Artfest2027

Important Dates and Deadlines
November 1, 2027
Artist application available on ZAPP www.zapplication.org
Non-refundable application/Jury Fee: $50
 
February 25, 2027 – Midnight, Pacific Time
Application deadline. We are unable to accept applications after this date.
 
March 20, 2027 – Notification to artists by email (please no phone calls)

April 21, 2027 –  Deadline to accept invitation with signed contract and FEES DUE. Please see our cancellation policy.

Event Dates and Hours (Subject to change)
Friday, June 4 – 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Saturday, June 5 – 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM (Music in the amphitheater until 9PM)
Sunday, June 6 – 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
 
Set-Up: Thursday, June 3, 2027, 8:00am to 5:00pm
All booth set-up must be completed Thursday no later than 5:00pm. There is NO Friday set up so please plan your travel accordingly. Failure to set up your booth in this time-frame may result in forfeiture of your spot without refund. 

Artist Dinner: June 3, 5:00pm to 6:30pm 

Tear down: Sunday, June 6, 2027, 5:00 to 8:00 pm
Exhibitors may not tear down prior to show close.
 
Sales
The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture receives no commission on the sales of artwork.
 
Wait List
ArtFest maintains a wait list from the jury process. The list is utilized to maintain a balanced show.
 
Artist Amenities

• Artist awards – Best of Show (1st, 2nd and 3rd place) 
• Complimentary Artist Dinner 
• 24-hour security
• Complimentary booth sitting
• Complimentary admission to the MAC

Security
The perimeter of ArtFest will be fenced. Contracted professional security will be provided from 5:00pm Thursday until 5:00pm Sunday. 

Weather
The show will open rain or shine. All artists are expected to be present during show hours. Please be prepared to protect yourself and your work in the event of rain or wind.

Taxes & City License
Exhibiting artists are responsible for paying all city and state taxes.

Jury Process and Media Categories

Jury Process
The ArtFest jury is a blind jury, meaning that artist applications remain anonymous during the jury process. PLEASE NOTE: application photographs cannot show you, your name or the name of your business. Photographs with identifying details will result in your application being denied. 

Our jury is made up of 5 museum/festival staff, plus at least one regional artist. The jury meets together in one space and reviews all artist images at the same time. Artist materials, dimensions for each image, and information statements are available to the jury. Scoring is based on originality, design, technical proficiency, and craftsmanship.  The jury panel plus the show director are responsible for making the final selection of artists for each year’s show. The decision of the jury is based solely on the projected images and is final. The top scoring artists receive invitations to exhibit.  A wait list, by category, will be established, based on jury scores.
 
Media Categories
Please read this information carefully as some of the media categories have changed. Note: Cottage Crafts will not be accepted in to Artfest. 

Ceramics: Original clay, stoneware, earthenware or porcelain work. No machine-made, commercially molded or mass-produced work is permitted. All ceramic forms and glazing must be created by the artist or under his/her direct supervision.

Digital Art: Original works created by using traditional or computer design tools to manipulate original images created by the artist. Traditional photographs taken through a digital media must apply in the photography category.

Drawing: Original works created using dry media including chalk, charcoal, pastels, pencil, wax crayon, etc. or from the fluid medium of inks and washes applied by pen or brush.

Emerging Artist: For the second time, we are offering an Emerging Artist category. An Emerging Artist is generally defined as "one who is at the beginning of their career"; likely practicing for less than 10 years, regardless of age or education. 

Fiber Art: Work crafted from fibers including basketry, embroidery, weaving, tapestry, batiking and papermaking; work crafted from wearable fibers (i.e. hats, scarves, shoes, clothing, belts, purses, etc.). No machine tooling, machine-screened patterns or other forms of mass production are permitted. No factory-produced wearable items, regardless of additional modification or enhancement by the artist, may be exhibited in this category.

Furniture: Original handmade, functional furniture of metal, wood, etc.

Glass: Original work hand-crafted by the artist through blown, fused, cut or sculpted glass. No pre-manufactured, mass-produced work is permitted, regardless of additional modification or enhancement. Glass jewelry must apply in jewelry category.

Jewelry: All jewelry, regardless of medium, must be entered in this category. Jewelry must be designed and made by the artist. No commercial casts, molds, settings or production studio work is permitted.

Leather: Handmade leather items must be hand-tooled. No machine-made or mass-produced work is permitted.

Metalwork: Original work created through the forging, twisting and fabrication of various metals. No production studio work is allowed.

Mixed Media: Original works that incorporate more than one type of material.

Music/Instruments: Handmade musical instruments.

Painting: Original compositions created by the artist in oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc. are in this category. Prints and cards of your paintings are allowed. 

Photography: Includes traditional film photography, hand-colored images and emulsion transfers that have not been excessively manipulated to achieve results beyond what could be done in a traditional darkroom. Prints of photographs made from the artist's original negative must be processed by the artist or under the artist's direct supervision. Photographers are required to disclose both their creative and printing processes. 

Printmaking: Printed works for which the artist hand has manipulated the plates, stones, blocks or screens. Original prints that are signed and numbered in limited editions by the artist.

Wood: Original works in wood that are hand-tooled, machine-worked, turned or carved.

Rules & Guidelines for Participation
Adherence to the following rules during the show is necessary to maintain the quality of the show at a high level for artists and the patrons. Show officials will be visiting all booths during the show to meet artists and answer any questions. Non-compliance with the Rules & Guidelines can result in requests for work to be removed from display and for sale, and/or expulsion from the show and ineligibility for jurying into future shows. If an artist is removed from the show for non-compliance of the rules, no booth fee refunds will be issued.

• All work exhibited must be original art produced by the artist. Prints/cards reproduced depicting your own original work is allowed. Work done by a production studio is not acceptable. Buy-sell and/or imports are not allowed. Work from kits, commercial designs, done in classes or workshops is also prohibited. Derivative work is prohibited.
• Applications MUST have at least one photograph of your booth, set up as it will be for the festival.
• NO identifying marks (your/your business name, you in the booth) are allowed in ANY of the photographs of your application. This applies to booth signage, name tags, watermakes etc. Applications showing artists' likeness, name, or business name will be disqualified.  
• Artists must be present during the show.  Artist’s partners are acceptable; however, agents and dealers are not allowed.
• All work exhibited must be for sale.
• Artists may exhibit work only in the category in which they were juried. Exhibited work must be consistent in style, quality, and method with juried images.
• Only artists accepted in the jewelry category may display and sell jewelry.
• Sharing of booths is NOT allowed.
• Tents must be secured with weights – The Museum does NOT allow stakes to be used to secure your tent; stakes in the ground will damage the irrigation system. Driving on museum grounds is not allowed. Please plan accordingly to transport materials (rolling carts, etc). The MAC will have some transport available for move-in and move-out.
• Artists are responsible for proper insurance and protection of work and booth. ArtFest is not responsible for damage to work or booth due to weather or unrelated incidents.
• Conduct. Absolutely no abusive or disruptive behavior by any artist or representatives towards a person, place or thing will be tolerated during MAC ArtFest. The Museum of Arts and Culture reserves the right to immediately remove an artist from the event for any reason including violation of any of the terms and conditions and rules of participation in MAC ArtFest, Spokane city or Washington state laws, or for disruptive or abusive behavior.
• ArtFest maintains a no-refund policy.
• All rules are strictly enforced by ArtFest committee.

Booth Fees and Acceptance of Exhibit Offer
Artist must confirm acceptance with booth fee payment by April 21, 2027. Failure to respond by that date will result in revocation of the invitation. Artists are responsible for maintaining their correct contact information (e-mail) on ZAPP.
 
Booth Fees:
10 x 10 -- $475
10 x 15 -- $675 *very limited space available
10 x 20 -- $875 *very limited space available
All space is subject to availability at the time of reservation.

Payment Deadline:
Payment is due no later than April 21, 2027

Optional Services and Fees
Electricity Service Fee: $75
Electricity is available to a limited number of booths in one location of the show site on the west end of campus near Campbell House.
Generators are prohibited.

Special Request for Booth:
Fee $125
***Important to note: 2027 will bring changes to our booth map, as booth spacing regulations with the Spokane Fire Marshal have changed and we must adjust our map accordingly.
Requests are granted on a first come first served basis by date of acceptance and payment received. Please email us with your special request (plus 2nd and 3rd choices) at artfest@northwestmuseum.org. If requesting a specific booth number, please be aware that booth numbers/locations change from year-to-year as the booth map updates to accommodate changes on campus and regulations.
 
Booth Information

• Accepted Artists will be allocated a space measuring 10ʼ deep by 10ʼ wide for their display. (A very limited number of 10 x 15 and 10 x 20 booths will be available).
• Artists are responsible for appropriate insurance, the security of their belongings, and protection of work and display. Contracted professional security will be provided from 5:00pm Thursday until 5:00pm Sunday. 
• Artists are to provide their own display structure appropriate for an outdoor event. Booths must be of sound construction, conform to fire code regulations, and must be capable of withstanding inclement weather. NO stakes are allowed, without exception. Please secure your booth by other means.
• ArtFest will not be responsible for damage to work or display due to weather or unrelated incidents.  
• Artist is responsible for back, sides, and top of the booth. Booth and booth signage must be visually presentable.
• Artist must confine booth structure and all work, boxes, chairs, staff, and display materials within the allotted exhibit space, being mindful to keep the assigned booth space and any extra storage tidy and presentable.
• Booth assignment is final.

Cancellation Policy