Lake Wales Arts Festival 2027, 56th Annual

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

• Each artist must complete an individual online application and submit all items on the checklist.
• Application packets must be electronically submitted by Sunday, January 3, 2027.
• Jurying will be completed by Thursday, January 7, 2027.
• Notice of acceptance will be emailed.

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

1. Complete an individual on-line application.
2. Four .jpg images: three individual artworks and one of your overall booth display.
3. Jury Fee: $30 per category if submitted by September 30, 2026. Fee increases to $35 starting October 1, 2026. Fee increases to $50 starting January 1, 2027.  Non-refundable.
4. Exhibit Booth Fee paid through Zapp due upon acceptance: $195 per exhibit space. Non-refundable upon acceptance.
5. Artist must provide tent (10x10) and display racks that are strong enough to withstand winds. Tents may not be staked into the ground; they must be secured using weights.

  
Select the CATEGORY for artwork to be entered

• *Emerging Artist (See Rules/Regulations section for details)
• Clay & Porcelain
• Digital
• Drawing & Pastels
• Fiber
• Fine Crafts
• Glass
• Graphics & Print Making
• Jewelry
• Mixed Media
• Painting
• Photography
• Sculpture
• Wood

ARTIST SELECTION
An anonymous panel of experienced jurors will select the artists for the Lake Wales Arts Festival. Jurying is based solely on the images submitted and acceptance will go to artists with the highest scores. A waiting list will be kept.
 
AWARDS

• Best of Show                                                            $ 4,000
• Judge’s Award for Exceptional Work (2 @ $2,000)  $ 4,000
• Award of Excellence (4 @ $1000)                            $ 4,000
• Award of Distinction (5 @ $600)                               $ 3,000
• Award of Merit (5 @ $350)                                       $ 1,750
• Emerging Artist Awards (1 @ $250)                             $250
• “Gift of Art” Purchase Program                                  $5,000 (or more)                                   
• Total                                                                        $22,000 

 
AWARDS SELECTION
Awards are selected by two independent judges, regardless of category.
 
IMPORTANT DATES
Tuesday, September 30: Early Bird registration deadline
Sunday, January 3:  Application deadline
Early January:  Email notification of artist accepted for the show
Friday, January 22:  Booth purchase deadline
Friday, February 26:
-- Registration and set up:  11:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday, February 27:
-- Registration and set up:  8:00am - 9:00am
-- Artist Breakfast:  8:00am - 9:30am
-- Judging of Exhibits starts:  9:30am
-- Arts Festival hours:  10:00am - 4:00pm
-- Artist Happy Hour Gathering: 4:00 - 5:00pm
-- Artist Awards Presentation: 5:00pm - 5:45pm
-- Art-B-Que Dinner and Live Music: 5:45pm - 9:00pm
Sunday, February 28:
-- Artist Breakfast:  8:00am - 9:30am
-- Arts Festival hours:  10:00am - 4:00pm
 
SECURITY is provided from Friday 4:00pm until Saturday 7:00am and Saturday 4:00pm until Sunday 7:00am

POPULAR FOOD TRUCKS will provide festival food on Saturday and Sunday

MARKETING: The 56th Annual Lake Wales Arts Festival will use over $20,000 in funds for print and digital marketing efforts (in AND out of market).

SURVEY: Thank you for completing the festival survey. Volunteers will pick them up at the end of the festival.

QUESTIONS? Contact: Lake Wales Arts Council by email:  artsfestival@lw-arts.org

ARTS FESTIVAL RULES
 
Participation
Participation is limited to artists showing their OWN ORIGINAL WORKS OF ART created in the last three years. No kits, manufactured items, shells, T-shirts, pre-made clothing, molds, patterns, or mass-produced art will be accepted.  The committee reserves the right to remove any inappropriate exhibit or work of art which does not meet its standards without refund. Artist's work must correspond to the images submitted.
 
Proxy Exhibitors
Artists must be present to exhibit their work. Stand-ins or proxy representatives are not permitted.
 
Sales Tax
Artists are responsible for collecting and remitting Florida sales tax (7%) on all sales made during the festival.
 
Art Categories
Artists may apply in multiple categories but may exhibit only in the categories for which they are accepted.
 
Refund Policy
No refunds will be issued after acceptance. Acceptance constitutes a commitment to participate.
 
Registration
Photo identification will be verified at the registration desk.
 
Exhibit Booth

• Exhibit space is approximately 10' x 10' and must be respected.
• ​Only one artist per booth.
• Booths must be fully set up by 9:00 am Saturday, February 28, and remain up through 4:00 pm Sunday, March 1.
• To be eligible for judging, the artist's name must be posted in the top right corner of the booth front.
• Artists must wear their provided festival name tag at all times.
• Booths may only use battery-powered equipment. Generators and campground electrical access are prohibited.

Emerging Artist Program
The LWAF Emerging Artist Program provides promising artists with a pathway into the professional juried art festival experience. It is intended for artists who demonstrate strong artistic potential but have limited experience exhibiting and selling work at professional outdoor festivals. By reducing financial and logistical barriers while maintaining LWAF's artistic standards, the program helps artists gain the experience and confidence to become successful festival exhibitors.
Eligibility and Commitments include:

• Artists 18+ with little or no juried outdoor festival experience.
• Four (4) artwork images required; submit a fourth artwork for the "booth photo" image.  No booth photo necessary.
• Regular application fees apply.
• If selected, the booth fee is waived.
• Three (3) to Eight (8) EA selected through a juried application.
• Pre-Festival orientation and mentorship covering display, pricing, and festival expectations.
• EA display their work in a designated space within a group tent.
• LWAF provides display walls and a single 8-foot table.  EA are responsible for appropriately displaying their work.
• EA are eligible for a dedicated Emerging Artist Award with a $250 prize.
• EA are limited to three years of participation and eligible for the EA Award one time.

This program serves as an on-ramp into professional festival participation, with artists graduating from Emerging Artist status and ideally returning to LWAF as regular exhibitors.

Jury Fee: $30 per category if paid through ZAPP by September 30, 2026. The fee increases to $35 on October 1, 2026. The fees increase to $50 on January 1, 2027.  All fees are non-refundable.

Exhibit Booth Fee: $195 per exhibit space, payable through ZAPP upon acceptance. This fee is non-refundable once accepted.

Booth Requirements:

• Exhibit space is approximately 10’ x 10’. Exhibits must stay within this footprint.
• Only one exhibitor is permitted per space.
• Booths must be fully set up by 9:00am on Saturday, February 27, and remain in place until 4:00pm on Sunday, February 28.
• To be eligible for judging, booth identification must be clearly placed on the front top-right corner of the booth.

Tent Requirements:

• Artists must provide their own tent and display racks, which must be sturdy enough to withstand wind.
• Tents may not be staked into the ground; they must be secured with appropriate weights.

All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to artsfestival@lw-arts.org. Verbal requests will not be accepted.
Cancellations received before 4:00pm EST on Friday, February 5, 2027 will receive a full refund minus a $100 processing fee.
No refunds will be issued for cancellations received after that time—no exceptions.