Artsplosure - The Raleigh Arts Festival 2027

Artsplosure - The Raleigh Arts Festival is one of the most original, longest running, and best-attended arts festivals in North Carolina. The 2-day event is held annually on the third weekend of May in beautiful downtown Raleigh. The festival’s centerpiece is an Art Market comprised of approximately 175 juried visual artists from across the United States showcasing works in ceramics, glass, fiber art, jewelry, metal, painting, photography, wood and more. Artsplosure presents national and regional entertainment on two stages, provides arts-based activities for children and families, and presents large-scale temporary art installations each year. Annual festival attendance averages over 85,000.

*Categories* 

Ceramics, Textiles, Fiber Art, Glass (other than jewelry), Jewelry, Metal, Painting, Photography, Wood, Other 2-D (includes mixed media/printmaking/pastel/etc.), Other 3-D (includes mixed media/sculpture/leather/basketry/etc.), and Tech/Digital Art

*Judging & Prizes* 
Judging will begin at 11 am on Saturday, May 15, 2027. Cash prizes totaling $3,500 will be awarded as follows: 

• Best in Show -- $1,250 
• Judges' Choice -- $750 
• 2 Merit Awards -- $500 each 
• 2 Honorable Mentions -- $250 each 

Note: all awards are non-category specific. 

*During the Show* 

• Artist hospitality with refreshments will be avaiable during festival hours. 
• Volunteer booth sitters are available during festival hours. 
• Parking near the festival site is available. 

*Entry Guidelines* 

• All work displayed must be the artist's own work and must be for sale. 
• Artsplosure reserves the right to remove displays that have been misrepresented either by the artist's submitted images or on the application and to prohibit the artist from participating in future Artsplosure-produced shows. 
• Booths must be attended by the artist on both days of the festival. Assistants are welcome, but commercial agents, representatives, dealers, or hired salespeople may not replace the artist's presence at the festival. All artists/applicants must maintain complete responsibility for the design of their work and the associated business.
• A limited quantity of offset prints and mechanical reproductions are allowed. All offset prints and mechanical reproductions must be clearly labeled as such and must be limited to a maximum of 20% of total booth display area. For photographers and printmakers, gallery-quality framed work is expected. All printmakers and photographers should disclose their printmaking processes. Photographic prints must be made from the artist's original negative/file and processed by that artist, or under his or her direct supervision. 

*Art NOT Eligible*

• Art reproduced from works of any artist other than the applicant 
• Art made with the assistance of AI
• Commercially produced merchandise 
• Works produced from patterns or kits 
• Items cast from pre-manufactured molds 
• T-shirts 
• CDs or other recordings 
• Clothing and accessories that are not hand-crafted 
• Commercially produced items that are embellished or altered by the artist 

Note: Artsplosure reserves the right to final interpretation of commercial status or appropriateness for the festival.

*Waitlist Policy*
If accepted as an alternate, each artist will be given a booth assignment as spaces become available. The booth fee will be due at the time of acceptance. Alternate artists may request, in writing, to be taken off the waitlist at any time, but can expect to remain on the wait list as late as May 14, 2027. 

*Sales Tax*
Artsplosure receives no commission on sales. Each artist is responsible for the collection of North Carolina sales tax during the festival. At the time of this application, the sales tax rate in Wake County is 7.25%. It is the responsibility of the artist to collect the appropriate tax at the festival. To apply for a Sales and Use Tax Account Number, visit: www.dor.state.nc.us and choose Form NC-BR. It will be necessary to submit your account number to Artsplosure as well as post your account number at your booth at the festival. For additional information about North Carolina sales tax, please contact the NC Department of Revenue at 1-877-252-3052. 

*Selection Process By Jury*
Artists invited to show their work are chosen by an independent jury from the regional visual art community. Prior participation does not guarantee acceptance. The jury meets in February to review qualified entries. Entries are assigned numbers, and no names are used during the selection process to guarantee complete impartiality. This is a blind Jury process. Please do not include your name or business in your artist statement or images. Please do not submit a booth image with you in it. Each entry receives a numerical score from each juror, and the highest scores within each medium category are selected. The jury's decisions are final and are not subject to appeal. Notification of acceptance/rejection will be sent no later than March 5, 2027. 

*Festival Site* 

• All structures must be provided by artists. 
• Tents must be certified fire-resistant and may be subject to inspection by local officials. 
• Artsplosure cannot provide electricity or water for booths. 
• Absolutely no generators will be allowed. 
• Artists will be asked to keep all noise (including radios, background music, played instruments, etc.) at an absolute minimum in consideration of other artists and patrons. 
• This two-day, outdoor festival takes place on a paved surface which prohibits anchoring any supports into the ground or assuring a space without slope. Please plan accordingly by bringing any necessary weights and/or materials for leveling tent legs or displays. 
• Raleigh police and private security will be on site for the duration of the festival; however, we strongly encourage the removal of all works and money from your booth overnight, as this is a busy urban site, and we cannot be responsible for lost, damaged or stolen goods. 

*Space Assignments & Other Logistics* 

• If accepted, one 10' x 10' space will be assigned for each media category. 
• Sharing a booth is not allowed; one single space per artist or team only. 
• Artists are responsible for two single spaces if accepted in two media categories; we do not permit two media within a single booth space. 
• Collaborations between two artists resulting in a single body of work qualify for a single space. In this case, both names must be on the application (Artist and Partner). 
• Double booth spaces (20' x 10') are available for an additional $345. Please indicate on your application if you are applying for a double space. 

*Fees* 

• Application Fee (Non-refundable): $40
• Booth Fee 
  • $345 for single space (10' x 10') 
  • $690 for double space (20' x 10') 

Note: Booth fees will be due upon acceptance. Artists will be notified by March 5, 2027 of their acceptance and will have until March 20, 2027 to submit their full booth fee, or forfeit their space at the festival, Artists on the waiting list will be offered any canceled or forfeited spaces, and booth fees will be due immediately upon acceptance.

By submitting your application, you agree to exhibit and participate in the festival according to the itemized guidelines. Refunds will only be granted upon receipt of written cancellation. No refunds will be provided for any reason after April 17, 2027. 

• Deadline for 100% Booth Refund - March 20, 2027  
• Deadline for 50% Booth Fee Refund - April 17, 2027