Art in the Village 2027 - Carlsbad

For nearly three decades, the Carlsbad Village Association has hosted Art in the Village, a free, one-day, open-air art show, that features the extraordinary work of fine artists from all over the region. The 2026 event brought together over 150 local and regional fine artists and musicians for a festive day of visual and performing arts.

Celebrating the dynamic fine art culture in Carlsbad Village and the surrounding areas, the event attracts thousands of residents and travelers by offering a diverse selection of fine artists in media such as painting (oil, acrylic, watercolor), classical and contemporary sculpture, glass, drawing, photography, metal, digital art, printmaking, wood, fiber, and mixed media.

Starting at 10AM attendees browse exhibiting artist booths, watch performance art, enjoy interactive demos, and listen to live music along State Street and Grand Avenue right in the heart of downtown Carlsbad Village. Carlsbad Village features charming streets filled with shops, cafes, and restaurants, making it the perfect setting for a day of art and culture.

Important Time and Date Information:
Show Date: Sunday, June 27, 2027
Set Up Date: Sunday, June 27, 2027
Show Hours: 10AM – 6PM

ZAPP Online Application Opens:  October 1, 2026
Returning Artist Priority Application Deadline: October 23, 2026
Regular Application Deadline:  January 15, 2027

ZAPP Application & Jury Fee: $30

Late Applications: Late applications will be accepted after 1/15/27 with an increased application fee of $40. The application will remain open until the show reaches sold out status.

Update to Jury Process:
All applications will be juried, invited, and confirmed on a rolling basis until the fine art show reaches sold out status.

Location:
Art in the Village lines four downtown blocks on State Street and Grand Avenue in the heart of downtown historic Carlsbad Village, an affluent and popular San Diego County coastal town. Carlsbad Village is 45 minutes north of San Diego, 1 1/2 hours south of Los Angeles.
 
Show Dates & Hours:
Sunday, June 27, 2027, from 10AM - 6PM
Regardless of weather. All participating artists must be set up by 10AM on Sunday and remain open the entire length of the show.
 
Eligibility:
Items sold must be original and handcrafted by the displaying artist(s). The exhibitor must be the designer and creator of the art. No buy/sell or imported items are allowed.
 
Booth Fees and Site Plan:
Upon acceptance, the $300 artist space fee will be due by the date posted above and may be paid by credit card online. If the booth fee is not received by due date, artist may be removed from participating list and placed on a waiting list. A limited number of corner booths will be available upon request for an additional $50 fee as noted.

NOTE: Booth spaces are assigned in order that we receive booth payment in full (not in order of application posting date). Priority in booth placement is given to returning artists who apply and submit booth payment by October 23, 2026.

Artist Amenities:
Complimentary water/snacks brought to artists.
Roaming Booth Sitters to allow for artist breaks.
Artist parking close to the show.
Complimentary invitation e-postcard to be sent to your contacts.
Online artist gallery at no additional charge.

INFO FOR APPLYING:

Regular Application Process ($30 Jury Fee) – Opens October 1, 2026. Returning Artists from 2026 may apply using a Returning Artist Discount Code for $15 off jury fee. NOTE: The discount code is sent in a separate email.

The application must be fully completed, and jury fee payment must be received before the application will be processed. Four digital images of artwork plus one digital image of the outdoor booth display are required. Please submit a current booth display photograph.
 
Categories
Artists will apply in one of the following categories:
 

• Clay/Ceramics: Functional or sculptural, original clay or porcelain work.
• Digital Art: Original work in which the original image, or manipulation of other source material, was executed by the artist using the computer.  Work must be in editions, signed and numbered.
• Drawing: Work 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.
• Fiber: Decorative work including basketry, embroidery, weaving, leatherwork, tapestry, papermaking. No forms of mass production are accepted. Please note, we are no longer accepting wearable art in this category.
• Glass: Works that are functional or decorative and are kiln-formed, crafted by glass blowing, molding or casting. No manufactured molds or other forms of mass production allowed. NOTE: For glass jewelry, please use the jewelry category.
• Jewelry: All jewelry, no matter the medium must apply in this category. Original jewelry made from precious and non-precious metals, gemstones, enamel, glass, clay, fiber, etc.  No commercial casts, molds, settings, or production studio work is allowed. No mass-produced beadwork allowed. Only those artists accepted in the jewelry category may display or sell jewelry. 
• Metal: Sculptural or functional work using metal as its primary medium.
• Mixed Media: 2D and 3D work which combines materials from two or more mediums in one piece. (Does not include epoxy resin - see new media category) 
• Painting: Acrylic, oil and watercolors apply to this category.
• Photography: Film and digital files used to create photographs from the artist’s original image. Work must be printed by the artist or under the artist’s direct supervision.
• Printmaking: Prints hand pulled from traditional methods, including etching, engraving, silkscreen, stone and plate lithography, linoleum block or woodcut, produced in signed and numbered limited editions from an original image created by the artist.
• Resin: Epoxy resin creations made by combining resin and hardener for purely aesthetic purposes.(e.g. charcuterie boards, surfboards, etc.) NOTE: For resin jewelry, please use the jewelry category. 
• Sculpture: 3D work using additive or subtractive processes in a single medium.
• Wood: Primary material is wood, either functional or decorative. Original carved, hand-tooled or machine-worked wood. Includes wooden furniture

Reproductions:  

• 2-D Reproduction Definition: A reproduction is defined as any existing work of art (such as painting, watercolor, drawing, photograph, etc.) that is copied by digital or photographic means and printed on an offset press, a serigraph press, or through a computer by means of an inkjet or electrostatic printer. This definition includes reproductions with additional enhancement by the artist.
• 2-D Reproduction Policy: Limited editions signed and numbered at the front of each piece, displayed on one wall, and browse bins only. Reproduction pieces must be clearly marked as "Reproduction" or "Limited Edition Reproduction" on the front of each piece and on the wall or browse bins. Reproductions may not be in the same browse bins as originals.

Collaborators:
Collaborators participate in both the creation and the production of the work; they are not assistants, business partners, employees, apprentices, or part of the production studio. All work displayed must bear the names of both collaborators. No more than two collaborators will be accepted, both collaborators must be named on the application. Both collaborators must check-in and be present for the entire show.

Invitation/Acceptance Process:
Returning artists will receive a discount code for their jury fee. Returning artists are advised to accept and pay by October 23, 2026. After October 23, 2026 they will be moved into the jury pool of new artists for jurying.

If an artist does not submit payment by above deadlines, Art in the Village will reach out to alternate artists on the waiting list to take their place. 

Refund and/or Cancellation Policy:
Please note that there are no refunds or transfers for cancellations once payment is received. Funds are committed to the production, promotion, and marketing of Art in the Village. No refunds will be given in case of incident weather, acts of nature, or restrictions by government agencies.
 
DURING THE SHOW:

Artist Attendance:
The artist(s) must be present for the entirety of the show.
 
Set Up/Break Down:
Set up will begin at 6AM Sunday morning. Break down may begin shortly after 6PM when artist vehicles are allowed back on the street. All streets must be clear and clean by 8PM.

Sales Tax:
Artists must have a valid California Sellers Permit (State Sales Tax License), and are responsible for collecting and reporting any and all sales tax.
 
Booth Space:
Artist spaces are approximately 10’ wide x 10’ deep on the streets of State Street and Grand Avenue in the Village of Carlsbad. Artists are required to provide their own tent for set up as well as necessary racks, tables, and fixtures for their display. Tents are required to be weighted; weights will not be provided by Art in the Village. Tent stakes cannot be used as entire show on city streets. Any property damaged caused by the artist's action, display, tent or vehicle will be the sole financial responsibility of the artist.
 
We ask that the artists please leave the area in the same, if not better, condition than when they arrived.
 
Show Weather:
Art in the Village will take place rain or shine, so artists must be prepared for inclement weather. If severe weather is in the forecast, the Art in the Village committee has the right to close the show early. Should this happen, no refund will be given.

1. All artwork must be the original work of the displaying artist.
2. Buy/Sell vendors are strictly prohibited. Artwork will not be permitted if it is created from non-artist made molds, kits, or other commercial methods. Artwork produced in studios involved in volume production will not be permitted, nor will work that is mass-produced or ready-made items (clothing, furniture, etc.) with artistic embellishments. 
3. The displaying artist must be present for the entirety of the show, except for short reasonable breaks. No agent or representative may stand in for the artist.
4. The work of only one exhibitor may be displayed in each assigned booth space, except for artist collaborators. Please see “Collaborator” section for more information. Both collaborators must be present for the entirety of the show.
5. Artists may display artwork only in the category in which they were accepted. All artwork displayed in the booth must be comparable to artwork shown in images. Ineligible work will be removed from the show. 
6. All trash and debris must be removed from the artist's area before exiting the grounds.
7. Artists closing their booth prior to the end of the show will not be permitted to return.
8. Each artist is responsible to collect, report and pay the local sales taxes.
9. Four (4) images of the artwork plus one (1) of the booth must be submitted with the application.
10. Application/Jury Fee is non-refundable. Normal Application fee is $30. Late Application fee (submitted after 1/16) is $40.
11. Returning artists from immediate year prior who apply and pay for their booth by October 23, 2026 will receive priority booth consideration for same booth space.

1. Booth Fee: $300
2. Each booth space allows for one exhibitor. Booth spaces cannot be shared.
3. Corner Booth (2 adjacent sides open to public): $50 additional fee. Limited space available.
4. Showcase Booths: Grand and State Intersection: These booths are assigned by the jury board to those artists who have asked to be considered for a "Showcase Booth" in the crossroads of the event. If approved by Jury for a Showcase Booth, the artist will then have the opportunity to accept and pay the $100 upgrade fee.
5. Electricity is not available.
6. Booth Size: Each artist will be provided a space measuring 10' x 10'.
7. Art in the Village takes place on flat, paved streets located in Village of Carlsbad
8. Booth Display: Exhibitors will be responsible for providing all booth structures, racks, tables, chairs, display units, or other fixtures suitable for outdoor use. Any property damaged caused by the artist's action, display, tent or vehicle will be the sole financial responsibility of the artist. Please be sure that the #5 photo of your booth is representative of the booth quality you would provide at the show.
9. Canopy Structures: In accordance with Carlsbad Municipal Code Chapter 17 and California Code of Regulations Title 19 - any material used as a tent, canopy, awning, or siding must be made from nonflammable material or flame-resistant fabric in accordance with the standards listed in California Code of Regulations Title 19.
   1. Flame Resistance: Material must be either inherently flame-resistant fabric approved by the State Fire Marshal or has been made flame resistant treated with an approved process. Certificate of Flame Resistance affirming the requirements shall be made available upon request of the Fire Department.
   2. Label: All tents, canopies, sidewalls, shall be labelled in accordance with California Code of Regulations Title 19. Each section of top and sidewall shall have a durable label bearing the following information: Seal of Registration or Certification Statement that the materials used in the manufacture, or the item meet the flame-resistance requirements of CPAI-84.
10. All artists are required to provide own weights for securing canopies; weights will not be provided by Art in the Village.
11. The City of Carlsbad is compliant with the state's ban on single-use plastics; therefore, no single use plastic bags are allowed for customer purchases. Bags must either be reusable, certified BPI compliant and compostable, or paper.
12. Set-up/Tear down same day - Sunday. Set-up at 6AM (show starts at 9AM) and tear down begins shortly after 6PM.

Refund and/or Cancellation Policy:
Please note that there are no refunds or transfers for cancellations once payment is received. Funds are committed to the production, promotion, and marketing of Art in the Village. No refunds will be given in case of incident weather, acts of nature, or restrictions by government agencies, over which Carlsbad Village Business Association has no control.