Art in The Loop 2027

Art Works Foundation announces its 10th annual edition of Art in The Loop, an Art Festival in Memphis, TN, Friday, April 9th – Sunday, April 11th, 2027.

Art in The Loop will be staged in east Memphis, near Poplar & I-240, on Ridgeway Loop Road. This unique site is situated in between 1.5 million square feet of high level offices and one of Memphis' most exclusive residential areas (the founder of AutoZone lives right around the corner; so, too, did the late founder of FeEx).  In addition to offices, the area boasts several hotels (including the Memphis Hilton) and a 4 screen Cinema dedicated to films attractive to the over 45 audiences; there are also two Mega-Churches in view of our festival site, which bring additional traffic on Sunday.  Our Sponsors include: WKNO TV & FM, the local PBS & NPR Affiliates & Memphis Magazine.

"Art in The Loop was one of the best to participate in for being the most thoughtful, and on top of that, one of the most profitable! This is a magic unicorn show!"  Yvonne Miller, Mixed Media Artist Atlanta GA.

For more about ArtWorks Foundation and more Artists' views, see - https://www.artworks.foundation/
For more about this show, see -http://www.artintheloop.org/ 
 

Art Works Foundation announces its 10th annual edition of Art in The Loop, an Art Festival in Memphis, TN, Friday, April 9th – Sunday, April 11, 2027.

Art in The Loop will feature – and focus on the sale of – stellar works of art in metal, glass, clay, wood, fiber, jewelry, sculpture, paintings & photography, and more.  We limit the number of artists by category, and are more concerned about the quality of work presented than the number of spaces we sell: from 60 to 75 artists will be admitted in 2027. The Booth Fee is $375.

Please be aware that this show adheres to and expects professional standards. Your images and booth shot matter in the jury process. We prefer “real” tents, but will accept popups (Eurmax Pro, Master-Tent, and others with heavy steel legs preferred); weights will be inspected: minimum 50lbs per corner, suspended from top of frame (we do not care whether other shows accept lesser precautions). You must provide liability insurance, naming ArtWorks Foundation as additionally insured (if you jury in, and do not already carry insurance, you will be provided with a link and discount code for ACT Insurance). That said, Good Luck!

Art in The Loop invites artists working in glass, metal, fiber, clay, wood, as well as found objects, and 2-D media to apply for acceptance.

Art in The Loop offers easy move-in, and lots of free parking (for both artists and festival-goers), as well as proximity to high-income households.  Art in The Loop also offers visitors FREE Admission and amenities including cash bars, specialty food trucks, and performances of Classical Music by area youth ensembles.

Up to 75 positions will be available for artists to participate. The show will be heavily advertised; public attendance will be encouraged via: direct mail; outdoor advertising; print and broadcast media; as well as through social media outlets. There will be also vigorous Public Relations support for the show.

Fine Craft and Fine Art are the focus of this event. Categories include the various disciplines for working in glass, metal, wood, clay, fiber, and printmaking - as well as Jewelers (NO stringers!!). Art in The Loop also invites artists working 2-D media including painting & photography to apply.  

The show will be a juried selection with five judges. Standards of high quality and skill will be strictly maintained.  Artists who wish to be considered should submit five (5) photos of representative work (including one booth shot), and complete the Zapplication entry module, according to the instructions therein.

The jury process will take place between January 13 & 23, 2027. Final Notification of application status will be sent out via email by January 26, 2027.

The Wait-List will not be used to fill space randomly; rather, those on the wait list will be called upon to fill spaces by category (i.e., if cancellations leave 5 spaces open, and everyone on the waitlist is a photographer, no one on the list will be added, unless we have openings in that category: we will not sell space for the sake of selling space).

There will be cash prizes awarded. 

Artists will staff their own display throughout the show, handling all sales of their work. ArtWorks Foundation will provide the website and information about filing Tennessee State Sales Tax. (Credentials for up to two assistants will provided: but the artist must also be present.) Booth Sitters will be available as demand permits.

NO price reductions will be permitted during the run of the show; no show “specials;” no “sales.” The show is intended to be perceived as an exhibition of fine art, NOT as a bargain-basement!
Artists are required to make sure a full supply of merchandise is always on hand through the last minutes of the show, and are responsible for restocking their own displays.

Any packaging is the responsibility of the artist.

There is convenient, and plentiful, free onsite parking for guests, as well as LIMITED onsite RV parking (with no-hookups); artists desiring RV space must submit a request via email, these limited spots will be awarded on a first come first served basis).

Numerous hotels, in a variety of price ranges are located nearby.   

Art in The Loop is staged by ArtWorks Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to “helping artists grow in the scope of their business and the excellence of their work,” as well as to encouraging public interest in collecting the work of fine-craft artists. We are obsessed with the quality of what we present and how we present it.

If you have any questions, please contact, Greg Belz: phone (901.327.4019), or email gregbelz@hotmail.com
Thanks for your interest in Art in The Loop.
For more about this show, see -http://www.artintheloop.org/
ArtWorks Foundation is a non-profit {501(c)3} dedicated to help artists grow in their business and their work. For more see www.artworks.foundation

Exhibiting artists must be 18 years or older and must be present during show hours. Exhibition is limited to invited artists, selected by our jury.  Assistants are welcome, but agents or representatives of the artist do not replace the requirement of the artist to be present during show hours.  Booth sitters will be provided as demand permits.

We require that all participants provide liability insurance coverage, naming ArtWorks Foundation as additionally insured: i.e.,  ArtWorks Foundation / 60 North Century / Memphis TN 38111.

All items offered for sale must be created by the hand of the artist to whom the display space is registered: NO work created by parties other than the artist whose work has been accepted for the show may be displayed.

All designs offered must be original.  Work made from commercial molds, kits, patterns or copyrighted designs not owned by the Artist are not permitted. Any commercially made embellishments must be subordinate to the handcrafted work. All work must be for sale. No reproductions may be displayed, except as follows: 2-D artists may offer reproductions of their work {if no more than 20% of their inventory!}; any reproductions must be offered in a bin labeled "reproductions;" only originals may be displayse in frames and /or on walls.  Also, 3-D artists may offer T-Shirts, or note cards/calendars, etc., embellished with reproductions of their work {if no more than 10% of inventory!}.

No (other) embellished manufactured articles are acceptable; nor may items such as antiques and collectibles be offered for sale.

Jurors will circulate during the show to ensure that all work is in compliance.  We reserve the right to remove any items which were not submitted in the jury process, or are found otherwise objectionable.  

Violation of any of these directives will result in immediate expulsion from the show. No fees will be refunded.

Additionally, any artist leaving prior to the end of the show, without the authorization of the show’s director, will be unable to exhibit in any ArtWorks Foundation show for at least two (2) years.

Sales:
The exhibitor is responsible for remitting Tennessee state sales taxes (9.75%).  ArtWorks Foundation will provide the website and information about filing Tennessee Sales Tax.    

Conflicts:
Artists accepted for Art in The Loop may not participate in any other show or sale in Shelby, Tipton or Fayette counties in Tennessee, or DeSoto County Mississippi, or Crittenden County Arkansas, during the run of the show (this includes, but is not limited to, private house shows).

Security:
Armed security will be provided 24 hours a day from the beginning of set up on Friday morning, until breakdown is completed on Sunday evening.  However, all exhibitors will display their work at their own risk. It is understood that neither Art in The Loop, nor ArtWorks Foundation, nor the venue, nor our sponsors, shall carry insurance to cover personal property of any exhibitor. Exhibitors are considered to be independent contractors, and it is suggested that exhibitors obtain their own insurance against loss, as well as the required liability insurance.

Images:
Please note that in addition to providing a means to assess your work, any photographs submitted may (upon our acceptance of the artist) be used to promote the show (posters, postcards, etc.).

 

I. Overview:
This three-day show sets up *starting at 9:00am, on Friday, April 9, 2027; the show will open to the public that day at 1:00pm, and run until 6:00pm that evening. Saturday’s hours will run 10:00am to 5:00pm; Sunday’s hours are 11am to 4pm.  (Displays may not be removed before 4:05pm on Sunday, April 11).

II. Fees & Space Information:
The cost of Exhibition Space is $375 (10’x10’). (Double booth = booth fee x2) All spaces are corners. No extensions may exceed the parameters of the allocated space by more than 2’, and must be removed if found objectionable by the promoter.

Individual display areas are 10’x10’ (with 3’ of storage at rear).
Artists’ displays will be located on pavement (asphalt roadway).

III. Set up & Standards:
Artists selected for the show will be *assigned vehicle access times during set up on Friday, April 11th;   artists will off-load immediately and return to install their displays. This same procedure will be followed in reverse during load-out.

All tents must be suitably weighted: at least 50 pounds per corner, suspended from the top of the tent: not sitting on the base). Tents will be on pavement, but may be staked into grass at the rear. It is strongly reccommended that you invest in stabilizer bars (Flourish makes them for ALL tent brands: they are not expensive)...of course a trimline or lightdome tent, properly weighted - with stabilizer bars - will give you great peace of mind, no matter what the weather brings. 

Each artist should display a sign identifying themselves, as well as any business name, & their medium; exhibitors will also receive a sign from the show identifying your name and city of residence.

Electricity must be battery powered.

No sound-amplification of any type will be permitted.

Move-out will begin at 4:05pm, Sunday, April 11.  NO exhibitors may begin packing before that time (unless the promoters deem that conditions constitute an emergency which may affect life or property).
 
IV. Access & Hours
On Friday parking is limited to the lots designated by the promoter; any artist who parks in any other lot will be towed and removed from the show.   On Saturday and Sunday, however, there is plentiful, free parking surrounding the festival site, and artists will have multiple options for parking.

Limited reserved parking for trailers & RV's is available (no hook-ups, though); artists must apply for these spaces via email: space will be awarded on a first come, first served basis (on street parking is also available).   

The show opens to the public at 1:00pm, Friday (Open Hours: FR 1p to 6p; SA 10a-5p; SU 11a -4p).
Move-out will not begin until 4:05pm, Sunday.  NO exhibitors may begin packing before that time.
 
If you are accepted for inclusion in the show, and prefer to pay by check, checks may be mailed and made payable to:
ArtWorks Foundation / 60 North Century / Memphis, TN 38111.
 

If the show is cancelled by the promoter, 100% of fees will be refunded. 

80% of Exhibtion Fee refunded by March 6, 2027; or, for loss of life in one's immediate family (i.e., self, spouse, child) beyond that date; any considerations for personal illness (e.g., heart attack, not flu) beyond the refund date are at the discretion of ArtWorks Foundation's Board of Directors.