Santa Fe College Spring Arts Festival 2027 - 55th Annual

Santa Fe College announces the 55th Spring Arts Festival. The festival will continue to take place on our picturesque Northwest Campus in Gainesville, Florida. To provide better access and visibility to the public, Santa Fe (SF) is moving the site location to a prominent area on the northeast corner of our campus centered around our beautiful Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall. This new location will allow drive-up access for set up and break down on pavement with level ground for artists and visitors. We would like to invite you to be a part of North Central Florida’s finest annual springtime arts celebration. Santa Fe College is dedicated to providing the ultimate experience for our artists and guests.

Event Date & Hours: Saturday, April 10th, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday, April 11th, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Drive in set up will be on Friday, April 9th 1:00 - 8:00 pm.
10’ X 10’ booth space sizes. Double booths are available.

$22,000 in Awards (Please see detailed explanation in General Information of the Best of Show and other awards.)

Santa Fe College will market the event through a statewide publicity program.

Over 15,000 visitors are anticipated to attend.

Santa Fe College’s Spring Arts Festival staff is dedicated to providing the very best in service to our artists. SF Spring Arts provides exhibiting artists with Friday evening booth set up and coffee on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Light lunch will be provided by the festival to all artists on Saturday and Sunday. 

On the evening of Saturday, April 10th there will be an Artist Award Ceremony in the Jackson N. Sasser Fine Arts Hall lobby 6:00 – 7:00 pm  

In addition, 24-hour security will be provided by Santa Fe College Police Department. Booth sitters and festival programs will be available.
Please let us know if you have questions or special needs.

We look forward to having you participate in the historic Santa Fe College Spring Arts Festival (SAF). "North Florida's Favorite Springtime Celebration."

Upon acceptance, artists will receive an email with hotel recommendations, SAF maps, directions, and exhibitor parking permits.

Awards

Best of Show - $4,000
(Two awards, one in 2-D division, and one in 3-D division)
Total = $4,000
Award of Distinction - $1,000     
(Eight awards, four in each division)
Total = $8,000
Award of Merit - $500     
(Twelve awards, six in each division)
Total = $6,000
$22,000 in total awards

Juried Artists: Application fee is $25, due January 8, 2027. Exhibition fee is $225, due February 9, 2026. Include only the $25 fee with your application. Artist's work will be reviewed by the jurors with final selection by a committee of Santa Fe College Faculty members and Festival staff. Deadline to apply is 01/08/2027.
Community Artist Fees: Artist must be a resident of Alachua or Bradford County. No applicant fee is required, exhibition fee is $125, due Febraury 12, 2027. During application use coupon code COM when checking out to waive application fee. Do not send space fee until notification of acceptance is received. Select community booth at check out for discounted booth fee. Community Artists are not eligible for Festival award money.  Community booths are awarded on a first come first serve basis due to limited available space. All other information and rules apply.  Community artists MUST have proof of residency of Alachua or Bradford County, such as a driver’s license, voter's registration card, utility bill, or homestead exemption filing form. Community Artist's work is reviewed by the jurors with final selection by a committee of Santa Fe College Faculty members and Festival staff. Deadline to apply is 01/08/2027.

Accepted artists will be notified by January 18, 2027, and must pay the exhibition fee by February 9, 2026. See Rule 17 for refund policy.

MEDIA CATEGORIES

Ceramics - Original clay and porcelain work other than jewelry. If multiple pieces of the same design are displayed, the artist must sign each piece. No machine-made or mass-produced work is permitted.

Drawing and Printmaking - Works created using dry media including chalk, charcoal, pastels, pencil, wax crayons, etc., or from a fluid medium of inks and washes applied by pen or brush. Printed works for which the artists hand manipulated the plates, stones or screens and which have been properly signed and numbered as a limited edition may be entered in this category.  

Digital Media, Graphic Design, & Digital Art - Art made using software, computers, or other electronic devices. Anything produced or made on digital media, such as animations, photographs, illustrations, videos, digital paintings, and such can be classified as digital art and may be entered in this category.  

Fiber - All work crafted from fibers. No machine-tooled, machine-screened patterns or miscellaneous forms of mass production are permitted. All factory-produced wearable items, regardless of additional modification or enhancement by the artists, are not accepted in this category.

Glass- Glass works that are functional or decorative by design and are kiln formed or have been crafted by glass blowing, molding or casting. Works may be etched or engraved. No forms of mass production are permitted.

Jewelry - All jewelry, whether produced from metal, glass, clay, fiber, paper, plastic or other materials. No commercial casts, molds or production studio work is allowed.

Mixed Media 2-Dimensional - Works that incorporate more than one type of physical material in their production.

Painting 2-Dimensional - Works created in oils and/or acrylics and/or watercolor.

Mixed Media 3-Dimensional - Works that incorporate more than one type of physical material in their production. All work should be over 1 inch in depth.

Multidisciplinary Designer - Allows artists to present more than one type of artwork. This category is meant to encourage creativity and new works. Please include in the description of materials and techniques the primary focus of your work: 2-Dimensional or 3-Dimensional.

Photography - Photographic prints made from artist’s original work processed either by the artist or under his/her direct supervision. Photographers are required to disclose both their creative and printing processes.

Sculpture - 3-Dimensional original work done in any medium.

Wood - Original works that are hand tooled, machine-worked, turned or carved.

For more information, contact us at 352-395-5464 or email springartsfestival@sfcollege.edu 

Please see Legal Agreement.  

SF Spring Arts Festival is a fine arts show for individual artists. 

We value our artists and all rules as stated in Legal Agreement are enforced.
 

1. This is a show for individual artists and not for commercialism or dealers. Any work proposed to be performed on-site during the Festival must have prior written approval. Final interpretation of commercial status will be made by the SF Spring Arts Festival Advisory Committee.

2. Artists will not be limited to a maximum number of works. Only one exhibitor will be permitted in each space. The displaying exhibitor must be the same person who filed the accepted application.

A two-person team or partnership producing a single product may qualify as a single exhibitor if this is adequately explained in writing at the time of application. If accepted as a two-person team, BOTH artists as listed on the application must be present throughout the weekend.

3. “Alternate” status Alternate status designates that an artist not initially juried may be given may be chosen to be juried if a selected artist withdraws or cancels. It does not guarantee that the artist’s work will be chosen to participate in the Festival. Artists that are selected will be notified by Festival staff if they are eligible to participate prior to January 19, 2027. Regardless of “Alternate” status, NO EXHIBITORS will be added after noon on Friday, April 9, 2027.

4. All works must be original works of art done by the displaying artist. Works reproduced from the masters, from advertisements or from widely circulated photographs are not considered original works of art and are unacceptable. Only works typified by images shall be exhibited. Exhibitor shall be personally liable for any copyright infringement, violation of copyright or other ownership interest or licenses. Exhibitor, by accepting our invitation to participate and actually participating, agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless The District Board of Trustees of Santa Fe College, Florida, and Santa Fe College and their trustees, officers, employees, volunteers, and agents for any alleged or actual infringement or violation of copyright laws or rights by the Exhibitor Artist and for any costs, damages, or interest that may accrue as a result of any claim or damages made in connection with exhibiting at or promoting the Festival.

5. Kit-type work, ceramics from commercial molds, mass produced items, antiques, strings of beads, shell crafts, mass produced or manufactured jewelry of settings, decoupage, embellished items, pattern or mass produced macramé, crocheting, knitting, plants, animals, musical recordings and commercial displays are not eligible to be exhibited.

6. Reproductions must be clearly labeled as “Reproductions.” Artists may include only reproductions of their own original work. Reproductions may only constitute 15% of the entire work exhibited by an artist.

7. Wearable art is of original design and limited edition.

8. Paintings and drawings must be appropriately presented.

Unframed work must be displayed in a portfolio. Artists are required to use a substantial display that will withstand wind and crowds. Plastic coverings and sandbags are urged. Each exhibit area will be subject to inspection by Festival representatives and other officials prior to and during the Festival. Each exhibit booth, at all times, will be set up and operational in a safe and professionally sound manner. The Artist assumes all responsibility for the art and the booth. Without assuming any duty, if a Festival official observes what appear to be unsafe conditions, SF reserves the right to require a modification to the exhibit space or any part thereof to address concerns regarding safety or appropriateness of the space.

9. The show will not exceed 110 competitive artists from all areas and additional community artists chosen from Alachua and Bradford County residents.

10. No skates, skateboards or bikes will be permitted at the Festival on the College campus

(provided that bicycles may be parked at designated bicycle parking areas). With the exception of service animals, no dogs are allowed in the buildings at any time. Alachua County Code states: It is illegal to allow any dog to roam at large. All dogs must be kept under "direct control" at all times, when off their owners’ property, by means of a leash, cord, or chain of such strength to restrain the same. Dogs that are brought on campus and left to run at large, that are left tied and unattended for long periods of time, and/or are left in automobiles with little or no ventilation may be picked up by the Alachua County Department of Animal Control or the Humane Society.

11. Only exhibits and concessions approved in writing by Santa Fe College will be permitted within the Festival.

12. A table will be provided at the Festival for literature and information regarding not-for-profit arts organizations.

13. Exhibitor is an independent contractor and not an employee or agent of Santa Fe College. Exhibitor and all Exhibitor personnel shall be employees, agents or subcontractors of Exhibitors and not employees of the College. All artists are responsible for collecting the

Florida sales tax on items sold. Artists are required to mail the proceeds to the local Florida Revenue Commission Office.

14. All entries must be for sale.

15. All work must have been completed since 2020.

16. Artists must exhibit and be present during the entire show from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Failure to comply with this rule renders the artists ineligible for prizes and admission to future shows for a period of up to five years.

17. All fees are non-refundable, unless Exhibitor promptly documents in writing a serious and unexpected personal or immediate family emergency. Clarification of Exhibitor refund policy is solely the decision of the Festival Committee. The Festival does not refund for cancellation due to inclement weather or other acts beyond its control. All decisions are final.

18. The Spring Arts Festival, Santa Fe College, and all other participating and sponsoring organizations shall be held harmless from any responsibility, personal liability, loss or damage in connection with this show. Spring Arts Festival Committee reserves the right to make final interpretation of the rules. Artists are required to have appropriate insurance as reasonably required by Santa Fe College. 

19. Santa Fe College reserves the right to make final interpretation of the rules.

10' X 10' space size. Check-in information will be included in acceptance package. Picture ID is required upon check-in. Friday set-up 1:00-8:00 PM, Saturday morning set-up 8:00-9:00 AM. 

Setup guidelines and information:

The festival will be taking place on the picturesque campus of Santa Fe College Main Campus in Northwest Gainesville. The College is located directly off of exit 390 NW 39th Ave on I-75. 

Event Date & Hours: Saturday, April 10th, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday, April 11th, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Drive in set up will be on Friday, April 9th 1:00 - 8:00 pm.
10’ X 10’ booth space size. Double booths are available.

Please be mindful of your neighbors and work together to allow everyone to set-up.
 

All fees are non-refundable, unless Exhibitor promptly documents in writing a serious and unexpected personal or immediate family emergency. Clarification of Exhibitor refund policy is solely the decision of the Festival Committee. The Festival does not refund for cancellation due to inclement weather or other acts beyond its control. All decisions are final.