Cool Art Holiday Show 2026

The First Annual "Cool Art For The Holifays", be a part of history.  Brought to you by PAVA, the organization that has hosted the Cool Art Show each July since 1987. The new holiday show is a booth show, held indoors at the historic St. Petersburg Coliseum, St. Petersburg, Florida.  No weather to deal with. Climate controlled.  No tents required, just your booth furnishings and your fine art or fine craft.  The shoe is juried by art professionals from museums, universities, public and private galleries and other art related establishments.  There are no awards.  Participation in the show is based on juried scores and space availability.  67 booths are available.  Friday setup, artist amenities, free on-site parking.  Dedicated patron base 2500+

SHOW DATES and TIMES:

• Friday, December 4th, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.:  Artist Load-in and setup. 
• Setup and preparation time continues both Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
• Show dates:  Saturday, December 5th and Sunday, December 6th
• Show Hours:  Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sun. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

DEADLINE TO APPLY:  Sunday, October 18th
ALL NOTIFICATIONS:  Monday, November 2nd
DEADLINE TO ACCEPT AND PAY: Sunday, November 15th
BOOTH ASSIGNMENTS ON ZAPP:  Friday, November 27th

WAIT LIST POLICY:   Qualified professional artists who are not included in the initial invitations to the show, will be placed on the wait list.  In the event an invited artist is unable to accept or must withdraw, wait list artists will be invited to take the vacate spot. Wait list invitations are at the discretion of PAVA and the Cool Art For The Holidays Show. 

• Wait list invitations may be offered at any time between November 2nd and November 29th.
• Wait list invitees will receive an invitation through ZAPP and ZAPP email, that includes a deadline to accept and pay.  The deadline will be 5 days or less depending on proximity to the show dates.
• Please check your email and spam folders regularly.

SITE FACTS:

• This is an indoor, climate controlled venue. 
• Tents are not required unless the framework is integral to supporting the walls or furniture of your display. 
• Displays must be sturdy and stable.  Exhibitors must provide their own displays. 
• The floor is a polished wood floor.  Please take any necessary precautions to protect the floor.
• Pets are not permitted.  Service animals only please.  By Florida statutes, service animals are dogs and miniature horses only.
• Smoking and vaping are not permitted in the building or on the surrounding property. 
• No open flames of any kind (candles, etc.) are permitted.
• No painting, pastels, assembling or framing or other art activities during the show.
• No alcoholic beverages may be brought into the building.  Beer and wine are available for purchase at the concession.
• The building is locked and secured during non-show hours.  You do not need to "close your booth' at night.
• We recommend you remove or secure small valuables and personal items each night. 
• There will be uniformed security on site both Saturday and Sunday morning during the additional setup hours of 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.   Badges are required to enter before 10 a.m.

PAVA and Cool Art For The Holidays are not responsible for the safety and security of your display, artwork or personal belongings.

INTERACTIVE ARTS AREA: The Interactive Arts Area is located across from the concessions.  Both children and adults can take part in creating artwork and a memory.  The activities will be led by a PAVA artist not exhibiting in the show. 

CONCESSIONS:  There are city operated concessions in the building.  They offer a limited menu of sandwiches and snacks.  Beverages, including beer and wine are available.  Concessions will be open on Saturday and Sunday only.  There are no other food locations in the neighborhood.

ARTIST OASIS:  FREE for artists and their assistants.  Friday water and snacks.  Saturday and Sunday, breakfast and all day snacks and beverages will be available in the "PAVA Office" located left of the stage (formerly Alcove 7).

PARKING:  Parking is on-site and free to both artists and visitors.  Detached trailers or work vans / box trucks may be left overnight in designated areas on site. Large RV's and overnight camping of any kind are prohibited. It is a misdemeanor to sleep in your vehicle overnight in the city.

APPLICATION INFORMATION:
Incomplete or incorrectly filled out applications and applications that do not meet the art, booth and image requirements stated in this application will not be considered for the jury process.

PAVA and Cool Art For The Holidays reserve the right to refuse any application.  Submitting the application and fee indicates acceptance of the policies of PAVA and Cool Art For The Holidays.

• Applications must be submitted through Zapplications on or before Sunday, October 18th.
• Late applications will not be accepted.
• Invited / Not Invited / Wait List notifications to artists will be communicated via ZAPP email and on the Zapplication website.
• Artists must Accept or Decline and Pay through ZAPP using a  credit or debit card or PayPal.  No checks or other forms of payment are accepted.
• No telephone or personal email notifications.
• Booth numbers will be posted on ZAPP on or before November 27th.
• All decisions of the jury and the show management are final.

APPLICATION FEE:  $40 per applicaiton, non-refundable.  To apply in more than one category, a separate application and fee must be made.

ARTISTS EXHIBITING JEWELRY: Only artists who have juried in the Jewelry category are permitted to exhibit jewelry in their booth. Artists working in ceramics, glass, metal, wood may exhibit up to 4 jewelry items created by their own hands in their primary media, without filing a separate application. One application image MUST be of this jewelry.

COLLABORATIVE TEAMS:  Artists who work together throughout the artistic process, from design through completed product, may apply via a single application.  Both artists will be listed on the booth sign and in promotional materials.  Both artists must be present at all times during show hours.

BOOTH SHARING:  Booths may be shared by non-collaborative artist partners who have similar or complimentary media types.  Each artist's work is completely their own creation, from design through final product.  Each artist must submit a separate application for his or her work. One person may be accepted by the jury and one not.

ARTWORK REQUIREMENTS:
Artwork exhibited in the booth must be original fine art / fine craft works created by the artist's own hands or under the artist's direct supervision.

REPRODUCTION POLICY:  Up to 20% of your wall exhibit may be professional quality reproductions.  This means 2 reproductions allowed in every 10 pieces hung.  NO REPRODUCTIONS if hanging less than 10 pieces.  Reproductions must be part of a numbered series.  A sign or label that is at least 3 inches square, that includes the word "REPRODUCTION" in letters that are at least 1/4 inch high, must be placed beside wall displayed reproduction.  All reproductions, including those in browse bins, should be clearly labelled as such.

ACCEPTED MEDIA:

• Painting (acrylic, oil, watercolor)
• Pastels
• Drawing (pencil, charcoal, colored pencil, pen & ink, pigments)
• Mixed Media (2D or 3D)
• Photography (film or digital)
• Digital Art (computer images generated from the artist's own source material)
• Printmaking - by the artist's own hand
• Metal (sculptures or other 3-D objects, wall pieces, designed and smithed by the artist)
• Sculptures (natural substrates, metal, paper, wood, resin)
• Paper / Papier Mache
• Mosaics
• Clay / ceramics (handmade, kiln fired or low temperature alternatives)
• Glass (handmade, blown or kiln fired)
• Fiber (handmade / hand dyed fabrics and weavings, no embellishment or commerical produced items, no home craft needlework)
• Jewelry (fine metals and gems, casual metal or beadwork, all components handmade by the artist, no assemblage)
• Wood (decorative or functional handmade items)

IMAGES:

• Each application must include 3 images of original that accurately represent the work you intend to exhibit.
• Each application must include 1 image of your booth / display as your booth will look during the show , including artwork representative of your exhibit.
  • Booth shots that include any persons or signage that would identify you as the artist are subject  to immediate disqualification. 
  • A non-professional booth setup may also result in disqualification.
• Artwork submitted for jurying must have been completed after January 1st, 2024.
• Artists are juried based on the images submitted.

BOOTH REQUIREMENTS:
Booths must be professional in appearance and in good repair.  They must be sturdy and stable, and not present a danger to visitors or to other artists.  Artists must provide their own booth setups. 

• Tents are not required unless the framework is an integral support for the booth wall or furnishings.  If used, tents must be white, professional festival tents.
• Walls may be fabric, mesh, back-draped gridwall or finished wood. 
  • 3 walls, 6 - 10 feet in height are required for each 2-dimensional artist. 
  • Only a 6 - 10 foot back wall is required for 3-dimensional artists. 
  • Walls must be braced or weighted if free-standing, for the safety of artists and visitors.
• Items not on exhibit and all bags, bubble wrap, cash registers or cash boxes, must be behind the back wall of your booth or otherwise out of sight..
• All items must be contained within the 10x10 booth space.  Aisles and walkways must remain clear, per the local fire code (enforced).
• Browse bins (floor standing and table top) must be professional in appearance (wood, fabric / fiber).  No plastic tubs, milk crates, laundry baskets, etc.  Limit 3 browse bins per booth.
• Tables must be skirted.
  • Household linens are not a substitute for table skirting. 
  • Small non-plastic accent tables that compliment your artwork are permitted without coverings.
• Shelving and cabinetry must be professional in appearance.  No board and concrete block shelving, plastic shelving, milk crates, etc.
• Use of generators and lead - acid inverters are strictly prohibited. 
  • LED battery lights are permitted. 
  • Supplemental electricity is available for purchase. 

All booths and electrical connections must past inspection by the Fire Marshall.  Fabrics should be fire-retardant.  Non-compliant booths or components must be removed.  The Fire Marshall remains on-site throughout the show.

PAVA and Cool Art For The Holidays reserve the right to remove at any time during setup or the show, any artist or portion of an artist's exhibit that does not conform to the art and booth requirements stated in this application.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
We will use the contact information provided by the artist in their Zapplications Profile.  It is the artist's responsibility to insure that this information, including social media information, is accurate and kept up to date.  Your social media information in ZAPP may be used in promotion of the show.  

RULES AND REGULATIONS"

• All participating artists must be present during show hours.  This includes both members of collaborative teams and booth sharing partners. 
• Artist helpers and assistants are not permitted to substitute for the artist other than for short duration breaks.
• Only accepted, juried artists may exhibit at Cool Art For The Holidays.  Guest artists are not permitted.
• Artists should refrain from aggressive, abrasive or offensive behavior or language toward visitors and their fellow artists. 
• To maintain a respectable noise level for all, artists are prohibit from playing music in their booths.  Earbuds are ok. 
• No hawking.  No clearance sale signs.  No special promotions, raffles or other marketing ploys. 
• Any damage or destruction of the property of the City of St. Petersburg or the Coliseum as a result of direct and deliberate action of show participants is prohibited.  Artists may be held accountable for a portion of any damages that are incurred.
• Failure to comply with any policies or regulations may result in expulsion from the show or exclusion from futures shows.

SETUP AND BREAK DOWN
Check-in and setup are Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the rear west entrance.  You MUST pick up your packet which contains your booth sign and your ID badge.  Your ID badge will be required for entry on Saturday and Sunday between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.

If you are unable to setup on Friday, please email the show before Friday a.m.  Booth setup continues Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. You must be ready to open to the public by 9:30a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Detailed setup instructions will be emailed one week before the show.

Break down starts at 4:01 p.m. on Sunday.  Anyone breaking down and leaving early will not be invited to future shows.  

ITEMS NOT PERMITTED

• Anything not created by the artist's own hands or under their direct supervision.
• Commercially produced reproductions of artwork on hats, mousepads, magnets, key chains, notecards, notepads, shirts, towels, or other media are strictly prohibited
• Antiques and Collectibles
• Sports, signage, or other memorabilia
• Upcycled or embellished furniture and home goods
• Assemblage of any type (includes bead-stringing)
• Needlecraft (knitting, crocheting, embroidery, needlepoint, etc.)
• Food and beverage, food components (no oils, spices, mixes, etc.)
• Candles, soaps, oils and beauty products
• Tobacco and vaping products
• CBD or similar products
• Pet products
• Tattoo artistry
• Home-craft, craft project items
• Buy / sell items of any kind
• Work made from kits or molds

FLORIDA STATE SALES TAX:  Each artist is responsible for the collection of 7% Florida State Sales Tax on all sales made during the show.  The artist is also responsible for remitting th sales tax to the Florida State Department of Revenue per the department's policies and procedures.

BOOTH INFORMATION::

• ALCOVES: 9 available. Size: 15x15   
  • Individual rooms on each side of the main floor.  
  • Some alcoves have external doors.  All have large windows, standard height ceilings, in ceiling lighting and bifold front doors.
  • Alcoves are raised slightly on a diasis above the floor (1 - 2 steps), with a "patio" area in front.  NOT ADA compliant. 
  • NO HANGING OF ARTWORK OR SIGNAGE ON THE ALCOVE WALLS.  YOU MUST STILL HAVE EXHIBIT WALLS IN AN ALCOVE.
  • MAIN FLOOR BOOTHS:  58 available, 34 corners and 24 standard (middle).  Size:  10x10 with 2 feet of storage behind. 
    • CORNER BOOTHS:  Artwork may be displayed on the outside aisle wall, but not between neighboring booths,
    • STANDARD BOOTHS:  "Interior" booths with neighboring booths on each side.  Artwork cannot be displayed between booths.
    • Space between booths is approximately 7 inches.

DOUBLE BOOTHS:  A limited number of double booths MAY be available at the show, if space permits.  Please indicate on your application if interested.

LIGHTING: The ceiling height on the main floor is over 30 feet high.  Lighting is in the rafters and decorative / theater style lighting.  Supplemental electricity is available for an additional charge of $60. LED battery operated lighting is also permitted.  No generators.  No lead acid inverters.

MEMBERSHIP: Accepted artists must be PAVA member at the time of the show.  Non-member booth fees include a 1 year membership, ($60 value) for 1 full year (Dec - Dec).

BOOTH ASSIGNMENTS:  Booth assignments will be posted on ZAPP once all booths have been filled.  We will do our best to accommodate all booth requests.  Booth assignments are final.  Please do not ask to change your booth location.

SUMMARY OF PRICING:

• Application Fee:  $40
• PAVA Members
  • Alcove Booths:  $295
  • All Main Floor Booths:  $270
• Non Members
  • Alcove Booths:  $355
  • All Main Floor Booths:  $330
• Optiontal electricity:  $60 (must be purchased in advance)

NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE STATUS:
We generally have more requests for Alcoves and Corners than we have booths available.  Some locations are more popular than others.  If you do not receive the booth type or specific booth location you requested, you will receive the next best booth available.

All notifications will be completed by end of day on Monday, November 2nd,  
Deadline to ACCEPT and PAY is Sunday, November 15th.

Unclaimed invitations will be offered to those on the Wait List beginning Monday, May 4th and will continue until all booth opportunities have been claimed.

REFUNDS:  By paying the exhibit fees, artists have made a commitment to participate in the show.  No refunds will be issued in the event of a natural or socio-political event that forces the cancellation of the entire show.

Accepted artists wishing to withdraw from the show should inform the show via email, on or before November 22nd..  If the vacated booth can be filled from the wait list, a partial refund MAY be issued at the discretion of PAVA management.  Application fees are non-refundable.  Electricity fees are non-refundable after November 29th.  Checks will be mailed for all refunds to the artist address listed in ZAPP.

Late withdrawals will be handled on a case by case basis.