Des Moines Arts Festival 2027

Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines Arts Festival Application Fee: $45

Contact Information

Des Moines Arts Festival, Inc.

Contact Email: info@desmoinesartsfestival.org

Contact Phone: 515-419-7265

Requirement Overview

Eligible Applicant Types: Artist
Emerging Artists: Emerging artists may apply. Emerging Artist Program or Grants exist.
Submission Limit: 3

Media Requirements

Images | Min: 5, Max: 5
Total | Max: 5

Opportunity Summary

The Des Moines Arts Festival® is one of the world’s most respected juried art festivals, hosting 195 artists in a beautiful urban street setting surrounding the 4.4 acres of John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park and the Krause Gateway Center designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop. 16-time winner of the coveted Grand Pinnacle Award from the International Festivals and Events Association, the outdoor festival celebrating arts and culture attracts more than 150,000 people each year to its downtown location in Iowa’s capital city and largest metropolitan area. The Festival is dedicated to the highest standards of excellence and fosters a progressive environment for artists and their clients. The Festival is produced by a non-profit organization, with any proceeds earned going to the continuation of the Festival, keeping artist fees low and supporting the advancement and advocacy of working professional and emerging artists.

General Information

DES MOINES ARTS FESTIVAL®
30th Anniversary

16-TIME WINNER OF THE PRESTIGIOUS GRAND PINNACLE AWARD
from the International Festivals & Events Association
ENCORE AWARD
Bravo Greater Des Moines
TOP 10 ARTS FESTIVALS
USA Today
TOURISM BEST FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR
Iowa Department of Tourism
PEOPLE'S CHOICE, BEST CULTURAL EVENT
Des Moines Business Record

What they're saying...
(from the post-event artist survey and comments)
"Artists whisper fervently of the shining unicorn of a show that is Des Moines”
“I left with empty walls and a full wallet”
“I had never been to Des Moines and what a welcome. It was my best show ever.”
“Best managed, designed and run art show in the country."
"This is one of the best-run shows anywhere in the country. They think of everything."
"You treat artists with such respect."

OUR MISSION
Impact Lives Through the Arts

Our Core Values are to:
Inspire Appreciation of the Arts
We cultivate, educate and engage our audience toward a heightened appreciation of the arts.
Celebrate Original Art
We produce an annual celebration of outstanding original visual art that is created by the hand of the artist in a festival atmosphere.
Impact Community
We foster and celebrate the involvement of all people.
Promote Collaboration
We promote and inspire meaningful collaboration to strengthen the arts community.
Deliver the Highest Standards
We value professionalism and quality. We operate in a fair and honorable manner with transparency. We are strong financial stewards. We manage with responsibility and maximize value to our partners.
Strategically Innovate
We champion new and emerging ideas.

OUR VISION    Strengthen a Vibrant and Creative Community

THE FACT SHEET (all information subject to change)
LOCATION: Downtown Des Moines, Iowa, on Locust Street and Grand Ave. between 16th Street and 10th Street. The Festival surrounds the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park, the Krause Gateway Center designed by acclaimed architect Renzo Piano Workshop, and the Butterfield-designed Downtown Library.
CONTACT:  Stephen King, CFEE, Executive Director
EMAIL: info@desmoinesartsfestival.org
MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1434, Des Moines, IA 50305
SALES: Artists retain 100% of their sales and are responsible for state and local taxes.
JURY: One-time projected simultaneously across one line left to right with the booth image being image #5.
IMAGES: 4 images of work + 1 booth image. Images may not include identifiers, including the artist's name or business.
JURORS:  5 paid. Includes two (2) invited artists exempt from jurying.
SCORING (see details below): First scoring round is 1-7, no 4. All other rounds are a majority show of hands.
JURY/APPLICATION FEE:  $45 early application fee November 2 – Jan. 17; $55 Jan. 18 - 24.
BOOTH SPACE FEE:  $625 for 10’x10’. An additional $170 is charged for a corner booth. Limited number of Double-DEEP booths available for $1120. Double-wide space limited to artists selected in separate mediums.
BOOTH SPACE:  10’x10’ with 1’ buffer all around (2’ between each tent), most with abundant storage close to the booth. A limited number of 10’ (front) x 20’ (deep) interior and corner booths are available. We do not offer 20' wide booth spaces unless the artist is juried to show two bodies of work.
ELECTRIC: Provided by the festival at no additional charge. Fueled or noisy generators are not allowed.
ARTIST PRESENCE:  All required (individual and partner(s)/collaborator(s)).
NO. OF EXHIBITORS EXPECTED FROM JURY POOL: Approx. 180 (we jury spaces with the final number of spaces available being 195).
NO. OF ARTISTS EXEMPT FROM JURY: At least 14 (award winners from the previous year, and special invitation including previous year's poster artist and deferments)
INSURANCE: Required. Upon acceptance, artist(s) must provide Des Moines Arts Festival with an appropriate Certificate of Insurance, naming Des Moines Arts Festival as an additional insured pursuant to a general liability insurance policy with a minimum coverage of 2,000,000. Artists may not set up or exhibit until the approved certificate is received by the Festival office.
ATTENDANCE: Appx. 150,000+ projected
FESTIVAL HOURS: Friday, 11a - 10p; Saturday, 11a - 10p; Sunday, 11a - 5p.
SECURITY:  24-hour
PARKING:  Free/reserved/off-site dedicated.
STRUCTURE: All exhibiting artists are required to use a white, professional tent of commercial or professional grade, with heavy weights (minimum of 40 pounds) at each corner, and to use stabilizing measures to provide maximum safety to artists and guests. Cheap accordion-style pop-up tents are expressly forbidden. Send questions about the tent to info@desmoinesartsfestival.org. Note: The jury does not consider the structure in the booth image. That is a staff responsibility.

ARTIST BENEFITS

Comprehensive and aggressive marketing and media campaign spotlighting artists and their original artwork, through television, billboard, radio, social, digital, earned media, and public relations. The dedicated campaign stretches to Nebraska, Minnesota, Illinois, Kansas, and Missouri. Our research shows many patrons visit the festival from surrounding states.
Top-notch & experienced Artist Relations Volunteer Team.
Booth sitters, complimentary water, and a snack wagon delivered throughout the day.
$10,500 in cash awards at the time of publication. $1500 to the Best of Show; three Juror Awards of $1000 presented by each of the jurors; up to five Awards of Excellence at $1000 each. These amounts may be altered by the jury, but the total will remain intact.
Favorable hotel rates at downtown hotels within walking distance of the festival site, offering an artist rate and late-night food and bar menus. Hotel rooms and rates are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Responsive online artist gallery and high-octane social media campaign
Access to indoor air-conditioned restroom facilities.
Exclusive “Express Lane” concessions means you don't stand in line.
24-hour security and Des Moines police.
Electricity is included in the booth fee.
Art Bucks program (gift certificates sold in advance of the festival exclusively for artwork)
Leisurely and accessible set-up (anytime after 1 p.m. on Thursday and 8-10 on Friday morning).
Comprehensive emergency/evacutation plan dedicated to keeping artists and guests safe.
Booth Amenities include at least 121 sf, street location, and storage.

EMERGING IOWA ARTIST PROGRAM (EIA)
Iowa residents currently enrolled in or recently graduated (within one year) from a university, college or art school anywhere in the U.S. are eligible to apply to the Emerging Iowa Artists (EIA) program. This program allows selected artists to promote their talents, demonstrate their craft, and sell their artwork at the Des Moines Arts Festival. Emerging Iowa Artists do not pay a booth fee and exhibit under a festival-provided tent. The application fee is also waived as long as the applicant uses the provided coupon code when submitting their application.

Qualified artists must apply to the show in the same manner as professional artists using ZAPPlication and submit their work in accordance with the specifications. All applicants are required to provide proof of residency and enrollment at the time of application to ensure the integrity of the program. All work submitted is juried by the same jury.

If you are a qualified EIA, apply under the medium (category) "Emerging Iowa Artist." To waive the application fee, you must enter the coupon code EIA2027. The Festival will NOT refund the application fee if you do not enter the coupon code. Please note that the Festival requires a booth image from its professional artists as part of the application. EIA applicants will instead provide an additional image of their work in place of the booth image.

Guidelines for the Emerging Iowa Artist Program:

Artists apply through the same online platform as professional artists.
Artists are selected by the same jury panel that selects the professional artists.
Artists apply under the medium (category) "Emerging Iowa Artist."
Artists will use a 5th image of their work instead of a booth image.
Invited artists exhibit under the same festival-provided tent structure.
Invited artists are required to attend an educational briefing prior to the festival.
Exhibiting artists are required to sign an agreement and complete informational paperwork within the deadlines provided by the festival.
Exhibiting artists will be required to provide proof of their current status with the aligned university, college or art school.
Exhibiting artists will be required to give a demonstration during the festival (don't worry, we'll walk you through it).
Exhibiting artists under the Emerging Iowa Artist Program are allowed to sell reproductions. They are not allowed to sell merchandise like t-shirts, stickers, and the like.

EMERGING ARTIST PROGRAM
Unlike the Emerging IOWA Artist Program, the Emerging Artist program is for artists at any stage in life who are embarking on a career in the art fair industry. Artists must have less than three years of experience. The application procedure for professional artists is the same for Emerging Artists, and the same rules apply. If you are an Emerging Artist, use the Coupon Code ImNew2027 at checkout to receive a lower application fee. The Festival will NOT refund the application fee if you do not enter the coupon code. Upon acceptance, Emerging Artists will pay a lower booth fee of $350 (and may not occupy a corner). Artists may only apply with a single application. Emerging Artists are encouraged to provide a booth image. If you do not have a booth image, you will provide a 5th image of your work. All work must be within the same medium.

Guidelines for the Emerging Artist Program:

Artists apply through the same online platform as professional artists.
Artists are selected by the same jury panel that selects the professional artists.
Artists apply under the medium (category) "Emerging Artist."
Artists may use a 5th image of their work instead of a booth image.
Artists exhibit under the same rules as professional artists, including providing their own infrastructure and meeting insurance requirements.
Artists may only apply to either the Emerging Artist program or for the general show, but not both.
Exhibiting artists are required to sign an agreement and complete informational paperwork within the deadlines provided by the festival.
Exhibiting artists are assigned a booth space.
DMAF reserves the right to research artists applying for the Emerging Artist program to ensure compliance.

If you have any questions about the Emerging Artist Program, please contact Stephen King at 515-419-7265.

IMPORTANT DATES
November 2, 2026 / Application Available
January 17, 2027 / Application Soft Deadline
January 24, 2027, at midnight CST. / Application Hard Deadline
February 10-12, 2027 / In-Person Projection Jury in Des Moines, IA
March 4, 2027 / Notifications Emailed and posted on www.DesMoinesArtsFestival.org – following REVEAL, the highly-anticipated annual community awareness & marketing event revealing the invited artists.
March 31, 2027/ Deadline to confirm participation and submit the Artist Agreement and Booth fee.
May 1, 2027 / Booth fee refund deadline, with administrative and cc fees deducted (if paid by cc).

ABOUT OUR JURY PROCESS
The jury is scheduled for February 10-12, 2027. Opening night is open to the public.

DMAF does NOT jury by category or medium. When you apply, you will self-identify a medium if you are a professional artist OR Emerging Artist if you are applying under the rules of the Emerging Artist or Emerging Iowa Artist Program. As a result, we will not encourage or accept multiple applications if the work presented is the same.

The jury is comprised of five (5) individuals: two invited from the pool of exempt artists and three professionals. The jury panel is new each year, ensuring a fresh perspective with each process. The jury meets in Des Moines at the DMAF office for the projected jury and decisions.

Round One (evening of the first day) is a complete overview of all applicants. Each artist's set of images will be projected for a timed eight seconds.

Round Two (second day) is the first scoring round. Each artist’s set of images is projected while the artist's statement is read aloud. After which, the jury will score on a laptop in front of them. The jury will score each artist’s set of images a traditional 1 through 7, with no 4.

Round Three comes after all applying artists have been scored. After Round Two, a median score is determined, and all artists with a score below the median are removed. The remaining artists are first projected for a timed 5 seconds. We then return to the beginning and display each artist’s five images. Each set of images is discussed and scored by the jury with a show of hands. A majority vote moves the artist into the next round. The artist’s set of images remains on the screen for as long as the jury requests it.

Round Four and Beyond – Any number of rounds now occur using the same process described above, slowly balancing the show by making final selections.

Image Requirements:

Submit five (5) images. Four (4) images are of the individual pieces of work created exclusively by the applying artist(s). The fifth image will be of the entire booth (no hidden walls) with no identifying marks, such as a company name, and void of people. The booth image is required.
Images of individual work may not include a signature or name.
You are encouraged to view ZAPP's many tutorials regarding images.
All submitted images will include the appropriate information in the fields provided (name of piece, dimensions, price, etc.).

The jury uses the following standards to guide their decision:

All work must be original and made by the hand of the applying artist.
Projection “blind" jury. This means nothing more than the submitted images, artist statement, price and description of the individual images are made available to the jury).
The ideal work will reflect excellence.
The work will be well conceived and expertly executed.
The work will show a distinct design identity.
Artwork is considered solely on the merit of the work pictured. This and the submitted Artist Statement will be the only criteria considered. (See below regarding Artist Statement).
The work will be professionally and creatively presented. The better the image presented, the better your opportunity.
The work presented for jury will be representative of the artist’s body of work.

BOOTH IMAGE

All applications from professional artists must submit an authentic booth image (that is, an actual photo/image of your booth).
Booth images created in or with the help of a computer program, AI, manipulated, enhanced or otherwise affected by a computer in any way other than to remove a name or other identifying factor will disqualify the application from being juried.
Booth images may not contain the artist’s name, company name, or any other affiliation; artists may use Photoshop techniques to remove the name(s).
The booth image must include the entire booth, not a portion.
The booth image must be that of your outdoor booth (no indoor booth images).
The booth image must not include people or animals.
The booth image must contain work related to the same work in the image. (it is understood that the exact same images are not seen, but the represented work is the same) If the work submitted is new and the booth image is not updated, make note of this in the Booth Image Title/description.

**A note about the booth image. The booth image shows the jury your body of work, provides dimension and scale, a sense of artistic and creative presentation, and reflects what your booth will look like at the Festival in June. It will also report to the jury if the work submitted in the individual images reflects your current style and overall body of work.

Please Note: If you submit an application without the booth image or the booth image does not follow the criteria as stated here, your application will be returned to you. You may choose to resubmit the application under our criteria. Regardless of whether you choose to resubmit the application under our criteria, application fees will not be returned for not following the stated criteria. Artists may choose to submit the image as is with the understanding that Des Moines Arts Festival retains the right to pull the application from consideration or have a full point deducted from the artist’s final first-round score for not adhering to the criteria above after being offered the opportunity to make a change.

Please note that EIA’s will show a sixth image in place of the booth image.

ARTIST "STATEMENT" (psst, it's really a short description of your work)
The application will automatically include a question asking for an artist's description of the material and technique, limited to 200 characters. Enter a description of material and technique that is concise and explains well the body of work. The jury responds best to a description of technique rather than how you are inspired. They want to know what they are looking at, not what inspires you. The first (up to) 200 characters of the submitted statement will be read aloud to the jury.

Based on past experiences in the jury room, the following are provided as a “good statement” and a “bad statement”

Good Statement = Photographs printed by artist over a layer of luminous gold paint onto powder-coated steel. Editions of 1.
Bad Statement = I take my photographs while contemplating my existence in the face of danger.

NOTIFICATION
The Festival hosts an annual event called REVEAL. REVEAL is a public community event that culminates in “revealing” the artists selected by the jury to exhibit at the June festival. Artist notifications are emailed and posted on www.DesMoinesArtsFestival.org and announced on social media following the event.

Festival will notify applicants of results using the email provided in your ZAPPlication.
Results will not be given over the phone.
All decisions of the jury are final. Des Moines Arts Festival reserves the right to reject any application if it does not comply with the covenants and rules set forth in this document.

NEW DIRECTIONS
New Directions is designed for professional visual artists (the distinction is made because of the emerging artist's program) who are juried into the show and who, between the time they are juried and the date of the Festival, are exploring new directions in their current work. Exhibiting artists will have this opportunity to introduce to our guests expressions of the new art they are exploring.

All artists will jury with their body of work as they normally do. Upon acceptance into the show, artists will be notified of the details of the policies surrounding its integrity. Should any juried artist find themselves exploring a new direction with their work and want to participate in the program, we will work with them on a case-by-case basis within a set of parameters that all involved (including the show) must follow.

In order to keep intact the decisions of the jury, we will institute a few parameters: new work may not occupy but a small percentage of the overall exhibit space; the work will be identified as “new work” within the exhibit space; the work must be an extension of the work juried into the show; the new work must be clearly defined within the exhibit; and it all must be original. It may not be a completely different medium.

Application Requirements

The Des Moines Arts Festival considers its enforcement of the rules our exclusive right and responsibility. Festival officials will visit all displays at intervals throughout the Festival to ensure that exhibitors comply with all Festival rules, including but not limited to checking identification & structure during set-up. Your submitted application and signature on the Artist Agreement (for those invited) is your indication that you agree that noncompliance can result in immediate expulsion and ineligibility for jurying, awards and participation in future Festivals. If an artist is removed from the show for non-compliance of the rules, no booth fee refunds will be issued nor compensation made, and the artist will be ineligible to exhibit for a period of at least two years.

1. All work exhibited must be original art produced by the exhibiting artist(s). Work done by a production studio, in classes or workshops, “Buy-sell” and/or imports, work from kits, and commercial designs, and generated exclusively by Artificial Intelligence using existing work or designs, is prohibited. Additionally, the Festival does not accept applications from assembling work or work it deems to be outside the realm of "fine art and fine craft." e.g., country craft, bodywork (tattoos, henna), manufactured cards, and the like.

2. Artists selling work that is not their own will be expelled from the Festival. Further, Artists who submit work under the rules stated within this application and are accepted by the jury who are found to be in violation of any of the rules stated herein will be disqualified and their invitation revoked.

3. It is the work of the artist that is juried. Therefore, any change in the overall body of work by the artist after the jury process accepts the juried work is not considered juried and may not be exhibited until approved by the director of the show. Please see the description of our New Directions program above. Absolutely no consideration will be made if the work is a different discipline.

4. No reproductions are allowed. If it’s a copy of any kind, regardless of medium, it may not be exhibited or sold at the Festival.

5. All artists associated with the juried work must be present to exhibit. If artists apply as partners, each artist must be present. If each artist is not present, the artist who is present will not be permitted to set up or exhibit. No proxy of any kind is permitted. If artists working as partners are found to apply as a single artist, the artist will be disqualified without a refund, regardless of the calendar of stated deadlines.

6. Booth and display must remain intact during all hours of the show.

7. A photo ID is required at artist check-in by all artists, including partners, accepted to exhibit. In addition, the Festival reserves the right to check ID each day of the Festival to ensure the artist is present. Artists may NOT setup or have their booth setup until they have provided proof of their presence.

8. The sale of non-original promotional items is prohibited.

9. Artists are responsible for proper insurance and protection of work and setup/tear down. Des Moines Arts Festival, Inc. is not responsible for damage to work or setup/tear down for any reason. All artists are required to maintain and provide proof of insurance before they are allowed to set up and exhibit. Insurance must cover all days of the festival and setup.

10. Artists are responsible for collecting and reporting all taxes, including Iowa sales tax.

11. We do not allow sharing of booths except under extraordinary circumstances and ONLY if prior approval is provided in writing from the director. Absolutely no consideration is given if the request is made at the time of set-up or during the show. We will do our best to honor booth placement requests for partners and spouses to be set up next to each other.

12. Artists are required to accept Art Bucks, the gift certificates that are sold in advance of the Festival, exclusively for artwork.

13. Artists are not permitted to use cheaply made, light-weight, accordion-style pop-up tents. The tented structure must be commercial or professional grade with at least 40 pounds on each corner and with stabilizing maneuvers. The goal is to provide maximum safety to artists and guests. Any variation is prohibited and will result in the artist being excluded from the Festival without compensation or consideration. If you have a question about whether your structure is acceptable, please reach out to Stephen.

In addition to the rules of exhibiting, the following guidelines/restrictions apply to the jury process:
Artists may submit multiple applications with a distinctly different body of work. Applications may NOT be of mixed work. Artists whose work is selected in multiple mediums are eligible for a single, double booth space. Upon receipt of the application, the Festival reserves the right to return any application that is deemed non-compliant or does not provide the requested information. If you submit an application that does not meet the requested criteria, it may be returned to you for modification. Application fees will not be returned or refunded. Artists may choose to apply as-is with the understanding that the Des Moines Arts Festival is fully within its rights to reject the application from jurying, or a full point may be deducted from the artist's final first-round score for not adhering to the guidelines set forth in this application after being offered the opportunity to make a change.

PLEASE NOTE – REGARDING COLLABORATING ARTISTS: If you are submitting an application as a collaborating artist/partner, you must submit the name(s) with the application. Please follow the instructions provided on ZAPP. You may not add a partner after the jury. If you have any questions or difficulties registering the partner, please contact the ZAPP office before submitting your application.

Jury Details

Average number of applications submitted each year

950

Average number of artists selected from the jury to participate in the event

180

Average number of exempt from jury artists who are invited to participate in the event

Booth Information

Booth fees and artist paperwork including the Artist Agreement are due by March 31, 2027 payable in U.S. funds, credit card, or CashApp. The following fee schedule applies for 2027:
Single booth fee: $625
Double-WIDE booth fee: $1250 (limited to those artists juried in two mediums)
Corner booth fee: $170
Double-DEEP booth fee: $1120 (available only on the North side of Grand Ave.)

*All fees may be paid by check, cash (money order, Cash App), or credit card. Service fees are applied to credit card usage. Checks must be drawn on U.S. funds using a U.S. bank.

Refund Policy

A refund for the paid booth fee(s) is available until May 1, 2027. An administrative fee will be retained for work completed until this deadline. If paid by credit card, processing fees will not be refunded. Please note that we do not process booth payments through ZAPP.