MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival 2027

Artist Application Details

Images:

1. Five images are to be submitted for each application entered by the artist.
2. Four images must be of individual pieces of a consistent body of work to be showcased during the Festival.

Booth Image:

1. The fifth image must be of a single display booth of the artist’s work in an outdoor, daytime setting, shot full front (side to side and top to bottom), and not at an oblique angle.
2. Those applying in the Emerging Artist category, reserved for those artists who have never juried into a large show previously and reside in the Metroplex specifically, or in Texas, may use a fifth image of work in place of a booth slide. Simply designate one image as, “Booth Slide,” and submit.
3. We do not offer double booths at this show UNLESS the artist is juried into the show with two or more separate bodies of work; consequently, your booth image MUST be one of a single booth display, in an outdoor setting, full face front without any reference to the artist either with a name or with the artist in the booth shot. Double booth images will be rejected.
4. The booth image must show overall continuity, scale and presentation of the body of work being submitted with this application. PLEASE NOTE: if work inconsistent with your application is present in the booth image, it will NOT serve as tacit approval to show that work at the show. The booth shot will NOT be used to determine work approved to be displayed at the festival – only the jury images will be used for this determination.
5. Please be sure you do not reference either your name or your company name in your booth image. Please do not submit an image with either you or your collaborator in the booth when the image is taken. This is a blind jury – names are not disclosed to the jurors. If you or your name appear in your booth image your application will be rejected.
6. NOTE: Failure to follow booth image parameters may delay your application or cause questions during the jury process, which may not allow enough time for a full, fair and complete review of your work.
7. Any changes to images we request will be made by email, and must be completed by the deadline to be considered for the show.  Applications coming in late in the process may not leave us enough time to review the application.

The purpose of the booth image is to show the artist has a complete body of work matching or in keeping with the body of work represented in the first four images, and helps identify scale of the work. In addition, any work outside of the medium and context of the images submitted that may appear in the booth shot will not be considered as being accepted by the jury simply due to the fact it has been included in the booth image.

For image tips please go here.

Artist’s Statements:

The short artist’s statement is read aloud to the jury as images are shown.  Please note processes as well as materials used, and 100 characters isn’t much, we agree; however, make it your best 100 characters and try to avoid abbreviating or using txt style as it may delay the reading and result in an abbreviated reading.

The longer artist’s statement is mandatory, and it provides more information to better understand process, philosophy and methodology.  This statement may be utilized both during the review process (we review every application prior to the jury to check information, look at the images and double check category selection), and may also be referred to during the jury process.  The more information we have the more complete our review process may be.

Categories:

• Ceramics: All original 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.
• Digital Art: This category includes any 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.  Work that starts with a photograph and manipulated by digital means must be entered in either the Mixed Media or 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 in this category.
• Emerging Artist: Designed specifically for artists who have no experience exhibiting and selling their artwork, based in Texas (emphasis on Metroplex artists). If you have participated in MAIN ST. prior to this date as an Emerging Artist, you will not be eligible to participate again as an Emerging Artist.  The application procedure and application fee are the same as the regular show; however, upon acceptance, Emerging Artists will pay a lower booth fee, have a tent provided and receive mentoring from veteran artists. Artists meeting the requirements of residency and frequency of juried show participation may apply in this category with any genre of work, and will be juried and scored among only those who have applied in this category. Final invitations will be made based on scores within this category, as well as an intent to have a broad mix of genres. Artists may only apply as an Emerging Artist Program or as a regular Exhibiting Artist – they may not apply for both.  Artists applying under both the Emerging Artist program and the regular artist program will have their Emerging Artist application returned to them automatically.  Artists must be a resident of Texas, with priority is given to artists residing in Fort Worth/Metroplex area. The Festival reserves the right to pre-screen emerging artists to make sure they are a fit for this category.
• Fiber: All work crafted from fibers including basketry, embroidery, weaving, tapestry and papermaking. No machine tooling, machine-screened patterns or other forms of mass production are permitted. No factory produced wearable items, regardless of additional modification or enhancement by the artist, may be exhibited.
• Glass: No forms of mass production are permitted.
• Jewelry: All jewelry whether the work is produced from metal, glass, clay, fiber, paper, plastic or other materials must be entered in this category. No commercial casts, molds or production studio work is allowed.
• Leather: Includes all works from leather. No production studio work is allowed. No belts or buckles or straps or bells on straps or any other leather accessory item is allowed in this show unless those items are specifically shown in the jury images (not the booth slide) and approved by the jury. This is non-negotiable and a consistent challenge to this by artists in the past is causing us to highlight this in our prospectus.
• Metalworks: Includes all non-sculptural, non-jewelry works crafted from metals. No production studio work is allowed.
• Mixed Media: This category includes works, both 2 and 3-dimensional, that incorporate more than one type of physical material to produce. Includes non-sculptural work as determined by the artist. Please note two previous categories, 2D Mixed Media and 3D Mixed Media, have been combined into one Mixed Media category.
• Painting: Works created in oils, acrylics, watercolor, etc. are in this category.
• 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 on prints which have been properly signed and numbered as a limited edition.
• 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 giclee, photocopy and/or offset reproductions, will be rejected. Printmakers are encouraged to do their own printing which has been processed by the artist, or under his/her direct supervision.  Printmakers are required to disclose both their creative and printmaking processes.
• Sculpture: Three-dimensional original work done in any medium, including built up works in wood are included in this category.
• Wood: Original works in wood that are hand-tooled, machine-worked, turned or carved are accepted in the wood category.

Jurors will be announced in October, 2026.

Rules of the Show: 

The following policies and regulations have been established by Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc. (“DFWII”) to ensure quality and integrity of process, presentation and patron experience (as taken from our Artist's Agreement):

• The Artist shall supervise and maintain the space provided, using his/her skill and attention, and shall be solely responsible for all labor, material, equipment, tools and other facilities used by him/her during the term of this contract.
• The Artist shall at all times enforce strict discipline and good order among his/her employees and volunteers and shall not employ any unfit person or anyone not skilled in the task assigned to him/her.  The Artist shall be responsible for initiating and maintaining and supervising all safety precautions in his/her assigned space.
• The Artist shall maintain his/her display booth operation in an orderly manner and shall comply with all City Ordinances and Codes applicable to such an operation.
• It is understood and agreed that the Artist is acting as an independent contractor in his/her capacity hereunder.  The Artist shall be responsible for all acts or omissions of its employees and volunteers.  Nothing contained in this Agreement or in the relationship of DFWII and the Artist shall be deemed to constitute a partnership, joint venture or agency relationship between DFWII and the Artist.
• It is understood and agreed that the space rental fee, required from each participating Artist, is necessary to cover Event costs. Artist will keep 100% of their Event sales. Artist is responsible for the payment of all applicable taxes, currently 8.25% in Fort Worth, Texas. Artist must contact the Texas State Controller's office directly for information on how to file.
• It is understood and agreed that, in keeping with our commitment of fair and equitable practice, should any occasion arise where, in the view of the Director or his representatives, the Artist is not in compliance with policy and procedure, the Artist’s full cooperation is expected in an effort to resolve all disputes, claims and complaints. It is further understood the decisions rendered by the Director or his representatives will be final.
• It is understood and agreed that should an Artist wish to withdraw from the Event, DFWII must be notified in writing and the notification received in our Fort Worth offices no later than the end of business on January 22, 2027. Thereafter, the full amount of booth fees and any other costs that may have been incurred will be due to DFWII.  After January 22, 2027, DFWII will not issue refunds for any reason whatsoever.
• It is understood and agreed that an Artist who does not register with Event officials by 5:00 PM by Wednesday, April 14, 2027, or who has not contacted our offices via phone or email to make alternate arrangements, will forfeit all rights to occupy their booth space. DFWII may utilize the space for other purposes. In such event, the Artist will remain liable for the full booth fee. It is understood and agreed that no refunds or preferred treatment can be made for inclement weather or any other cause not in the control of DFWII. There is no provision other than the decision of the on-site jury that may provide any artist the opportunity to return to the Event in 2028.
• It is understood and agreed that DFWII may, if required by force majeure or other reasons beyond its control, postpone or shorten the Event. No Artist shall have any right or claim for any damages whether direct, indirect or consequential, or any other kind, arising or alleged to arise by reason of any postponement or cancellation of the Event.

Exhibitor Conditions:

With the submittal of his or her application, artist hereby acknowledges notice and acceptance of the following regulations and procedures, as well as other regulations and policies set forth in DFWII’s Artist Policies:

• All Artists represented in his or her Zapplication application profile (“Zapp”) as artist and as collaborating artist must personally attend their exhibit, and must be present during the entire four days and exhibit hours posted for the public. All Artists will be required to show photo identification at check-in, and on each day of the Event.  Should it be found that all Artists are not present, and advance permission from the Director is not on file as to an approved absence, the Artist will be removed from the Event without recourse. Artists wishing an exemption from this policy should contact the Director in writing, before TBA, with an explanation as to why there may be an attendance issue. Only the Director may grant an exception to this policy. Only medical emergencies of either the artist or immediate family members will be considered, and must be accompanied by a written doctor’s notice.
• Works exhibited must be consistent with images submitted by Artist(s) in his or her application to show. The addition of other bodies of Work not specifically juried into the Event must be removed from sale. Non-compliance will result in removal from the Event without recourse. Images submitted with the ZAPP application, including the booth image, will be referenced in determining the definition of the body of work and the proportion and appropriateness of the types of work being shown; however, it is understood that the four images representing the body of work approved by the jury will be the determining factor.
• The booth image submitted with Artist’s Zapp application will be referenced by Event representatives in order to determine the appropriateness of the booth’s design integrity in order to maintain the highest possible standards of presentation at the Event. Any work shown not consistent with the body of work shown in the Zapp application images will be removed from the booth without recourse. Refusal to remove work not approved by the jury in advance will be grounds for removal from the show.
• All Work submitted and exhibited must be original, hand-crafted Work produced by the Artist and may not be the result of work by any person other than the Artist, or the Artist and his/her Collaborating Artists, or from commercial kits, molds, green ware, patterns, plans, prefabricated forms or other commercial methods.
• Collaborating Artists are permitted; however, any representation other than a true, hands-on artistic collaboration will not be allowed.  Only the Collaborating Artists are allowed to participate in the creative and mechanical process of the work being exhibited – they are not assistants.  Collaborating Artists may exhibit only their collaborative work(s). Both Collaborating Artists must be present for the entire duration of the Event.
• Artists will be required to provide information to include a complete Artist Statement and a head shot or other shot to be shown to the public, and must be submitted with his/her agreement in electronic form.  This information will be posted on an individually designed webpage. It is the Artist’s sole responsibility to identify the category and the bodies of Work being sold.
• Quality, unframed reproductions of two-dimensional originals, signed and numbered by the Artist are the only acceptable form of sales in addition to the original works. Artists must define “reproduction" or “limited edition" through their Artist Statement, and each piece must be clearly and individually labeled as “reproduction," signed and numbered appropriately. Reproductions and limited editions may be shown in a portfolio and may not occupy wall space in the artist’s booth. The original work must be available and on-sale in the Artist’s booth.
• DFWII does not permit the sale of promotional items by Artists at the Event. Postcards, note cards, posters, or any other offset reproductions are not permitted.  Recordings of exhibited instruments performed by the Artist may be sold along with an instrument, but not alone.  Any demonstration of instruments or playing of music must be confined to the interior of the Artist’s booth, and may not be amplified so as to be a distraction to any other Artist or patron. T-Shirts may not be sold.
• Photographers and printmakers are encouraged to do their own printing.  Printing must be processed by the Artist, or under his or her direct supervision.  If Artists are found to not conform to this requirement, they will be removed from the show without recourse. They are required to disclose their creative and printing process.
• Only artists accepted in the Jewelry category may exhibit or sell jewelry.  Jewelry or, “wearable art,” is not accepted in any other category and may not be displayed or sold unless Artist has specifically been juried into the Jewelry category.
• Artist is responsible for proper insurance and protection of work and set-up, and must provide proof of insurance in the form of a certificate of insurance naming Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc. as additional insured.  A certificate of insurance must be on file prior to set-up for the entire term, INCLUSIVE of set up days.  DFWII will not be responsible for damage to work or set-up.  For further information on where you might obtain insurance for this event, please see https://www.actinsurance.com/
• Only Event produced and distributed signs, cards or placards will be allowed to be hung or affixed to the outside of the booth unless specifically shown in the booth image provided in the Zapp application AND approved in advance by the Director or his representative. Unacceptable signage would include, but not be limited to, magazine and/or newspaper articles, banners of any type, ribbons or other documentation of past accolades and/or awards from this Event or other events.
• Panel risers or extenders to increase booth and/or panel height are prohibited, unless the booth image in the ZAPP application included them.
• All work must be confined to the space provided by the Event. Storage must be incorporated into the booth area provided.  At no time shall Artist’s work be gathered, stored or otherwise set on sidewalks, against buildings or in the public right of way. Portable storage facilities are available for a fee.
• Appendages (display panels or awnings not appearing in the Artist’s booth image in their Zapp application and encroach upon public and/or other artists’ spaces) are expressly prohibited.  Racks, bins or other display elements may not be placed outside of the Artist’s space so as to restrict or impede pedestrian traffic.
• All artists are expected to comply with all regulations and respect artistry standards. DFWII reserves the right and responsibility to ensure compliance of all regulations. This is not limited to refusal of any work to be exhibited that is not consistent with images submitted and work accepted for display by the jury. Failure to comply and cooperate with Event officials will result in the exhibitor’s removal from the show and exhibitor’s right to exhibit in future shows may be refused.
• No dealers, agents or representatives are permitted.
• PLEASE DO NOT bring pets (Note: Service animals are welcome but will be verified).  While animals make wonderful companions, an arts festival with thousands of people on the hot bricks and pavement just isn't the place for your pet friend.
• Artist agrees to try to limit his/her electrical requirements to no more than 200 watts per space; however, additional electric is available if needed for an additional fee.

Fees:

Application Fee (non-refundable):

• Application Fee: $40
• Deadline: Monday, October 12, 2026.

Booth Fees:

• Single booth, 10’ x 10’ space: $995
• Corner booth, 10’ x 10’: $1145 (note: you must make a reservation for a corner space)
• Double booth:  Not available, unless an artist has been accepted in more than one category, or with more than one body of work.
• Emerging Artist, 10' x 10' space (including tent): $295
• Electricity is available for all artists.

Booth Space:

• The event area utilizes Main Street, stretching from 2nd Street to 8th Street in the center of Downtown, as well as several side streets.
• Each exhibitor will be provided a space measuring approximately 10’ deep by 10’ wide.
• All artists along Main Street will be placed under festival-provided pavilions along Main Street. These pavilions are placed to help mitigate the wind situation and have specific space requirements and issues. The locations on Main Street are no larger than approximately 10’ x 10’ and allowances must be made for the diameter of the tent poles.
• Storage MUST be arranged within Artist’s booth. Limited storage may be available for rental on-site which can be secured through Zapplication.org.
• All artists on side street locations (unless noted specifically by the Festival) must provide their own tent and weights, as well as their own display structure, racks and/or tables to display their work in an outdoor environment.
• Booths are assigned in advance of the festival and restricted to the juried artist(s) and their work; however, show staff reserves the right to add additional artist areas such as Emerging Artists or other specialty areas in the show if deemed appropriate to the overall growth and development of the Festival.

Booths have been assigned on a first-come, first-served basis as determined by either the postmark of returned contract and booth fee, or the date of the online booth payment made through Zapplication, whichever is first.  Award artists from 2026 have priority in terms of booth selection; however, there is a deadline for this selection. Show balance is also considered.

Full refunds will be available for application fee(s) through and until the deadline date of October 9, 2026, 11:59 CT; however, a full refund will result in the application being deleted from the scheduled jury.

Full refunds will be available for the booth fee(s) through and until the deadline date of January 22, 2027, 11:59 CT.