Savannah Arts Festival 2027| *Memorial Day Weekend : Savannah, GA (Forsyth Park)

IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES:
Accept applications: October 03, 2026
Application Deadline: March 09, 2027
Jury dates: March 09, 2027
Notification of acceptance: March 10, 2027
Accept invitation & purchase deadline: April 07, 2027
WaitList Released: (as deemed necessary by the show/ category by category)

Event Dates: May 29-30, 2027
**Load-In Dates: May 28, 2027: Friday ONLY (12:00 PM - 7:00 PM)
*(subject to change if concert scheduled)

Late applications may be accepted at the discretion of the Director and included on the Wait List.
**If a concert is scheduled:

Required licenses:
(First time attendees) City of Savannah Business License required ($85, good for 1 calendar year). Artists living in a county that immediately surrounds Chatham county are exempt from this requirement. Artists should list the event address as their business address.

CATEGORIES
2-D Mixed Media: Includes more than one type of physical material such as collage, papermaking, encaustic, pen and ink, paint, pencil, watercolor, or photography.  The finished art is suitable for wall mounting. 
3-D Mixed Media: Includes more than one type of physical material such as mosaic, papier mache, clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood, or, any other 3-dimensional objects.
Ceramics: Original shaped and fired clay including earthenware, porcelain, and raku.
Digital Art: Two-dimensional works from which the original image is manipulated by the artist using a computer using programs such as Drawing, Illustrator, Paint, or other software applications. 
Drawing & Printmaking: Original drawings made with pen, pencil, charcoal, pastels o,r chalk.  The printmaking process may include pulled plates, linoleum prints, etching, engraving, silkscreen, or, lithography.  All prints must be signed and numbered by the artist. Photocopies are not permitted.
Fiber: Works created from fibers including basketry, batik, weaving, papermaking, knitting, and quilting.  The embellishment of manufactured materials is not permitted.  
Glass: An object made of glass including blown, fused, stained, cast, and molded.  The embellishment of manufactured materials is not permitted.
Handicraft:  Handmade items made by the artist from manufactured, recycled, or repurposed materials transforming the combined materials into a unique product in a cohesive collection.  A complete description of items is required.
Jewelry: All Jewelry is crafted from metal, glass, stone, clay, or other materials.  Commercial molds or casts are not permitted.  At least 50% of the organic materials in the finished product used must be produced by the artist.
Metal: Functional and non-sculptural works incorporating metal.
Painting: The use of oils, acrylics, watercolors, and tempera suitable for hanging.
Photography: Prints, transparencies, or, digital images made from the artist’s original negative or taken with a digital camera that has been processed by the artist.
Sculpture: Three-dimensional work is done in any individual medium.
Wood & Furniture: Original works in wood that are built, turned, carved, or, tooled. Embellished manufactured wood items are not permitted.
 
PROHIBITED ITEMS
-       T-shirts and commercial clothing
-       Posters
-       Manufactured toys
-       Commercially manufactured or reproduced items (resale)
-       Jewelry is made from more than 50% manufactured components
-       Any item that employs the use of commercially available molds or patterns
 
AMENITIES
- Friday Load-in (May 8th, 2026 from 12:00 PM - Noon - 7:00 PM)
- Free Parking Nearby
- Designated Festival Hotline available during event hours regarding assistance, emergencies, questions, concerns, etc.
- 24 Hour onsite Security by Atlanta Police Department
 
ADVERTISING & PROMOTION
- AFFPS is among the top award-winning art festival organizations in the southeast. 
- Voted Best Festivals by local media
- The holder of the only Guinness World Record by any arts festival organization in the U.S. 
- AFFPS employs professional marketing strategies including:
            - PR and online media platforms
            - Print and online media ads
            - Radio and TV
            - Billboards, banners, posters, and, yard signs
            - Extensive business partner collaboration
            - Social media
            - Dedicated interactive website
            - Direct mail
            - 300+ online calendar entries
 
PARKING
Free parking is available for both artists and festival guests within close proximity to Chastain Park.  Parking on the residential streets around the park is not permitted. 
 
WAITLIST
A waitlist will be maintained.  Selected wait-listed artists may be contacted when the Wait List is released one day prior to the event date.
 
NO SHOW POLICY
Artists who have not checked in and/or called the Festival Emergency Number ( the number will be available in confirmation materials) by  Saturday at 8:00 a.m. will be considered a “no-show.” No Show artists are not eligible for refunds.  Assigned space(s) will be forfeited to a wait-list artist.
 
RAIN OR SHINE
There will be no “rain date” and fees will not be refunded in the case of inclement weather.  The event will take place rain or shine.
 
SALES TAX
Artists are responsible for collecting and reporting Sales Taxes.  Sales Tax reporting documents are provided to participating artists at check-in at the event.  The current Sales Tax rate for this event is 8% (Georgia 4%, Fulton County 3%, City of Atlanta 1%).
 
HOW THE FEES ARE USED
All AFFPS Festivals support the Georgia Foundation for Public Spaces, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to building a stronger arts community.  The GFPS provides scholarships for artists to help them with their artistic career

Required licenses:
(First time attendees) City of Savannah Business License required ($85, good for 1 calendar year). Artists living in a county that immediately surrounds Chatham county are exempt from this requirement. Artists should list the event address as their business address.

Required licenses:
City of Savannah Business License required ($85, good for 1 calendar year). Artists living in a county that immediately surrounds Chatham county are exempt from this requirement. Artists should list the event address as their business address. 

ALL artists selling are required to register for a Savannah Business License, even if you have a Georgia business licence.
Please visit https://www.savannahga.gov/1587/Business-License to print and submit your Business Tax Application form to the city (please leave a minimum of 2 weeks prior to the event for processing). A city official may visit events to check the status of your business license- they do have the power to shut down non-compliant businesses. This permit is good for the entire year and only needs to be completed one time per calendar year. The cost is $85 per calendar year. This can be completed AFTER your acceptance to the show and is not required prior to your application. Any questions regarding this requirement should be directed to the Savannah department of revenue at 912-651-6450. PLEASE NOTE AFFPS DOES NOT WORK FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE (nor are we their representative) AND WE ARE NOT ABLE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. 

To view the AFFPS Event Policies for Artists:
1. The Festival provides only the ground space for exhibits.  Each Exhibitor must provide and prepare his/her own displays.  We require Exhibitors to use white top tents of EZ UP quality or higher.  All tents must be weighted.  CLICK HERE for Tent & Weight Compliance. 
2. Prior to the Festival, Exhibitors will be notified of their site location and detailed setup information.  Plan to set up your booth on Friday before the Festival.  *(please do not call for booth assignments they will be posted on Zapp when completed.)
3. After unloading Exhibitor vehicles must be moved to designated parking.  Vehicles will not be permitted to remain in the exhibition space during the Festival, nor may they enter the Festival grounds until approved by the Festival Committee.
4. Exhibitors shall be responsible for obtaining any required licenses, permits, or approvals under state laws applicable to his/her activity at the Festival and for paying any taxes, sales taxes, fees, or, other charges that may be applicable to any Exhibitor's activity at the Festival.
5. The Festival is a rain or shine event.  Cancellations must be made and submitted in written form by mail or email. By mail: send to P.O. Box 422571, Atlanta GA 30342.  By email: to info@affps.com.  No refunds will be given for cancellations after the jury date/  prior to the event date or for no-shows. All refunds will receive a $50 administration fee.  Coronavirus Update: Refund Policy during the Coronavirus- outlined above.
6. The Festival reserves the right to cancel an Exhibitor's contract.  The Festival may require the Exhibitor to leave the Festival at any time if the Exhibitor is in violation of any rules and/or regulations stated herein.
7. Neither AFFPS nor its agents or representatives will be responsible for any injury, damage, or loss that may occur to the Exhibitor, the Exhibitor's agents or representatives, or, his/her property from any cause whatsoever.  Exhibitors should obtain, at their own expense, insurance against any loss, damage, or injury they may require.
8. All Artist Market merchandise must be original, handmade, and created by the Exhibitor.  Reproductions must be clearly identified as such. Original art must occupy at least 50% of the artist's space.  Browse bins may occupy only minimal space and must be aesthetically pleasing and not obstruct patron flow.  All artwork on display must be for sale.
9. Artists may only show work in categories approved by the Jury.
10. Artists must be present and operational with their work for the duration of the Festival.  No commercial agents, dealers, or salespeople may operate an artist's booth.  The maximum number of occupants per booth may not exceed two.
12. Only individual artists or two-person collaborative artists are permitted to submit an application.  Applications received from artist groups will be returned or rejected.
13. Booth sharing among non-collaborating artists is not permitted.  
14. The undersigned agrees to indemnify any attempts at charged backs on credit cards or charges made via Zapp as related to this application.  

IDENTIFICATION: All Participating Artists are required to present Identification during check-in. Please have your driver's license on hand.

WEIGHTS REQUIRED:
AFFPS requires professional weights, min. 45 lbs. - 50 lbs per/each on all tent legs. 
Because, we are set up in City Park settings - NO ONE is permitted to stake, tie to a tree, lamp post, etc.
As such we require that anyone participating come equipped with the minimum standards of weights for their tent.
Any Artist that arrives without weights will not be permitted to set up and as such will forfeit their participation fee.

Application fee: $30 
Standard booth fee: $300 (City Special event fee of $50 will be added)
Double booth fee: $600 (limited availability)
Corner upgrade: $75 (limited availability)
Electricity: $100 (limited availability)
 
Assigned booth spaces are approximately 10’ deep and 11’ wide or greater. Double booths are also available.  Please note that the festival route is along a street with some areas that are not level.  All work exhibited must be confined to the assigned space(s). Artists are responsible for providing their own means of displaying their work.  All artist tents must be weighted with a minimum of 40 pounds per leg with a white canopy. 
 
LOAD-IN/LOAD OUT
Artists will be able to unload near their booth during set-up and tear down. Artists can load in only during the designated times and must check in with a photo ID. The lane of traffic where the festival takes place is only wide enough for one vehicle. Therefore, we depend upon artists’ cooperation to keep traffic moving at a pace that will allow everyone equal time to set up. We ask that upon arrival at your booth location you unpack then move your vehicle before you start set-up. Artists will be responsible for bringing in additional merchandise after the designated load-in time.

Things happen and we understand that, as such any cancellations up to 90 days prior to the event will have fees applied to the next scheduled show. There are no refunds within 60 days of the event. There are no refunds for booth fees applied to a previously canceled show. All credits must be used within one calendar year and it is the Artist's responsibility to track them. At times we offer the opportunity to secure a spot to artists from the immediately preceding year to grab a jury-exempt spot, those fees are non-refundable.

Artists that have a credit must apply to the show as they normally would, and notify the show director that they have applied, at that time they will be confirmed, once we are able to verify any credits. All application deadlines, etc. must be met/followed.

Additionally, credits if given must be applied to the show that it was given and may not transfer to another show, as they are considered separate entities.

Application/Administrative fees are non-refundable as outlined in the application.

• There are no rain dates and no refunds for show cancellation due to rain, floods, tornados, hurricanes, acts of God, acts of government, acts of other official authority, or for any other reason. If for any reason you are asked to leave the show for not following rules, guidelines, social media posts, acting up or disturbing your neighbors, etc. those fees are also non-refundable. Arriving without the necessary/required recommended weights automatic forfeiture of fees paid / 160lbs/40lbs per leg.