Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition 2027 48th-Annual, Charleston, SC

The Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition (PSOAE), voted "Best Art Exhibit" by readers of the Charleston City Paper for the last two years, is the juried 2D visual arts centerpiece of the Piccolo Spoleto Festival. Now in its 48th year, this celebrated 16-day event transforms Marion Square, a historic park in the vibrant heart of downtown Charleston, into a stunning open-air gallery. Held in a city consistently named one of the best travel destinations in the world, the exhibition is a prime destination for the thousands of dedicated art patrons and collectors who travel from across the country and the globe to attend the coinciding and internationally renowned Spoleto Festival USA. After 46 years as an exhibit only open to South Carolina artists, we are proud to announce our national call for entry on Zapplication, inviting artists from across the United States to apply and be part of this beloved, award-winning event.

For the second time in its 48-year history, the Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition (PSOAE) is open to artists nationwide. We invite you to apply to this prestigious 2D fine art exhibition in the heart of Charleston, SC.  As the premier fine art component of the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, our exhibition runs concurrently with the world-renowned Spoleto Festival USA, a larger performing arts festival that showcases international artists in over 120 performances spanning opera, theater, dance, and various genres of music.  This takes over the city of Charleston for two weeks and places you directly in the path of a massive, art-focused audience that fills the city during this time.

Why a 16-Day Exhibition?
The exhibition’s schedule is intentionally aligned with the full run of the Spoleto and Piccolo Spoleto festivals. This provides you with the opportunity to engage with thousands of visitors who have traveled to Charleston specifically to experience and purchase art over three full weekends and the weekdays in-between.

This extended format maximizes your sales potential and allows for deeper connections with patrons. A 2023 College of Charleston study found the Spoleto festival generates over $29.4 million in economic impact from out-of-town visitors, 83% of whom come primarily for this city-wide arts celebration.

Held in historic Marion Square, the exhibition is also perfectly timed, bridging the gap between the spring and summer show circuits. Don't miss this opportunity to showcase your work when the entire city of Charleston comes alive with art.

We invite you to apply on Zapp and join us for this celebrated event.

How to Apply

To be considered for the exhibition, each artist must submit a complete online application. Please review the following guidelines carefully before applying.

General Application Rules

• One Artist Per Application: Only one artist may be listed on each application.

• Applying in Multiple Categories: Artists may apply in up to three (3) different categories.

  • A separate online application, including a distinct set of images and a jury fee, is required for each category.

  • The body of work submitted for each category must be substantially different in medium, style, or technique.

Jury Process & Criteria This exhibition is juried anonymously to ensure impartiality. The jury’s primary considerations are the creative vision of the applicant and the quality of the work submitted.

• All work must be 2D, original and handcrafted by the artist.  No AI or digitally created/generated work will be accepted (see acceptable categories).

• If selected, the artist’s body of work at the show must be substantially the same in quality and style as the work shown in their application images. Non-compliance may result in expulsion from the show.

• We reserve the right to refuse any application.

• All jury decisions are final.

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Image Submission Guidelines

For each application, you must submit a total of five (5) high-quality images.

• Four (4) Images of Individual Artwork: These images should showcase your work. Do not include your signature, initials or any identifying info.

• One (1) Mandatory Booth Image: This image must feature your current artwork as it would be displayed for sale.

Important: This is a blind jury process. Your application will be disqualified if any of your five images contain identifying information, such as your name, signature, company name, signage, or photos of you or other people.

Booth Image Requirements The booth image is a critical component of your application. It helps the jury understand the cohesiveness of your work and your overall presentation style.

• An image of an outdoor booth setup is preferred.

• The image must be an actual photograph. Digitally created or computer-rendered booth images are not permitted.

• The image must be anonymous, with no names, signage, or other identifying markers.

Don't have a professional booth shot? If you do not have a formal booth image, you may submit a photograph showing a collection of your work arranged as you would present it at the show.  Again, no identifying information in this image.

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Accepted 2D Media Categories

This exhibition is open to artists working in two-dimensional media. Acceptable categories include:

• Acrylic Painter

• Charcoal

• Graphite

• Ink and Pen

• Mixed Media (2D)

• Oil Painter

• Pastels

• Photography

• Printmaking (Includes Monotype, Etching, Linocut, Intaglio, Lithography, and Woodcuts)

• Watercolor Painter
  
  Please note, we accept traditionally created 2D original artwork.  Digital painting, digitally created, digitally enhanced art, or art that has been in part or in whole created using AI generation is not accepted and will not be allowed to exhibit.  Also note, a giclee is a reproduction, whether it has been painted on, painted over or otherwise enhanced by an artist: an "enhanced" giclee is not considered an original artwork.

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Waitlist

A waitlist will be created based on the jury's scores. Should an opening become available, artists on the waitlist will be contacted in order of their ranking, which is determined first by score and then by the original application date. Waitlisted artists will be notified of their acceptance via email through the Zapplication system.

ARTISTS' AMENITIES

• Artists’ Gallery on website 
• Security patrol after hours 
• Artists retain all sales proceeds 

AWARDS

• Best of Show:  $1,000
• 1st Place: $500
• 2nd Place: $250
• 3rd Place: $250
• Five Awards of Merit
• Five Honorable Mentions

GENERAL: 

• Artist Code of Conduct - PSOAE is a long running and highly valued Charleston tradition. We encourage our artists to take pride in PSOAE representing the visual arts for the Piccolo Spoleto Festival and to contribute to the positive spirit of the show. Artists must not act in any manner that detracts from the guest experience or their fellow artist’s exhibit. 
• Any violation the Artist Code of Conduct and Rules and Regulations will be reviewed and documented by show organizers and could result in the artist being removed from the PSOAE and ineligible to participate in future exhibitions. If removed, the artist will also forfeit any awarded prize money.

• Each exhibitor is required to obtain liability insurance for the duration of the show listing the following as insureds, (a) The Board of Field Officers of the Fourth Brigade (owner of Marion Square) (b) Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition and (c) the City of Charleston. Detailed requirements and insurer option(s) will be sent to each artist in April. 
• A City of Charleston Business License and SC Retail License are required to participate in the show. Compliance is enforced by the City of Charleston and the SC Department of Revenue. Artists must be able to produce both licenses during the show. Sales Tax in Charleston County is 9%.
• PSOAE artists are encouraged to advertise. Any promotions or marketing for the show must use the full name “Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition” and not “Piccolo Spoleto” or “Spoleto”. We have a “Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition” Facebook page where PSOAE artists can share artwork. No PSOAE artist, returning or new, is allowed to create a Facebook Event for the Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition, The Piccolo Spoleto Festival or Spoleto Festival USA; only our Facebook page administrators are authorized to create a PSOAE event.

The principal purpose of the PSOAE is to educate the public, and foster community awareness and support of the visual arts. Offering artist access to guests is a key component of our show. Therefore, all artists shall actively represent their work for the duration of the event. 
Artist exhibits are required to be open for all 16 regular days.
Show hours / May 28 - June 12:
Every day: 10am - 5pm
Sunday June 13 (Optional display day): 10am - 3pm
Artists will be allowed up to 4 days of personal absence, but the artist’s exhibit must be open all regular show days, during listed hours. If the artist will not be on site, a representative must be present and solely dedicated to the absent artist’s exhibit. The representative must be knowledgable of the artwork, able to answer guest questions and facilitate transactions. 

DISPLAYED ARTWORK:

1. Only 2-dimensional artwork is allowed in PSOAE. 
2. At least 75% of displayed artwork must be original. 
   • An original artwork will be defined as a work created solely by the hand and mind of the artist. 
   • An artist’s work must not contain any amount of another artist’s work or other copyrighted image.
   • Displayed artwork must not have been created (in whole or in part) by artificial intelligence.
   • In the case of printmaking and photography, a print made from the artist’s hand or with the personal supervision of the artist from the original matrix, photographic digital file or film, is an original artwork.
3. Up to 25% of displayed work can be reproductions of original artwork, but each must be clearly labeled as a reproduction. An original artwork and its reproduction cannot be placed on display panels at the same time.
4. Artwork contained in bins may be any ratio of originals and reproductions, but all must be labeled clearly and appropriately. 
5. No t-shirts, hats, calendars, magnets, coffee cups, furniture or other “craft” type merchandise will be allowed.
6. PSOAE is a free admission event, open to the general public. It is meant to be a welcoming, family-friendly show. PSOAE reserves the right to regulate or remove artworks that it deems inappropriate for the intended atmosphere.

AWARDS:

Judging for PSOAE awards will be on Friday May 28. All artists will be eligible to receive awards. Work to be judged must be original and marked as such. The name of the work and the medium should appear on or next to each piece. You must be set-up by 9:00 AM on Friday May 28 to be eligible for judging. Ribbons from previous shows must not be displayed.

EXHIBIT SPACES:

• Each exhibit space will be 10 ft x 10 ft. All artwork, displays and tents must not extend beyond those dimensions. There are 2 exceptions: 1. One artist easel can be placed outside of the exhibit space if the artist is actively working on a piece. 2. On the day of an artist’s scheduled Artist Demo, one easel may be used to display the demo work outside of the exhibit space. Artists must place easels in an area that will not encroach on another artist’s space, impede visitor traffic, or significantly obstruct a guest’s view to a neighboring exhibit.
• Only white, heavy-weight Craft Hut and Trimline (www.flourishdisplays.com) or Light Dome/Finale (www.creativeenergies.org) style tents are acceptable.  “Pop Up” style tents ARE NOT acceptable.  If you wish to use a brand/model not listed here, please contact the PSOAE organizers for approval. Artists must also have a professional and stable display wall to support the artwork. All tents must be weighted and/or staked immediately after setup and remain secured for the duration of the show to help prevent damage from wind and rain. No tent awnings may extend over any public walkway or intrude on a neighboring tent.
• No turf grass/astro turf/carpet is allowed if your space is in a grassy area. If mulch is placed it must be removed at the end of the show.  Mulch that does not match that of the City of Charleston park mulch is not allowed.
• Tree trimming or any other alteration to Marion Square plant life is strictly forbidden. Only City of Charleston Parks Department employees can perform this maintenance. Tree Limbs may NOT be tied up at any time.
• Exhibitors agree to maintain a professional appearance around their booth by placing storage containers, tools, supplies, carts, excess work, etc., neatly under display tables or out of view.
• Electricity is not offered by PSOAE, but the City of Charleston has several permanent multi-receptacle power outlet boxes located around Marion Square. PSOAE does not guarantee they will be operable, but if they are, artists are welcome to use them. No electrical cords can be run across any sidewalk, pathway or high traffic area for safety reasons.
• No motorized vehicle of any kind may be driven onto or parked within Marion Square at any time. Tobacco Street, beside Marion Square, can only be used during set up before the start of the show and packing up at the end of the show. However, for the duration of the show, exhibitors may temporarily park on Tobacco Street for a few minutes only to replenish show supplies.
• PSOAE will provide overnight security to patrol from 6:00 PM – 9:00 AM for the duration of the show beginning Thursday evening, May 27, 2027 until Sunday morning, June 13, 2027.
• PSOAE is open rain or shine. However, since PSOAE is an outdoor venue, the organizers reserve the right to suspend the show if it is determined that severe weather conditions could compromise the safety of our participants. In dangerous weather conditions artists are urged to find shelter for safety. Within show hours, artists must reopen once any weather threat has passed. Please remember that in the event PSOAE is closed during regular operating hours there will be no additional security on duty other than the normal police presence in Marion Square.

CITY OF CHARLESTON RULES:

• Single-use plastic bags are banned. 
• Smoking in Marion Square is prohibited.
• The consumption of alcoholic beverages and possession of open alcoholic beverage containers in Marion Square is prohibited.

END OF SHOW:

• The last (mandatory) display day is Saturday, June 12th, but all artists are welcome to continue their exhibitions until Sunday, June 13th. PSOAE concludes on June 13th at 3pm. 
• Artists choosing to end their show on June 12th are not allowed to begin packing up their artwork, displays or tent before 5:00 PM. Exhibits ending on the 12th must be completely removed by 9:00 AM Sunday, June 13th, 2027.
• Artists choosing to end their show on June 13th are not allowed to begin packing up their artwork, displays or tent before 3:00 PM. Exhibits must be removed by the end of day. Note that show security ends at 9am on Sunday, June 13th. 
• Exhibitors shall return the premises to the condition in which they were prior to occupancy and leave no trash behind.

The location of this exhibition is in Marion Square, a public park in the center of downtown Charleston.  All spaces are on grass or natural areas and are 10’x 10’ with space to exhibit on all outside walls.  Booths and displays must be constructed to withstand crowds, rain and wind. No Easy Up style tents are acceptable.  See Rules and Regulations for approved tent vendors. Exhibitors should be prepared for inclement weather with rain covers, tie-downs and weights. 

Space Fee:
Single 10x10: $750
Double 10x20: $1500

Setup with evening security is available the day before the start of the exhibition.  There are specific times set up with traffic lanes close to the exhibit spaces closed off for easy unloading/loading.  During these times, booth spaces are generally between 25 and 100 feet from parking.  
 

Application and booth fees are non-refundable.