fine art and fine craft to meet with the art-buying public.
This show has large established patronage from Canada and the Eastern States (snowbirds) as well as California.
There is a prior day set up and overnight security. Overnight parking is available at the venue.
Admission and parking are free to the public.
One hundred of the finest artists will display their original work in all mediums of fine art and fine craft.
The Desert Art Festival is a three-day outdoor celebration of the visual arts. This event typically features the work of 100 exhibitors. Our goal is to provide a venue for creators of quality fine art and fine craft to meet with the art-buying public.
This show has large established patronage from Canada and the Eastern States (snowbirds) as well as California.
There is a prior day set up and overnight security. Overnight parking is available at the venue.
Admission and parking are free to the public.
Jump to
General Information
You are invited to submit your application for admission to the Desert Art Festival, President's Weekend. This Artist Prospectus and Exhibitor Application includes essential details on exhibitor participation and should be read carefully before applying.
General Information
The Desert Art Festival, President's Weekend is a three-day outdoor celebration of the visual arts held at The River in Rancho Mirage, CA. This event typically features the work of 100 exhibitors. Our goal is to provide a venue for creators of quality fine art and fine craft to meet with the art-buying public.
Important Deadlines
Friday, November 27, 2026: Application deadline
Saturday, November 28, 2026: Jury Begins
Monday, December 1, 2026: Email notification of application status.
Friday, December 18, 2026: Deadline for accepted artists to commit to exhibit and to remit booth fee.
Friday, January 15, 2027: Deadline to cancel participation in the 2027 Festival to receive credit for the booth fees. Refunds will be at the committee's discretion before January 15, 2027. No Credits or refunds after January 15, 2027.
Jury Procedure
A maximum of 100 artists will exhibit at the 2027 event.
The jury is comprised of professionals working within the art community. The panel uses a blinded jury process to review a set of four images provided by each artist. The process, materials, dimensions for each image, and artist information statements are made available to the jury. Artistic excellence is the sole criterion for the selection of exhibitors. The panel is convened to discuss their rankings, and the artists with the top scores will receive invitations to exhibit. High-scoring artists who are not initially invited to exhibit will be added to a waitlist and offered the opportunity to exhibit should an invited artist decline to participate in the Festival.
General Information
The Desert Art Festival, President's Weekend is a three-day outdoor celebration of the visual arts held at The River in Rancho Mirage, CA. This event typically features the work of 100 exhibitors. Our goal is to provide a venue for creators of quality fine art and fine craft to meet with the art-buying public.
Important Deadlines
Friday, November 27, 2026: Application deadline
Saturday, November 28, 2026: Jury Begins
Monday, December 1, 2026: Email notification of application status.
Friday, December 18, 2026: Deadline for accepted artists to commit to exhibit and to remit booth fee.
Friday, January 15, 2027: Deadline to cancel participation in the 2027 Festival to receive credit for the booth fees. Refunds will be at the committee's discretion before January 15, 2027. No Credits or refunds after January 15, 2027.
Jury Procedure
A maximum of 100 artists will exhibit at the 2027 event.
The jury is comprised of professionals working within the art community. The panel uses a blinded jury process to review a set of four images provided by each artist. The process, materials, dimensions for each image, and artist information statements are made available to the jury. Artistic excellence is the sole criterion for the selection of exhibitors. The panel is convened to discuss their rankings, and the artists with the top scores will receive invitations to exhibit. High-scoring artists who are not initially invited to exhibit will be added to a waitlist and offered the opportunity to exhibit should an invited artist decline to participate in the Festival.
Application Requirements
Booth Space and Regulations:
* All booth spaces are sized to accommodate display tents measuring 10' X 10' for $400.00 + 10% commission or 10' X 20' for $550.00 +10% commission with a $50 corner request fee. If you do not agree to pay a commission, please reconsider and do not apply.
* Canopies must be white.
* Electricity is not available.
* Display arrangements must meet with the approval of the committee. The committee is looking for a balance of the variety of artwork and how it is displayed.
*Artists must exhibit work on Friday and Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.
Overnight Parking/camping is acceptable at The River in the parking lot.
Sales
Artists will pay a 10% commission on all sales made at and generated from the festival. If you disagree with paying a commission, please reconsider and do not apply. The commission on sales is due at the close of the festival on Sunday at 4:00 pm. Artists are responsible for their sales and collecting and reporting the State of California sales tax on any sales.
Application Fees:
Please submit a non-refundable jury fee of $25 with your application. Applicants may choose to pay online with their Visa or Master Card, AMEX.
Acceptance of Offer to Exhibit:
Any artist who is selected by the jury and all returning artists must notify the Festival of their intent to exhibit at the 2027 Festival and submit a booth fee by Friday, December 18, 2026. Failure to respond by the deadline may result in the revocation of the invitation and the immediate invitation of an alternate from the waiting list. The applicant must keep his or her Zapp profile up to date with correct contact information, including mailing address, email address, and phone number.
Exhibit Fee
Upon acceptance into the festival, all artists will be asked to submit a $400.00 10' X 10' booth fee or $550.00 10' X 20' booth fee, depending on your size preference, through ZAPP. Corner requests are an additional $50.00
Digital Images
* Five (5) images are to be submitted for each media category.
* Four (4) images must be of individual pieces of work.
* One (1) image must be of an outdoor display with the artist's work, showing the overall continuity and presentation of your current body of work.
* Images must be in 1920 pixel horizontal x 1920 pixel vertical format, for more information access www.zapplication.org/imaging_tips.phtml
* Images must accurately represent the body of the artist's work to be exhibited at the Arts Festival.
Additional Policies
The Desert Art Festival presents the original work of exhibiting artists. We do not accept mass production studios, organizations, representatives, or groups. No imports, commercial, or purchased for resale work.
Exhibitors must be at least 16 years old.
Artists must be present with their work for the entire event. Representatives may not attend in place of the artist.
Artists may exhibit only in the category in which they were juried and may not display work in new categories without re-jurying.
Work must be consistent with the submitted images.
Hours
Set-up:
10:00 am - 9:00 pm Thursday, February 11, or 6:00 am - 9:00 am Friday, February 12, 2027
Festival Hours:
10:00 am - 5:00 pm Friday and Saturday, and 10:00 - 4:00 pm Sunday
Tear down:
Sunday 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm
* All booth spaces are sized to accommodate display tents measuring 10' X 10' for $400.00 + 10% commission or 10' X 20' for $550.00 +10% commission with a $50 corner request fee. If you do not agree to pay a commission, please reconsider and do not apply.
* Canopies must be white.
* Electricity is not available.
* Display arrangements must meet with the approval of the committee. The committee is looking for a balance of the variety of artwork and how it is displayed.
*Artists must exhibit work on Friday and Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.
Overnight Parking/camping is acceptable at The River in the parking lot.
Sales
Artists will pay a 10% commission on all sales made at and generated from the festival. If you disagree with paying a commission, please reconsider and do not apply. The commission on sales is due at the close of the festival on Sunday at 4:00 pm. Artists are responsible for their sales and collecting and reporting the State of California sales tax on any sales.
Application Fees:
Please submit a non-refundable jury fee of $25 with your application. Applicants may choose to pay online with their Visa or Master Card, AMEX.
Acceptance of Offer to Exhibit:
Any artist who is selected by the jury and all returning artists must notify the Festival of their intent to exhibit at the 2027 Festival and submit a booth fee by Friday, December 18, 2026. Failure to respond by the deadline may result in the revocation of the invitation and the immediate invitation of an alternate from the waiting list. The applicant must keep his or her Zapp profile up to date with correct contact information, including mailing address, email address, and phone number.
Exhibit Fee
Upon acceptance into the festival, all artists will be asked to submit a $400.00 10' X 10' booth fee or $550.00 10' X 20' booth fee, depending on your size preference, through ZAPP. Corner requests are an additional $50.00
Digital Images
* Five (5) images are to be submitted for each media category.
* Four (4) images must be of individual pieces of work.
* One (1) image must be of an outdoor display with the artist's work, showing the overall continuity and presentation of your current body of work.
* Images must be in 1920 pixel horizontal x 1920 pixel vertical format, for more information access www.zapplication.org/imaging_tips.phtml
* Images must accurately represent the body of the artist's work to be exhibited at the Arts Festival.
Additional Policies
The Desert Art Festival presents the original work of exhibiting artists. We do not accept mass production studios, organizations, representatives, or groups. No imports, commercial, or purchased for resale work.
Exhibitors must be at least 16 years old.
Artists must be present with their work for the entire event. Representatives may not attend in place of the artist.
Artists may exhibit only in the category in which they were juried and may not display work in new categories without re-jurying.
Work must be consistent with the submitted images.
Hours
Set-up:
10:00 am - 9:00 pm Thursday, February 11, or 6:00 am - 9:00 am Friday, February 12, 2027
Festival Hours:
10:00 am - 5:00 pm Friday and Saturday, and 10:00 - 4:00 pm Sunday
Tear down:
Sunday 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Jury Details
Average number of applications submitted each year
150
Average number of artists selected from the jury to participate in the event
80
Average number of exempt from jury artists who are invited to participate in the event
20
Booth Information
Spaces are 10' X 10' and canopies must be white. Tables must be covered to the ground. No storage of boxes or packing materials outside of the booth.
Canopies must be securely anchored, as the show is on the pavement/concrete.
10' X 10' space $400.00 + 10% commission
10' X 20' space $550.00 + 10% commission
Corner $50.00
Canopies must be securely anchored, as the show is on the pavement/concrete.
10' X 10' space $400.00 + 10% commission
10' X 20' space $550.00 + 10% commission
Corner $50.00
Refund Policy
Friday, January 15, 2027: Deadline to cancel participation in the 2027 Festival to receive credit for the booth fees. Refunds will be at the committee's discretion before January 15, 2027.
Cancelations must be received in writing before January 15, 2027.
No Credits or refunds after January 15, 2027.
Cancelations must be received in writing before January 15, 2027.
No Credits or refunds after January 15, 2027.
Additional Fees
10 X 20 Space: $550
10 X 10 Space : $400
additional for corner: $50