Leeper Park Art Fair 2027

Leeper Park Art Fair is one of the premier fine art fairs in the country, ranked in Sunshine Artist Magazine's 2026 100 Best Fine Art and Design Festivals in the US! Situated in a picturesque park along the banks of the St. Joseph River in South Bend, IN, Leeper Park Art Fair attracts top-ranked artists and enthusiastic patrons year after year. Our show is run by volunteers of the St. Joe Valley Watercolor Society, with entry and booth fees spent on show operations, awards, and promotion. Our community has welcomed the variety, excellence, and quality presented by exhibiting artists since 1967. We pride ourselves on hospitality, hosting a Friday evening welcome reception and serving a full catered breakfast Saturday and Sunday. Amenities include booth sitting, free parking, help with load-in/out, overnight security, and extensive marketing/promotion. We limit our show to 100 artists. We present awards of $4,000; winners are jury-exempt the following year. Visit our website, leeperparkartfair.org, Facebook, and Instagram for information and updates.
 

ARTIST INFORMATION
Artist Application
All applications are processed via Zapplication. Artists must be 18 years of age or older. Deadline for applications is March 1, 2027. Applications require 4 images, including a booth image, and an entry fee of $25. Double booths must be requested on your application. Jurying results are announced March 15, 2027. Once accepted, your artist booth fee of $350 ($700 for a double booth) is payable by April 1. If your booth fee is not received by April 1, 2027 your status will be considered a cancellation. No refunds after May 1. If you have an emergency please contact Hedy Lane, leeperparkartfairSB@gmail.com, for special consideration.

2026 Award winners are jury-exempt for the 2027 Fair. Jury-exempt artists must still submit an application, including images, and must pay the $350 booth fee by March 1, 2027 in order to reserve their spot.

Images
Artists will be juried by four images representative of current work and presentation. Three images must be of individual pieces representing current work and the fourth a recent image of the artist’s booth. The images must be jpeg files, 1920 pixels on the longest side. A description of materials and technique must be included. 

Booth shot: Your booth shot must display an accurate depiction of your current work and presentation. Your tent must be visible. Your name and/or image must not be visible in your booth shot. No selfies.
Applications not complying with these guidelines will be declined.

Display and Booth
Booth space is 10’x10’, with additional ample space provided between and behind booths for display and storage. Double booths must be requested on your application. The booth fee for a double space is $700. Stakes are not allowed to secure your booth. You must use tent weights only.
Artists may not tear down booths before 5:00pm Sunday. 

Artist Collaboration
No more than one artist per booth. Two-artist collaboration, where the 2 artists apply as a single entry, and the work is the result of the collaborative process, is allowed. Only work that is the result of the collaborative process may be displayed and sold. All exhibitors must be present at the fair for the entire weekend, no stand-ins or agents are permitted. Artists may only show work in categories and bodies of work selected by the jury. All work exhibited must be the creation of the exhibiting artists, from concept and design to execution, and must be of the same quality, category, and body of work shown in the images submitted on the application. Exhibitors must check in with a valid ID.

Media Categories
Media categories include Clay, Digital Art, Fiber, Glass, Jewelry, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking and Drawing, Sculpture, and Wood.
Not acceptable: Factory made wearable items, regardless of modification or enhancement by the artist; jewelry created solely from commercially manufactured elements; artwork created using artificial intelligence tools. All works exhibited must be made by the exhibiting artist. No buy/sell or commercially manufactured work is allowed.

Category Descriptions
Clay: Fired pieces constructed using clay, whether thrown, hand-built or cast in artist-made molds. Objects are decorative or sculptural, for utilitarian/non-utilitarian use.
Digital: Artworks created from the artist’s original concept and executed by the artist’s hand using digital technology. Art created using a computer algorithm (Artificial Intelligence) will not be accepted. Digital Art prints must be made from the artist’s original digital file under the artist’s supervision. Digital photographers should apply in the Photography category.
Fiber: Work crafted from fibers including basketry, embroidery, weaving, tapestry, leatherwork, papermaking, etc.
Glass: Glassworks that are functional or decorative by design and are crafted by glass blowing, molding, casting or stained glass.
Jewelry: Jewelry handcrafted from precious jewels and metals, semi-precious stones, clay, polymer clay, glass, fiber, paper, pebbles, glass, wood, lab-created gems and found objects. No production studio work allowed. Only those artists who jury and are accepted in the jewelry category may sell jewelry.
Mixed Media: 2D or 3D work in which the final piece incorporates more than one medium.
Painting: Original artistic creations using Watercolor, Gouache, Encaustic, Acrylic, Oil on an appropriately prepared 2D surface.
Photography: Photographs made from the artist’s original image, printed by the artist or under the artist’s direct supervision.
Printmaking and Drawing: Printed original works for which the artist has hand manipulated the plates, stones or screens; and artistic creations using chalk, charcoal, pastels, pencil, wax crayon, and ink.
Sculpture: 3-dimensional, non-functional objects which are carved, modeled, constructed or cast from a single medium.
Wood: Original works that are hand-tooled, machine worked, turned or carved. The primary material must be wood.

Jurying and Wait List
A panel of area experts in various media judge entries based on the criteria of originality, craftsmanship, difficulty, and booth presentation. Scores are based on a 10 point scale. It is imperative that entry images display the artist's current work, and booth shots exclude the artist's face or name. Scores are totaled for each category, and the top 100 artists receive invitations. High-scoring artists not initially invited to exhibit are added to a wait list and offered the opportunity to exhibit should a space become open. We strive to present an artistically balanced show.

Exempt Artists
Award winners from 2026 fair will be jury-exempt for 2027. Exempt artists must complete an application on ZAPP with four digital images, including a booth shot. We send exempt artists a coupon code in December to waive the application fee on their ZAPP checkout. Booth fees still apply for jury-exempt artists. Upon receipt of the exempt artists' applications, their status will be changed to "Invited." Their booth fee of $350 ($700 for a double booth) must be paid by March 1, 2027 in order to reserve their spot.

Awards
A team of impartial judges not affiliated with the St. Joe Valley Watercolor Society review all participants on Saturday of the fair to determine the award winners. $4,000 in awards are presented to Best of Show, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place, and 8 Judge's Choice. $150 in Merit awards presented to members of the St. Joe Valley Watercolor Society who have been juried in to the fair.
Award winners will be jury-exempt the following year. 

Reproductions
All reproductions must be signed and numbered.
All reproductions, whether framed or unframed, must be clearly and individually labelled “REPRODUCTION” or “LIMITED EDITION REPRODUCTION.” This notice must appear on the front of each item displayed.
Framed reproductions may be displayed in browse bins and/or hung on one wall of booth. All unframed reproductions must be displayed in browse bins.
Unframed reproductions may not be displayed in browse bins with original artwork.

Photos
Leeper Park Art Fair representatives take photographs of the fair for general publicity purposes. Artists have the right to refuse having photos taken of their booth or work.

Set Up, Parking, and Take Down
Artists will be given a time slot to enter the park to set up, beginning at 11:00am Friday. No early arrivals. Artists must be set up by 9:00am Saturday. Assistance will be available for unloading. After unloading, artists must move their vehicle, park in designated areas, and display the parking pass issued to them. Exhibitors violating parking rules will be towed. Take down begins at 5:00pm Sunday. Early take down is not allowed. No vehicle will be allowed to enter the park grounds before 5:00pm Sunday. Exhibitors violating set up and take down rules will not be invited to the 2028 fair.
In the event of impending severe weather, we will determine if artists may close down early.

Safety and Security
Weather: We monitor the forecast and will determine whether to close the show early if severe weather threatens. Early tear-downs are otherwise not allowed.
Health: We follow current CDC health recommendations for the safety of artists and patrons.
Security: Overnight security is provided Friday and Saturday nights. Please do not leave your artwork. Leeper Park Art Fair is not liable for loss/damage due to theft or weather.

Promotion
We publicize Leeper Park Art Fair extensively via social and print media, community calendars, Visitor's Bureau, South Bend marketing portals, and the Leeper Park Art Fair website, Facebook, and Instagram pages. Artists are provided e-postcards and links to promote their attendance at the show.

Cancellation and Refunds
There will be no refunds for artist cancellations after May 1, 2027. Artists facing an emergency cancellation should contact Hedy Lane leeperparkartfairSB@gmail.com for special consideration. Should Leeper Park Art Fair have to cancel the show for any reason, booth fees will be refunded.

Taxes
Collecting and paying Indiana 7% sales tax is the responsibility of the artist. Sales tax information and forms may be found at www.in.gov.

Contact
If you have any questions or special needs, please call Hedy Lane at (571) 435-6217 or e-mail leeperparkartfairSB@gmail.com

FOOD AND BEVERAGE VENDORS
Food/Beverage Vendor Rules
Food and beverage vendors may apply on zapplication.org. Food/beverage vendor applications are reviewed by Renée Keller, rjkeller2@hotmail.com (574) 850-1037. The deadline to apply is March 1, 2027. An image of your display and list of your menu must accompany your application. You will be contacted for proof of insurance and current Temporary Food Permit in order to secure your spot at the fair.

Food Vendor Rental Fees
Food truck fees are $200 ($100 for beverage/small carts). All fees are paid at zapplication.org. Small cart vendors will be given a coupon code to receive the discounted fee at ZAPP checkout. Once your application is accepted, payment is due by May 1, 2027. Additional time to pay your vendor fee may be arranged with Renée Keller.  Food/Beverage vendor applications are reviewed on a first come/first served basis. We will not duplicate menus. Food/Beverage vendors are responsible for any additional fees assigned by the South Bend Park Department.

Vendor Check In-Out
Food vendor set up is from 11:00am-3:00pm Friday, June 18. All vendors must remain open during fair hours, Saturday 10:00am-6:00pm, Sunday 10:00am-5:00pm. Food vendors must park in designated areas.

Vendor Equipment Requirements
Food/Beverage Vendors are responsible for all equipment needed for their operations.
Generators may be needed due to limited electricity available at Leeper Park, and will be the responsibility of the vendor to provide if additional electricity is needed. Leeper Park Art Fair will not be responsible for loss or damage of any items.

Release
Vendors will be required to sign a release (see Legal Agreement) discharging Leeper Park Art Fair from any loss or damage to property held by the vendor.

Contact
Food/Beverage vendors may contact Renée Keller rjkeller2@hotmail.com (574) 850-1037 with questions.

Artist Booths
Booth spaces are 10'x 10' with extra space provided behind tents for storage. We also provide ample space between tents.
Artists provide their own tents and displays. Tents must be anchored with weights only. No stakes allowed.
Requests for a double booth must be made on the artist's application. 
Only one artist per booth. Collaborating artists (no more than 2) are allowed, and must apply as a single entry.
Upon acceptance, a booth fee of $350 ($700 for a double booth) is due by April 1.
No early tear downs are permitted.

There will be no refunds for artist cancellations after May 1, 2027. Artists facing an emergency cancellation should contact Hedy Lane leeperparkartfairSB@gmail.com for special consideration.

Should Leeper Park Art Fair have to cancel the show for any reason, booth fees will be refunded.