Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival 2027

The Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival is one of the largest and most prestigious shows of its kind in the region. This spectacular, award-winning festival is a 3-day showcase of fine art and contemporary crafts, attracting over 40,000 visitors each year from across the CNY region and beyond. 

Nestled in the heart of Onondaga County, the Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival has become a cherished summer tradition for 55 years. Held in Downtown Syracuse, the Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival is centered in Cathedral Square, a neighborhood rich in historic architecture and anchored by a tranquil fountain, an ideal setting for showcasing fine arts and crafts to tens of thousands of visitors. 
The festival offers attendees a chance to explore an incredible selection of artists’ work, experience the vibrant atmosphere, meet the artists, and take home a work of art for themselves. With a variety of mediums, styles, and sizes of artwork, there is truly something special for everyone at the Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival. 

In addition to the artists and displays, the festival features a variety of summer refreshments, family-friendly art activities, acoustic music, multi-cultural street performances, and more. 


NOTE: If you are interested in applying to be a food vendor, do not apply through this application. Please contact us with your interest at ACFest@DowntownSyracuse.com

ACCEPTED MEDIUM CATEGORIES
Both 2- and 3-dimensional works are featured from functional to decorative, including ceramics, fabric and fiber, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, wood, painting, graphics, drawing, sculpture, and photography. Please note: Works created by Artificial Intelligence (AI) are not permitted.  


FEES
Application Fee: $25 -  for each medium to be exhibited - non-refundable, payable with application.  
Late Entry Fee:  additional $10 for applications received after March 2, 2027.
Booth Fee: $290 per booth, payable upon acceptance or by May 21, 2027. 
Late Booth Fee:  Additional $10 for payment received after May 21, 2027.
No booth fee refunds after May 21, 2027.

Payments may be made through Zapplication with a credit card, or by check payable to the Downtown Committee of Syracuse, 115 W. Fayette Street, Syracuse, NY  13202.

IMAGES
All work to be exhibited must be represented in the images submitted, from the high end to the low end. A total of five (5) images must be electronically submitted; four (4) of individual pieces which accurately represent the body of work to be exhibited, and one (1) of the outdoor booth display containing artwork. Images submitted will be compared with work exhibited. Images should not identify the artist or studio name.

One image from each exhibiting artist will be used for promotional purposes and will be published in the festival program and inserted in the local newspaper. 


JURYING PROCESS
At least 130 of the total 140 participants will be selected through the jury process. Winners of the previous year's Awards of Distinction will be invited to participate and are exempt from jurying. The decision of the jury is final.

DATES TO REMEMBER
Show dates: July 23 - 25, 2027
Application deadline: March 2, 2027
Jurying: March 22 - April 5, 2027
Notifications by: April 23, 2027
Booth Fee due by: May 21, 2027
Set-up date: Thursday July 22 after 6 pm* or July 23, after 5 am
Award Competition: Friday, July 23, 2027

*Must confirm July 22 set-up with festival director

ADVERTISING & PROMOTION
Advertising will include paid social, broadcast, print, billboard and digital advertising, covering local and the greater Central New York area and beyond, with wide editorial coverage. Festival program published in local newspaper will include a color photo of each artist's work. 

ARTIST SERVICES
•    Free exhibiting artist parking
•    Vehicle loading & unloading at booth 
•    Separate rest rooms for exhibitors 
•    Hospitality area with daily coffee and pastries 
•    Discount hotel rate.
•    Overnight security Thursday, Friday & Saturday. However, neither the Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival nor The Downtown Committee of Syracuse are responsible for any damage that may occur to work, equipment, vehicles, trailers, or other material due to rain, wind, fire, theft, or any other natural or criminal activity, and it is recommended that artists obtain their own insurance against loss.

AWARDS
Judging will take place on Friday, July 23, with awards presented to winning artists at their booth and with information posted at the event Info Table on Friday afternoon. Winners of the Awards of Distinction will be invited to the 2028 Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival, with the single booth fee waived, and be exempt from the jurying process. Judges will include industry professionals and arts educators, separate from the slide jurying. 

OFFICIAL SYRACUSE ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL COMMUNICATION
Please be aware that there could be scams related to festival registration and payment.
Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival communication will always come from email addresses ending in @downtownsyracuse.com. We do not accept Venmo for payment. We will not ask people to register by replying to an email, text, or social media message. All applications go through the Zapplication website. 

NYS SALES TAX
Each exhibitor is responsible for collecting 8% New York State sales tax.(For clothing & footwear, 4% for sales less than $110 - 8% for sales $110 and over) For information and to register, contact N.Y.S. Department of Tax and Finance, at 1-518-485-2889 or go to www.Tax.NY.GOV/bus/st/register.htm

 

ARTISTS' PARTICIPATION
Artists accepted for participation must be in attendance for the duration of the show. No agents, dealers, or representatives may attend in place of the artist. Photo identification may be required to assure compliance with this rule.

Two artists with distinct work/studios may display together in one booth, but each must submit a separate application, separate images, and separate entry fees. Only one booth fee is required.

An artist wishing to display work in more than one medium must submit a separate application, a separate set of five images, and separate entry fee for each. Only one booth fee is required.

If accepted, artists agree to grant permission to the Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival to reproduce images of their artwork, through the photographs submitted through this application, for the purpose of advertising and marketing the festival, as well as permission to publish photographs or videos taken of their booth, their artwork work and the artists at their booth during the festival for purposes related to promotion of the festival, past or future.

On-site consumption of alcoholic beverages by participating artists during fair hours is prohibited, and may result in removal from the festival.

Participating artists, exhibitors, vendors, staff, and visitors all must comply with the Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival Code of Conduct, detailed on our website HERE. 

Artists participate in the Syracuse Arts & Crafts festival at their own risk and assume responsibility for maintaining liability insurance that covers any damages or losses during the festival.

Applicants must be 18 years and older.


STANDARDS
All work displayed must be original and designed and handcrafted by the exhibiting artist. Reproductions must involve hand work or direct supervision by the artist, be clearly labeled "REPRODUCTION" and may not make up more than 20% of the booth inventory.

Work displayed must be consistent with images submitted. The jury will verify compliance during the Festival. The Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival will require removal of any work that is not consistent with the images submitted or does not comply with the standards outlined above.

Participants are encouraged to post in their booth an Artist's Information Statement, which includes a description of the production process and materials used.

Unacceptable are: candles, skincare such as soaps, scented oils, lotions, and perfumes; works that are commercially manufactured or created by production studios; imported items; objects made from commercial kits, molds, or patterns; works which include compositions of plastic or silk flowers, plants, fungi, shells, buttons, or butterflies; greenware; embellished objects such as mass manufactured painted boxes or tools. 
Unacceptable items are also not permitted to be added on to any booth displays or sold alongside acceptable artwork. 

If you are unsure as to whether your artwork falls into any of these categories, please reach out to acfest@downtownsyracuse.com.


AI POLICY FOR PARTICIPATING ARTISTS
With Artificial Intelligence (AI) becoming a more prominent tool in the art world, it has become increasingly important to maintain transparency and fairness at the Festival. While AI can be a valuable tool for inspiration, our focus remains on celebrating the original, handcrafted work of exhibiting artists.

Any use of AI in an artist’s work must be disclosed in the application process. Artwork exhibited at the Festival must be the original, handcrafted creation of the artist. Works generated mainly by AI are not eligible for participation.

For digital artists, you may be asked to provide additional proof of how you created your artwork (such as photos or screen captures of your process), as this medium can be more difficult to distinguish in its final form.

•    Displays must be professional and aesthetically pleasing.
•    Display sizes are sized to accommodate a 10’ x 10’ booth. A limited number of double booth spaces (20’ x 10’) will be available. Please be advised that a double booth may be in a different location than any previously assigned space.
•    Storage space may be available behind some booth spaces, though artists must ensure access to sidewalks and walkways are not blocked. 
•    Exhibitors may apply for a maximum of two spaces. An attempt will be made to accommodate specific requests in the order that applications are received. 
•    Exhibitors are responsible for making their booths/tents sturdy against the elements, with at least 40lb weights per tent leg required. All tents and covers on booths shall display a tag or label stating fire resistance. Plastic tarps used to cover tents must also be fire rated with markings or labels. Staking into the ground is not permitted.
•    Exhibitor set-ups must be robust, ensuring safety and functionality.
•    Exhibiting artists must leave their display location clean and free of materials after packing up. Failure to do so may result in being barred from future Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festivals.
•    The Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival is not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen property.

Application Fees are non-refundable.
Submission of a booth fee is considered a commitment to participate.  Booth fees are non-refundable after May 21, 2027. 

However, emergency consideration may be given for medical related artist cancellations, and will be considered by the Festival director on a case-by-case basis. All refund requests must be made in writing via email to the Festival director.