Fairs/Festivals
Bonita Springs National Art Festival 2027 (SHOW 1)
Contact Information
Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs dba Arts Bonita
Contact Email: richard@artsbonita.org
Contact Phone: 239-293-9448
Requirement Overview
- Eligible Applicant Types: Artist
- Emerging Artists: Emerging artists may apply. Emerging Artist Program or Grants exist.
- Submission Limit: 4
Media Requirements
- Images | Min: 4, Max: 4
- Total | Max: 4
Opportunity Summary
All of our 2027 Festival Dates:
Show 1 - January 9-10, 2027
Show 2 - February 6-7, 2027
Show 3 - March 6-7, 2027 -
The Bonita Springs National Show One
Ranked among the top 50 fine art festivals in the nation, the Bonita Springs National Fine Art Festivals are a premier destination for serious artists and collectors alike. Held at scenic Riverside Park in downtown Bonita Springs, Florida, this juried event draws thousands of passionate art lovers and buyers from across the region. We’re proud to share that the festival has once again been nominated to Sunshine Artist’s 200 Best for 2026—affirming its national reputation for quality and excellence as one of the top art festivals in the nation..
Under the leadership of Richard Sullivan, the festival layout was thoughtfully redesigned with artists in mind. The new layout which was applied in 2026 allows for greater visibility and more dynamic presentations. The festival footprint has been condensed to one side of the street, creating a more walkable, enclosed environment where every visitor has the opportunity to see every artist in a flowing layout.
Proceeds from the festival directly support scholarships for emerging young artists and fund arts education programs in underserved schools—making your participation even more meaningful.
About the Festivals
https://artsbonita.org/artfest-about-exhibitors/
The Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs presents three fine arts / fine crafts festivals each year.
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General Information
Application Information for Artists and for Emerging Artists
Artist may apply in multipe categories. A maximium of four applcations is allowed.
Artists are selected in a blind jury based on the quality and originality of their work. All work must be done solely by the exhibiting artists.
Categories Ceramics, Digital, Drawing/Graphics, Fiber, Glass, Jewelry, Metal, Mixed Media 2-D, Mixed Media 3-D, Painting - oil/acrylic, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Watercolor, and Wood. There is also a category for Emerging Artists.
Emerging Artists
The 2027 National has initiated an Emerging Artists Program. Our goal is to encourage participation in outdoor festivals by providing the opportunity to experience the application process and festival participation. This category is restricted. Artists applying as an Emerging Artist may not also apply in other categories. The Emerging Artist Program is designed specifically for new artists of any age 18 years or older. This program is for those who are just beginning their careers in the art world and have not yet become established as a professional artist showing their work at juried outdoor art festivals or in museums or galleries. These applicants will not need a booth image should they not have one. If you do not have a booth image you should upload four images of your artwork.
Emerging Artists
The 2027 National has initiated an Emerging Artists Program. Our goal is to encourage participation in outdoor festivals by providing the opportunity to experience the application process and festival participation. This category is restricted. Artists applying as an Emerging Artist may not also apply in other categories. The Emerging Artist Program is designed specifically for new artists of any age 18 years or older. This program is for those who are just beginning their careers in the art world and have not yet become established as a professional artist showing their work at juried outdoor art festivals or in museums or galleries. These applicants will not need a booth image should they not have one. If you do not have a booth image you should upload four images of your artwork.
Instructions for Emerging Artists
- Interested Emerging Artists should email the director, Richard Sullivan, at Richard@artsbonita.org. A special code for Emerging Artists will be sent in a response to use when applying through ZAPPLICATION. If you have any difficulty with the application process please contact us. through the email above.
- IMPORTANT, as an Emerging Artist when you you are selecting your category during the application process you are to choose the Emerging Artist Category. Do not select the category for your art medium.
- All Emerging Artists must fully apply to the event through Zapplication
- Emerging Artists will go through a separate jury process. We will select no more than four Emerging Artists for each festival.
Exhibitor Amenities
- Each artist's image is placed on Arts Bonita's website in the artist gallery with a clickable link to their website,
- Beautiful park setting and bordering streets
- Artist setup will be available on Friday, from 8am-6pm, prior to start date. Arrival times are scattered to allow for uninterupted load in for sections of the location.
- Saturday and Sunday complimentary morning coffee+
- Limited overnight camping on festival site (see details - rules apply)
- Parking, traffic control
- Experienced professionals with “track record” will direct this even
- Items of interest
- History of 67 successful Festivals in Bonita Springs
- Rated one of the top Fine Art Festivals in the USA
- Juried events; artists selected by a panel of experts
- Quality artworks by 200 National and International artists
- 16 categories of artwork will be shown
- Beautiful park setting with amenities
- Festival proceeds support community art activities
- Largest attendance of any event in the area
Application Requirements
Exhibitor Rules & Requirements
- The Bonita Springs National Art Festival committee reserves the right to make final interpretation of all rules.
- Artists are responsible for carrying liability insurance. If you need to acquire insurance many artists use actinsurance.com
- The Festival is a family community event and exhibits must align with this atmosphere.
- The committee reserves the right to reject or remove any work it considers unsuitable.
- Exhibitors MUST follow suggestions made by the Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs and the Festival Director during the Art Festival.
- No refund will be given if artist is removed from the event for violation of rules.
- If your booth is set up incorrectly or in the wrong location and we cannot reach you, we will make necessary changes to correct the situation.
- Exhibit Hours are from 10 AM to 5 PM Saturday and 10 AM to 4 PM Sunday. Artists must exhibit during all scheduled festival hours. No rain dates.
- No breakdown of displays prior to stop time. This is strongly enforced.
- ARTWORK must be original in design and executed by the applicant. Each artist must accompany his own work and may display and sell only in the category in which his work has been accepted. No commercial dealers, agents, kits, castings from commercial molds or mass-produced items. No Buy-Sell.
- Commercial Status: The rules committee will make final interpretation of commercial status. Artists violating the rules of this Festival will become ineligible for admission to future festivals.
- JEWELRY CATEGORY only artists accepted in the jewelry category may display and sell jewelry.
- FINE ART REPRODUCTIONS may be sold if signed, numbered and clearly marked “Reproductions”. All other work displayed must be ORIGINAL work created by the artist. Reproductions should not be hung or displayed alongside original art. Reproductions are limited to one display wall, preferably on the back wall.
- ACCEPTANCE IS NON-TRANSFERABLE.
- Space: Exhibit spaces measure approximately 10’x 12’ . Limited number of LARGER spaces are available. Work must be contained within the assigned space. Work should not be placed on the ground. Only one artist’s work may be displayed in each space. Artists will not be limited to a maximum number of works. Artist is responsible for keeping their assigned area clean and left in order each evening. Artist must be in attendance at all times. Locations in the Park, Field, and River Sections may have addtional display space.
- NO gas generators are permitted.
- ACCEPTED ARTISTS must be committed to show during all festival hours.
- Displaying ribbons or awards from other shows is not allowed.
- Artist is responsible for collecting and paying to Florida Department of Revenue, Florida Sales Tax of 6.5%. Florida Tax ID should be made prior to the event.
- The committee reserves the right to reject any work it considers unsuitable. Exhibitors MUST follow suggestions made by the Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs during the Art Festival.
- No refund will be given if artist is removed from the event for violation of rules.
- The Bonita Springs National Art Festival committee reserves the right to make final interpretation of all rules.
It is our desire to provide our exhibitors and the patrons of this event an environment characteristic of the Bonita Springs area. The following are "common sense" rules to help us meet that goal. These rules will be strictly enforced.
LARGE VEHICLES & TRAILERS:
- We have a 30 foot length limit on RV's, Travel and Cargo Trailers.
- All TRAILERS must be UNHOOKED from vehicle while parked.
- We have made arrangements for a separate parking area for storing trailers during the event.
PARKING:
-We get large crowds and patrons get nearby parking.
-ARTISTS MUST park their vehicles in designated locations during festival hours.
-All parking is at your own risk.
-Vehicle Owners are responsible for damages or towing costs.
-ONE SPACE per vehicle UNHOOK TRAILERS.
OVERNIGHT PARKING:
-Overnight parking is available -- (FRIDAY & SATURDAY only). -Overnight lot is an unimproved lot with areas of soft sand. -All parking is at your own risk. -All overnight vehicles and RVs must be parked under the trees on the west side of the parking access road. -The Bonita Springs National Art Festival and City of Bonita Springs are not responsible or liable for loss and/or damages.
LOADING & UNLOADING:
Setup hours are 10am to 6pm FRIDAY and 6am-9:15am SATURDAY prior to event. If you have extremely large pieces or a very large vehicle. Displays must be setup and vehicles removed from Festival site by 9:15 am on Saturday & Sunday. Arrival times are scattered to allow for uninterupted load in.
Jury Details
Average number of applications submitted each year
400
Average number of artists selected from the jury to participate in the event
210
Average number of exempt from jury artists who are invited to participate in the event
11
Booth Information
Fees
- Application Fee: $40.00 (non-refundable)
- Booth Fee: $570.00
- Double Booth Fee: $1,140.00 Limited availability
- All fees are payable to: Bonita Springs National Art Festival. Late fees may apply if acceptance and payment are past the posted date.
- Florida Sales Tax
6.5% - Bonita Springs is in LEE County
Florida Department of Revenue Fort Myers
Ste 270
2295 Victoria Ave
Ft Myers, FL 33901-3871
239-338-2400 (ET)
Refund Policy
Florida Sales Tax
6.5% - Bonita Springs is in LEE County
Florida Department of Revenue Fort Myers
Ste 270
2295 Victoria Ave
Ft Myers, FL 33901-3871
239-338-2400 (ET)
Refunds
6.5% - Bonita Springs is in LEE County
Florida Department of Revenue Fort Myers
Ste 270
2295 Victoria Ave
Ft Myers, FL 33901-3871
239-338-2400 (ET)
Refunds
- 50% Show Fee credit for future festivals will be issued to ACCEPTED ARTISTS who cancel and notify the Festival BEFORE 45 days prior to the first day of the event (received in writing). No refunds after that date.
- "NO SHOW" POLICY:
Artists who have not CHECKED-IN and/or CALLED Festival Director at 239-293-9448 AND LEFT MESSAGE on voice mail by 8:00 AM, SATURDAY, will be considered a ‘NO SHOW’. No Refund. - No refunds will be made for any act of God, local authority or weather-related cancellations of the event.
Additional Fees
Double Booth Fee: $1,140
Single Booth Fee : $570
Terms to Apply
Application Fee: $40
