The Loop Music & Art Festival 2027

The Loop Music & Art Festival is a curated fine art festival in Downtown Dothan, Alabama. Now in its 6th year, the Loop is organized by public art non-profit Art in Public Places at Porter Park Plaza, Dothan's newly renovated park and amphitheater, set against the backdrop of the city's celebrated downtown murals, restaurants, and shopping. The Loop draws over about 5,000 festival-goers across two days of live music and original art.

When: Friday, April 9, 2027, 4–8 PM | Saturday, April 10, 2027, 11 AM–7 PM.

The Festival is intentionally small and deliberately excellent, the Loop features 55–70 carefully curated exhibiting, demonstrating, and group artists. We believe in quality over quantity and never oversaturate the festival market. Your work gets the attention and collectors it deserves.

Built to be worth your time:

• $3,500 in awards: Best of Show ($1,000), 2 Awards of Distinction ($575 each), 6 Merit Awards ($225 each)
• Flat booth fee of $150 — no commission split
• Private artist hospitality with meals, drinks, and snacks on both days
• Booth sitters throughout the festival
• Loop Loot Patron Program — patrons arrive with pre-purchased dollars spent exclusively on your art + patron awards
• Multi-channel promotion: print, radio, TV, digital ads, and social media

Free admission brings thousands of engaged, art-buying visitors. Our patrons don't browse; they come ready to collect.

Small but mighty. Curated with intention. Worth every mile.

The Loop accepts work in eight categories:

1. Two-dimensional - 2D works include drawings, paintings, and digital works. Reproduction prints are not allowed.
2. Three-dimensional/Sculpture - This category encompasses original sculpture that is functional, decorative, or non-functional, in clay, porcelain, glass, wood, or metal, using additive or subtractive processes in a single medium. Kiln forming, blowing, molding, or casting, as well as all cold working processes, are permitted. Only wooden works that are hand-tooled, machine-worked, turned, or carved will be accepted. *No jewelry will be accepted in this category.
3. Mixed Media - Work that combines materials from two or more mediums in one piece.
4. Jewelry - Only those artists accepted in the jewelry category may display or sell jewelry. Items made from commercial parts may not be exhibited. If artists are found to be exhibiting items made from commercial parts, they will be asked to leave the Festival.
5. Fiber - Includes wearable and non-wearable. Machine tooling, machine screen printing, and other forms of mass production are not accepted. Machine stitching is permissible.
6. Photography - Includes traditional film photography, hand-colored images, emulsion transfers, and digital photography. Only the artist’s original source material is acceptable.
7. Printmaking - Only hand-pulled original prints are allowed. Prints must be in limited editions, signed, and numbered.
8. Natural Materials - This includes basket weaving, chair caning, brooms, gourds, and other works made from natural materials. Leather items should be submitted under the fiber category.

Artists may apply in up to three categories, but must submit a separate application for each.

*Only original work is accepted: no reproductions, commercial molds, or manufactured components.

Curation & Selection
The Loop is a curated festival. Applications are reviewed and selected by the Loop's artistic director based on originality, quality, booth presentation, and creative excellence standards. The Loop maintains a waitlist by category; cancellations are filled from the waitlist in order of selection.

Artists will be notified of their acceptance status by 8:00 PM on January 18, 2027.

Artist Awards — $3,500

Best of Show ($1,000), 2 Awards of Distinction ($575 each), 6 Merit Awards ($225 each)
Award winners are automatically invited to the following year's festival with a waived application fee.

Artist Amenities

• Flat booth fee — no commission
• Private artist hospitality area with restrooms, snacks, and beverages
• Meals provided: Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Booth sitters available on request throughout the festival
• Loop Loot Patron Program
• Multi-channel promotion: print, radio, TV, and social media

CURATION & SELECTION
The Loop Music & Art Festival is a curated fine arts festival. Applications are reviewed and selected by the Loop's artistic director based on originality, quality, booth presentation, and creative excellence. A limited number of artists are invited per category to ensure a diverse, balanced, and high-quality show. The Loop does not oversaturate, as every invited artist belongs. A waitlist is maintained by category; cancellations are filled from the waitlist in order of selection. Regardless of prior participation, all artists must submit a new application each year, as booth space is limited.

APPLICATION IMAGE SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
All applications must include a booth shot — a photograph of your complete booth setup as it would appear at the festival. This helps the Loop team assess your display presentation and space planning.

All submitted images, including booth shots and individual work photos, must adhere to the following:

• No faces or people may appear in any submitted image.
• No artist names, business names, logos, or text of any kind may appear in any submitted image.

Images that do not comply with these requirements may result in your application being disqualified or returned for resubmission. Please review all images carefully before submitting.

EXCEPTIONS TO THE APPLICATION PROCESS

• Demonstrating Artists: Artists who wish to demonstrate their process live at the festival in their booth space are encouraged to do so. Please indicate your interest in demonstrating on your application.
• Artist Groups
• 2026 Award Winners: All 2026 Best of Show, Awards of Distinction, and Merit Award winners are automatically invited to the 2027 Loop Festival with a waived application fee and do not need to apply.

ORIGINAL WORK ONLY
Only original artwork by the applying artist is permitted. Commercially manufactured items, items made from commercial molds or parts, and mass-produced work are strictly prohibited. If an artist is found exhibiting non-original or commercially produced items, they will be required to remove those items immediately and may be removed from the festival and prohibited from future participation.

Up to 10% of the work displayed in your booth may differ from your application images; the remaining 90% must be representative of the work submitted for curation. Loop Festival representatives will review booths throughout the festival and reserve the right to require the removal of any work that does not align with submitted images or is deemed inappropriate for display.

Reproductions of your original work may only be displayed in a portfolio, with clear and obvious distinctions between originals and reproductions. Postcards and notecards bearing photo-offset reproductions of your work may be displayed and sold, but may not serve as primary display items. T-shirts may not be displayed or sold without prior written approval from the Loop administrators — email theloopfestival@gmail.com for approval.

CATEGORIES
Artists may apply in up to three categories, but must submit a separate application and a separate non-refundable application fee for each category. If accepted in only one category, only work in that medium may be exhibited.

• Jewelry: Only artists accepted in the Jewelry category may display or sell jewelry. If jewelry comprises less than 10% of your items for sale, you may apply under a different category. Items made from commercial parts are not permitted.
• Two-Dimensional: Includes drawings, paintings, and digital works. Reproduction prints are not allowed.
• Three-Dimensional/Sculpture: Original sculpture in clay, porcelain, glass, wood, or metal using additive or subtractive processes. No jewelry is accepted in this category.
• Fiber: Wearable and non-wearable. Machine-screen printing and mass production are not accepted. Machine stitching is permissible.
• Photography: Traditional film, hand-colored images, emulsion transfers, and digital photography. Only the artist's original source material is acceptable.
• Printmaking: Hand-pulled original prints only, in limited editions, signed and numbered.
• Natural Materials: Basket weaving, chair caning, brooms, gourds, and works made from natural materials. Leather items should be submitted under Fiber.
• Mixed Media: Work combining materials from two or more media in a single piece.

COLLABORATIVE WORK
Artists who collaborate on every piece may apply jointly as one applicant. All co-artists must describe their collaborative process in the application.

OPERATING HOURS & ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS
All artists are required to be checked in and set up before the festival opens. Artists must remain on-site and keep their booths open and staffed for the full duration of both festival days.

• Friday, April 9, 2027: Festival opens at 4:00 PM. All artists must be checked in, set up, and on-site by 3:00 PM. Booths must remain open until 8:00 PM. All booths must be closed and secured overnight, but will remain intact on-site. The Loop provides overnight security. Load-in and set-up will be staggered between 7 AM and 11 AM. Check-in begins at 7 AM. Artists will be notified of their load-in time by March 12, 2027.
• Saturday, April 10, 2027: All artists must be on-site by 10:00 AM. The festival opens at 11:00 AM. Booths must remain open until 7:00 PM.

Artists who open late, close early, or leave before the end of either festival day will be banned from future Loop Festival participation. If severe weather forces an early closure, Loop staff will notify all artists directly.

Artist assistants and booth sitters are permitted only as support staff; the exhibiting artist must be present throughout the festival.

Personal or individual music may not be played on festival grounds.

BOOTH REGULATIONS

• All artists must provide their own booth structures, display materials, and equipment.
• Booth structures must be flexible enough to accommodate trees and terrain irregularities in the park setting.
• All tents must have at least three sides. Booths must be closed overnight.
• All artists are required to have a minimum of 40 pounds of weight per tent leg. Weighted anchoring is mandatory. Safety is non-negotiable.
• Limited storage space is available behind booths.
• Special booth requests (double spaces, indoor placement, accessibility needs) must be submitted in advance via email to theloopfestival@gmail.com. Indoor space is limited and granted at the discretion of the Loop administrators.

BOOTH FEES & PAYMENTS
Booth fees are a flat rate of $150 per booth space — no commission, ever. All booth fee payments must be completed by February 1, 2027. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made on or after February 15, 2027.

Special booth requests (double spaces, indoor placement, accessibility needs) must be submitted in advance via email to theloopfestival@gmail.com. Indoor space is limited and granted at the discretion of the Loop administrators.

CANCELLATIONS
All cancellations must be submitted in writing. Email theloopfestival@gmail.com with the subject line: ATTN: FESTIVAL CANCELLATION. Please do not call. Booth fees will not be refunded on or after February 15, 2027.

LIABILITY
Art in Public Places and Live at the Opera assume no responsibility for damage to or loss of artwork, display materials, or personal property during the festival. Artists are responsible for adequately securing their work and belongings throughout the event, including overnight.

PROMOTIONAL CONSENT
By submitting an application, artists consent to and authorize the use of any and all submitted images of their work in promotional materials and archival documentation for the Loop Music & Art Festival, including, but not limited to, brochures, print advertising, billboards, television, and internet/social media displays.

LIABILITY
Art in Public Places and Live at the Opera assume no responsibility for damage to or loss of artwork, display materials, or personal property during the festival. Artists are responsible for adequately securing their work and belongings throughout the event, including overnight.

PROMOTIONAL CONSENT
By submitting an application, artists consent to and authorize the use of any and all submitted images of their work in promotional materials and archival documentation for the Loop Music & Art Festival, including, but not limited to, brochures, print advertising, billboards, television, and internet/social media displays.

BOOTH FEES
The Loop Music & Art Festival charges a flat booth fee of $150 per booth space — no commission, ever. What you sell is yours. Booth fees are due by February 1, 2027. Payment will be collected through Zapplication upon acceptance. No refunds will be issued for cancellations made on or after February 15, 2027.

BOOTH SIZES & SPECIAL REQUESTS
Standard booth spaces are provided at Porter Park Plaza in Downtown Dothan, Alabama. Artists requiring a double booth space, indoor placement, or any other special accommodation must submit their request in advance by emailing theloopfestival@gmail.com. 

PRODUCTS & DISPLAY
All items displayed and offered for sale must be original works designed and executed by the exhibiting artist. Your booth must be filled with your original work at all times. Up to 10% of displayed work may differ from your application images; the remaining 90% must be representative of what was submitted. Commercially manufactured items, items made from commercial molds or parts, and mass-produced work are strictly prohibited and will result in immediate removal from the festival.

Reproductions of your original work may only be displayed in a portfolio, with clear distinctions between originals and reproductions. Postcards and notecards bearing photo-offset reproductions may be sold but may not serve as primary display items. T-shirts require prior written approval — email theloopfestival@gmail.com before the festival.

BOOTH SETUP & EQUIPMENT
All artists are responsible for providing their own booth structures, display materials, walls, lighting, and equipment. The Loop does not provide any booth furnishings. Booth structures must be flexible enough to accommodate trees, uneven terrain, and other natural irregularities on the festival grounds at Porter Park Plaza.

• All tents must have at least three sides and four sides to close at night.
• A minimum of 40 pounds of weight per tent leg is required — no exceptions. Weighted anchoring is mandatory for the safety of artists, patrons, and neighboring exhibitors.
• Limited storage space is available directly behind each booth. Artists should plan accordingly and keep walkways and shared spaces clear.

ARTIST CHECK-IN & SETUP — FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 2027
Load-in and setup will be staggered between 7:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Check-in begins at 7:00 AM. Artists will be notified of their individual load-in time by March 12, 2027. All artists must be fully checked in, set up, and on-site by 3:00 PM. The festival opens to the public at 4:00 PM.

All booths must remain open until 8:00 PM. At the close of Friday evening, all booths must be completely closed and secured overnight. Booths will remain intact on-site. The Loop provides overnight security.

SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2027
All artists must be on-site by 10:00 AM. The festival opens at 11:00 AM. All booths must remain open until 7:00 PM.

OVERNIGHT & WEATHER POLICIES
The Loop provides overnight security for all artist booths between Friday evening and Saturday morning. Artists are still responsible for adequately securing their work and personal property. Art in Public Places and Live at the Opera assume no responsibility for damage to or loss of artwork, display materials, or personal property during the festival.

In the event of severe weather, setup times and festival hours will be re-evaluated and communicated to all artists at least 24 hours in advance when possible.

PRICING SUMMARY

Application Fees (non-refundable):

• $30 — Early Bird Application Fee (September 1 - September 30, 2026, 11:59 PM CT)
• $40 — Regular Application Fee (October 1 - December 30, 2026, 11:59 PM CT)
• $50 — "Better Late Than Never" Application Fee (deadline: January 2-5, 2027, 11:59 PM CT)

Booth Fees (due by February 1, 2027):

• $150 — Single Booth Space
• $300 — Double Booth Space (requires prior approval from Loop administrators)

APPLICATION FEE
All application fees are non-refundable, regardless of acceptance status or withdrawal. Submitting an application constitutes acceptance of this policy.

BOOTH FEE
Booth fees are due by February 1, 2027. Booth fees will not be refunded for cancellations after February 15, 2027 — no exceptions. If you cancel before February 15, 2027, please follow the cancellation procedure below.

CANCELLATION PROCEDURE
All cancellations must be submitted in writing. Email theloopfestival@gmail.com with the subject line: ATTN: FESTIVAL CANCELLATION. Please do not call. Verbal cancellations will not be accepted or processed. Once your cancellation is received and confirmed in writing, your booth space will be released and offered to the next artist on the waitlist for your category.

WEATHER & ACTS OF GOD
The Loop Music & Art Festival is an outdoor event and will proceed rain or shine. No refunds will be issued due to weather conditions. In the event of severe weather or an unforeseen circumstance that forces the festival to close early or cancel entirely, the Loop administrators will communicate directly with all artists as quickly as possible. Refund decisions for a full cancellation will be made at the discretion of Art in Public Places.