Art on the Square 2027 - 25th Anniversary

Welcome to the 25th Annual Art on the Square – One of the nation’s top juried fine arts festivals presenting the work of approximately 100 artists which takes place on the Public Square in Belleville, IL in the greater St. Louis metropolitan area.

Art on the Square is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization led by an all-volunteer executive board with the assistance of hundreds of community volunteers who work to make the show a success.  Proceeds from the fair are used to promote the arts in southwestern Illinois and to support individual programs and community outreach sponsored by the Art on the Square Foundation.

The show has been in the top 1% of art fairs since its inception in 2002 and is known for its innovative Art Cash program.  In addition, Art on the Square offers $32,000 in artist awards.

The festival continually features strong average attendance of over 60,000 visitors, regional advertising worth more than $100,000 and a reputation for great hospitality which provides artists with an outstanding opportunity for success.

Featuring the original work of over 100 accomplished artists from around the world, entertainment, artist demonstrations as well as delicious local food and drink, Art on the Square offers an outstanding opportunity to grow your reputation and business at this well attended event!  Art on the Square does extensive advertising which includes design magazines, tourism materials and regional billboards. All of these ads feature the work of selected artists.

EVENT DATES
Friday, May 14, 2027                   4:00PM  -  9:00PM
Saturday, May 15, 2027              10:00AM  -  8:00PM
Sunday, May 16, 2027                10:00AM  -  4:00PM

LOCATION
Art on the Square takes place on the historic Public Square in downtown Belleville, IL at the intersection of Main Street and Illinois Street (IL HWY 159).

IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES:
October 1, 2026           Application Available
December 11, 2026      Application Deadline
January 2, 2027           Artist Invitation Notification
February 1, 2027         Artist Invitation Acceptance and Booth Purchase Deadline
March 1, 2027              Last day to cancel with refund

Artists who participate in Art On The Square will receive a welcome email with further details to make planning for and exhibiting at the show an excellent experience.  Our top priority is to support artists in their successful show participation.

AWARDS
Art on the Square offers $32,000 in awards including Best of Show ($5,000), 4 Named Awards of $500 to $3,000, 12 Best of Category awards ($1,500) and 8 awards of excellence ($500 each).

PRE-EVENT SALES
The Art Cash program has a long tradition of strong support by the Belleville community to ensure the success of Art on the Square for both artists and art enthusiasts..

HOSPITALITY
The show provides artists with complimentary meals, snacks and water delivered to the booth throughout the weekend.   Artists have direct booth access for set-up and loading and twenty-four hour security provided by the Belleville Police. Electrical service is provided free of charge to all booths.  Booth sitters and bathroom facilities are available.

MEDIA CATEGORIES

Ceramics -  Original clay and porcelain work. If multiple pieces of the same design are displayed each piece must be signed. No machine made or mass produced work is accepted.

Digital or Graphic Design - Original images made with the primary assistance of a computer. Work in this category must be in limited editions of no more than 250, signed, and numbered on archival materials. Traditional photographs taken with digital media should apply in the Photographic Category.

Drawing or Printmaking - Original drawing work created using dry media ( pen, pencil, charcoal, pastel or chalk) or using the fluid medium of inks and washes applied by pen or brush. The printmaking category is for prints hand-pulled from traditional methods including etching, engraving, silkscreen, stone and plate lithography, linoleum block or woodcut and properly signed in limited editions of no more than 250 from an original work created by the artist.

Fibers/Textiles - 2D or 3D work and wearable items made from a variety of materials including but not limited to fibers, fabric, textiles or leather. These materials may be manipulated in a variety of methods including but not limited to quilting, clothing/accessories, collage, embroidery, batik or sewing to create functional and non-functional objects.  No Factory Produced wearable items or objects from commercial casts, molds or production studios are permitted.

Fine Craft - 2D or 3D work made from a variety of materials including but not limited to paper, glass or polymer beads, found objects, clay, acrylic or metal. These materials may be manipulated in a variety of methods including but not limited to collage, basketry, bookmaking or jewelry in order to create functional and non-functional objects.  No Factory Produced items or objects from commercial casts, molds or production studios are permitted.

Glass - Original functional or sculptural work in which the primary material is glass. No Mass Production is accepted

Jewelry - Original work created by the fabrication of various materials including precious and semi-precious stones, enamel and fine metals. Work made from commercial casts and molds or production studio work is not permitted.

Mixed Media - 2D or 3D original work incorporating more than one material.

Painting - Original painted works made using oils, acrylics or paint soluble in water.

Photography (Digital or Film) - Includes all photographic prints made from the artist’s original negative or digital image which have been processed by the artist or under the artist’s direct supervision, printed on archival materials, hand numbered, and signed on the front surface. Photographers are required to disclose both their creative and printing processes. Photographic prints are limited to editions of no more than 250.

Sculpture - Original non-functional 3D work in any material.

Wood - Original work made from wood that is hand-tooled, machine worked, turned or carved.

APPLICATION IMAGES
Artists must submit 4 images that represent the complete range of work you plan to show.  In addition, an image must be submitted of your booth with your work displayed.  Your application will not be considered without a booth image.  The booth image shows the jury your body of work, provides dimension and scale, and shows overall continuity and presentation of your current body of work.  The images must represent work created in the last 3 years.  No images should contain artist identifiers. Images provided will be used for marketing material for the show.

JURY PROCESS
Art on the Square selects new jurors each year in an effort to provide as fair a review process as possible. In the past, jurors have included museum curators, professional artists and designers, and studio instructors.

Each entry is digitally reviewed and scored independently by the jurors using the criteria of originality, technical competence, artistic merit and booth presentation. This is a blind jury process so it is imperative that images show no identifying signs or information.

Invitations to show are based on the results of this scoring. Approximately 105 Artists will be invited to participate with up to 10% of these exempt from jury selection.

Art on the Square reserves the right to review, approve, and reject the jurors' decisions. All individual scores will be confidential and artists will not be given jury results or any feedback related to the submitted work.

 Art on the Square is open to all artists 18 years of age or older. Artwork must be original in design. Production must be by the hand of the artist(s) or by using the appropriate tools of the medium. Work to be juried and exhibited must have been created within the last (3) three years.

All entries must be original work created by the artist.  Mass-produced or machine-made items or work made from molds or commercial kits are not acceptable.  In no case will work appropriated from others be exhibited or sold regardless of its final form or whether it has been embellished or otherwise altered.

Reproductions including giclee prints are allowed, but must not comprise more than 10% of the art for sale and must be signed, numbered and matted. All reproductions must be clearly marked 'reproduction' on labels and display signs and must be kept in a bin within the designated booth space.

The work displayed at Art on the Square must be representative of the work presented to the jury.  If this is determined to not be the case, the artist agrees to immediately forfeit their place and leave the fair site without a refund of the booth fee.

Reproductions and prints must be signed by the creating artist. Only limited edition prints of no more than 250 made from the original source, hand-pulled, signed and numbered by the artist will be allowed. Artists must disclose their creative and printing process in the artist's statement to be displayed in the booth.

Artists may not sell factory produced items including but not limited to commercial clothing, candles, T-Shirts or soap.

Artists may not sell mass-produced, high volume objects derived from their work including but not limited to postcards, calendars, posters or magnets.  Limited production or hand-made items such as note cards will be permitted at the discretion of Art on the Square.

Advertising and Promotional Use of Images
Art on the Square does extensive advertising which includes design magazines, tourism materials and regional billboards. All of these ads feature the work of selected artists.  By accepting our invitation to the 2026 Art on the Square, the artist authorizes the use of the submitted application images or electronic reproductions thereof for the purpose of Art on the Square publicity, documents or archival purposes without charge for an unlimited period of time.  

On-Site Rules
Artists must be be fully set up and ready to display prior to the opening of the show and must be in attendance during the entire show.  Booth sitters will be available upon request.  No agents, dealers, or representatives may attend the event in place of the artist.

Pricing
We expect artists to have varied prices for their work.  Art on the Square attracts a broad buying audience and, therefore, successful artists displaying at the show will exhibit and offer art across a range of price points.

Taxes
Artists are responsible for collection and reporting all taxes, including Illinois sales tax.

Compliance
The specified rules and requirements of Art on the Square will be strictly enforced.  This includes an expectation that all exhibitors will conduct themselves in a professional manner.  Any artist who does not comply with all rules and requirements will be asked to leave the fair site immediately and will not receive a refund of the booth fee. This includes treating volunteers and staff with courtesy and respect.

Booth location requests will be honored on a first-come, first-serve basis determined by the date and time of the online booth fee payment or by the date when a booth fee check is received.  Booth assignments will not be available until artist check-in.

BOOTH FEES AND PAYMENT: Booth fees are due by February 1, 2027. Booth assignments will be made based on the date that your payment is received and at the discretion of Art on the Square based on availability. Specific location requests and double booths cannot be guaranteed but every effort will be made to fulfill these requests.

Booth Fees:
Row Booth off the Square                               $430
Corner Booth off the Square                           $480
Row Booth on the Square                                $580
Corner Booth on the Square                            $680
Double Booths (very limited availability)          $940

Booth fees will not be refunded after March 1, 2027.

TENTS & RENTALS:  A 10 X 10 white tent is required.  Art on the Square has a few tents, chairs and tables for rent. Tents are $200, 6’ or 8’ tables are $10 each, chairs are $2 each and bar stools are $10 each.  (Available on a first come first serve basis.)

ELECTRICAL SERVICE:  Electrical service is provided free of charge to all booths.  Artists must provide their own display lighting and extension cords (up to 75ft)

CHECK-IN:  Early check-in and booth assignments will be available AFTER 3:00PM on Thursday, May 13th in the Artists Check-In Center at 30 Public Square, Belleville, Illinois, 62220. Do not arrive at check-in before 3:00PM.  Check-in on Thursday will close at 7:30 PM and will reopen on Friday, May 14th at 7:00 AM until 1:00 PM.

SET-UP:  Early set-up on Thursday, May 13th will be available once check-in is completed. The Belleville Police Department will provide 24-hour security from Thursday until the show closes on Sunday.

ALL artists MUST complete their set-up before 3:00PM on Friday, May 14, 2027 or forfeit their space.  Please make your travel plans accordingly.

IMPORTANT:  Please be sure to come with enough weights and sandbags to secure your tent against Midwest weather and crowds.  A large number of sandbags will be available from our Grounds and Logistics team.  Please make use of these to safeguard your tent and your work.

Booth fees will not be refunded after March 1, 2027