Mission Fed ArtWalk 2027

San Diego's longest running and largest art festival (43 years in 2027!) is in the city's Little Italy district. The charming venue is San Diego's dining mecca, which on any weekend attracts thousands. During the ArtWalk weekend, the neighborhood is filled with over 100,000 art lovers that travel from all over the USA to attend. Occupying 15 blocks of the district, artists may request from a wide variety of locations. Each city block has its own unique character!

Artists benefit from an extensive marketing, publicity and social media campaigns, with a strong presence in radio and television as well as print and online advertising. Considered one of San Diego's top public festivals, the attendance grows each year. Marketing pieces are provided for participating artists to distribute.

The ArtWalk San Diego team is well-known for our artist-focused management style, and our attentive staff and volunteers.

ArtWalk San Diego events help to support ArtReach, our not for profit partner that delivers high quality visual art education in schools throughout San Diego County, that have no other resources or budget for art.

Artists are asked to provide their own tents. White, professional display tents are required, and artists must weight the four corners of the tent. (wind is strong in Little Italy!) Additionally, your white weighted tent must have an official flame retardant stamp per fire regulations. 

Artists are not required to pay a sales commission.

Set up availability ranges from Friday, April 23rd, through the early hours of Saturday, April 24th. Set up times for each artist block depend on public street closures - this information will be communicated with artists prior to the event. Unloading must be done and all vehicles moved from the closed streets (India, Beech, Cedar, Date, and Fir) by 9AM each morning of the event. Artists will be able to drive up right next to their space during load in.

Please note, India Street locations will only have Saturday morning load in availability. 

If you would like to rent a tent, the cost is $300 for a sturdy, 10' x 10' festival style canopy.

Booth sitters and helpful volunteers are available.

• Only fine artists may participate. No buy/sell or imported items are allowed.
• The jury does not accept lower-end crafts or wearable art into the show, except for certain fine art jewelry. Please do not apply with clothing, purses, scarves, bags, hats, etc. 
• The work represented in your application images and display photo must represent the work shown at the festival and your actual tent and display. Only artists with professional-looking displays are accepted. Pro panel type displays are preferred. 
• The application will be considered incomplete without a professional display photo. AI images are not accepted.
• Artists may not display with easels. Easels can be easily knocked over and affected by wind. Additionally, work stacked on the ground is unacceptable. Easels are ok for live art demonstrations.
• In your application, provide a photo that shows your artwork displayed utilizing grid walls, pro panels, flourish mesh panels, or another type of professional display system. 
• Artists must be present on site for the full hours of the festival, 11AM - 6PM on Saturday and 10AM - 5PM on Sunday.
• ArtWalk will provide the space from which to sell, but artists must bring their own white, professional display tent, weighted on all four corners. Artists may rent a tent for an additional $300 for an ArtWalk provided 10x10 tent. Please select this option upon invitation.
• Artists may display without a tent if they prefer to have direct sunlight on their work. 
• Artists must come prepared with their own display materials, including grid-walls, pro-panels, and other professional display systems, any tables, chairs, etc.
• Artists must comply with all event safety requirements, non-smoking policy, and local and state laws.

Insurance Requirement:
All artists must have liability insurance and list three entities: Art for People, the City of San Diego and the Little Italy Association of San Diego.
Click here for the ACT Insurance page: https://app.actinsurance.com/events/10301. 
Use the code " artwalk5 " for $5 off your policy!

San Diego City Business License: 
A San Diego business license is only required for artists doing business in the City of San Diego for 6 or more days. Apply here: https://www.sandiego.gov/doing-business.

California Seller's Permit:
All participating artists must have a California Board of Equalization issued seller's permit on hand, and file and pay State of California Sales and Use Tax. If you do not have a Sellers permit, visit www.cdtfa.ca.gov/industry/temporary-sellers/. 

Security at Event:
Mission Fed ArtWalk employs daytime as well as overnight security guards. However, in a large public area that is not fenced, event management is not responsible for items left overnight. The guards cannot physically be in every booth, so it is our recommendation you remove all valuables overnight. The San Diego Police Department and traffic controllers will also be onsite Saturday and Sunday during show hours.

Refunds:
We maintain a no refund policy once you have been accepted into the event and paid for your booth.

Rain or Shine Event:
This is a rain or shine event!

The Individual Artist Package includes:
1. The opportunity for an artist to show and sell work directly to the public. Artist must bring their own white, professional display tent with proper weights and display materials. Each tent is required to have a label that shows it is fire resistant. Artists may pay an additional $300 for an ArtWalk provided 10x10 tent, set up and weighted by the tent rental company. Electricity is not available at this event. 

India Street is the most requested location because of its high foot traffic. To even the playing field, we have added premium pricing to India Street spaces. These will likely sell out so we recommend applying and confirming early if you desire India Street placement.

We have lost many spaces on India Street and Fir Street due to constructon where the old Blick Art Materials used to be. This has unfortunately affected our event footprint and will affect assignments in these areas. 

Spaces are only confirmed via payment.

The following pricing is in effect for East and West running blocks. These blocks include Fir Street, Date Street, Cedar Street, and Beech Street.

• 10' x 10' – $700
• 10' x 20' – $1350
• 10' x 30' – $2000

The following pricing is in effect for spaces on India Street.

• 10' x 10' – $950
• 10' x 20' – $1850
• 10' x 30' – $2800

2. Signage:

• Artist name and tent number at location
• ArtWalk marketing material available for artists 

3. Artist presence on searchable gallery on event website to include:

• Individual artist name
• Full-color image of artist’s work
• Link to artist's website (website artist provides on this application)
• Artist booth number

Note: Two individual artists may not share one space. Please see below for appropriate group participation.

The Group Artist Packages include:
1. The opportunity for a group to show and sell work directly to the public. Group participation is limited to established, permanent artist groups and galleries, there are no exceptions. Groups will be assigned to a minimum 10′ x 20′ space or larger based on group size (see below for specifics). Hanging materials, walls, displays, etc. must be furnished by the artist. Electricity is not available at this event.

• Up to 6 artists may select a minimum space of: 10’ x 20’
• Up to 10 artists may select a minimum space of: 10’ x 30’

Artists applying for a group booth must create one ZAPP profile for the whole group of artists. Please do not create individual profiles for each member of the group. 

2. Signage at artist’s location includes:

• Group name and tent number at location
• Mission Fed ArtWalk poster for groups with permanent studios

3. A Group Mission Fed ArtWalk Web Page (prior to the event) to include:

• Group name
• One full-color image representative of group’s work linked to group's website (website group provides on this application)
• Group booth number

Please note that there are no refunds or transfers for cancellations once payment is received.