Best of the Northwest Spring Show 2027

APRIL 17 & 18, 2027

You are invited to apply for the 38th Annual Best of the Northwest Spring Show, Seattle’s Premier Art & Fine Craft Show, and this year we’re giving it a fresh look.

This long-running event is highly reviewed by both artists and patrons. It’s held in person at the historic Hangar 30 in Warren G. Magnuson Park in Seattle.

A FRESH LOOK FOR SPRING

The Best of the Northwest Spring Show is getting a refresh, and we think you’ll like what’s sprouting.

We’re not ready to share everything yet, but here’s a teaser:

• Something new, live, and a tad competitive: Think art showdown, an audience, and a ticking clock.
• Seminars and workshops for the public: More reasons for new visitors to walk through the door all weekend.
• Garden art partners: New growth for the show, with partners who bring the outdoors in.
• More draws for the crowd: Limited edition merchandise and exciting new prize drawings.
• More to come...

ARTIST AMENITIES:

• Easy ground-floor load-in
• Free booth sitting
• Pagliacci pizza and salad dinner for artists on load-in night
• Artist lounge with snacks and water
• Juror’s and People’s Choice prizes awarded
• Free parking
• 10 free passes for your best customers
• Postcards mailed to you for your show promotion
• A variety of booth sizes to best suit your display
• Free electricity with your booth purchase
• Group hotel rates available
• Full media plan to advertise the event
• Artist spotlight for artists interested in live demoing their work

Show Hours:
Sat 10am-5pm
Sun 10am-5pm
 
Doors open for artists:
Load-in - Fri 12pm -7:45pm, Artist Pizza Dinner at 6pm
Sat 8am - 5:45pm
Sun 8am - 7:45pm
Load-out - Sun 5pm-7:45pm
Location - Hangar 30, Magnuson Park, Seattle
 
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Jan 14th, 2027
JURY FEE: $35
A one-time non-refundable jury fee is required to apply for this show. 

A full media plan includes advertising for the show in print, digital, social media ads, and emails through NWAA's 9000+ contacts and poster placement throughout Seattle. Main advertising outlets are Seattle Times, Everett Herald, The Stranger, Art Access, and Public Display Art and other major news outlets in Western Washington. Media partners also include radio stations - KNKX, KEXP, King FM, KUOW, and Space 101 FM. Seattle food trucks will attend both days. 
 
BOOTH SHOT: Your booth shot will be considered in your jury score and is a significant aspect of your application. We will consider it as a representation of how the booth will be displayed in the show. Please ensure that the image provided is an accurate representation of how you intend to display your work. If there is artwork shown in the booth shot that you do not plan to display, include that information in your application. Please provide an "indoor booth" image, if possible. Otherwise, an outdoor booth image is acceptable. If you would like guidance for your booth shot, go to our instructional video HERE
 
NOTIFICATION: Jan 27th, 2027
Upon completion of the jury process, you will receive notification by email through ZAPP from Northwest Art Alliance. Exhibitors will not receive physical letters of notification; notification will be by EMAIL ONLY. Please check your ZAPP account on the notification date shown above. Notifications can sometimes get caught in your "Spam" or ”Junk” email folder.  Please add info@nwartalliance.org, nwartalliance.org, and zapplication.org to your spam safe list to allow emails to be received from Northwest Art Alliance and Best of the Northwest.  It is the artist’s responsibility to log on to ZAPP to check their status. 
 
BOOTH PURCHASES START: Thurs, Jan 28th at 9am PST
BOOTH FEE DEADLINE: Feb 10th, 2027
 
See the "Booth Information" box for the fee details. Upon notification of acceptance, artists may purchase their booth space and pole & drape services through ZAPP.  Electricity is included in your booth fee.  Booths are sold on a first-come, first-served basis! There are a limited number of corner and non-standard sizes - the earlier you pay, the better chance you have of securing one.
 
If you have received an invitation but have not purchased your booth by Feb 10th, we will consider that as a decline and offer your spot to an artist on the waitlist.
 
POLE & DRAPE: $80
Pole and drape is not required, but if you don't have booth walls to enhance your booth, it is highly suggested you purchase the pole and drape service. Pole and drape rental must be purchased through Zapp. It is ideal to do so along with your booth space in Zapp. You can also rent extra crossbars in Zapp.
 
This event is presented by Northwest Art Alliance (NWAA). We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit, dedicated to connecting the power of art, fine craft, and community. We do this by providing artists with essential tools, education, and exposure to help them succeed, and provide our area with access to a vibrant community of artists and craftspeople.
 

Please DO NOT fill out your application in all capital or all lower-case letters. This creates a lot of extra work for our staff to edit. We upload your information onto our website and use it for social media. Please have your content ready for the public to see. 
 
PARTICIPATION RULES: Please note, we will be monitoring during the event to ensure all booths are in compliance with the following. Non-compliant booths may impact your jury score for future events. 
 

• Artwork must be original and made by the artist(s) present at the show.
• Artists may only show work in the categories in which they were juried and accepted. (e.g. An Artist juried for 2D painting may not have jewelry in their booth unless they applied and were accepted under Multiple Mediums)
• Artists may not exhibit or sell the works of other artists.
• Artists who work cooperatively on their pieces (like many hot glass artists) may apply under their business name with one artist as the contact person.
• Artists must personally attend their booths throughout the show.
• Only US or Canadian-made reproductions are allowed in the categories of 2-D and photography; however, such reproductions cannot be more than 60% of the work displayed or offered for sale at the event (photography excluded from the reproduction rule). Otherwise, artwork can be part of a limited run.
• Artists agree to occupy the assigned space and be open and staffed during all regular event hours, and may not open late or close early without prior approval from NWAA staff.
• Artists must have either a Seattle Business License on file with us or purchase a temporary Seattle Business License through the Zapp, no later than one week before the event starts.
• Artists are expected to comply with all applicable regulations and the NWAA artist agreement. 
• By Submitting Artwork in this application, you are allowing NWAA to use the images provided for promotion before, during and after the event. 

JEWELRY: Jewelry is an extremely competitive medium. Please note the additional specific standards below. 
 

• All jewelry must be both designed and made by the artist (no reproductions).
• All jewelry work displayed must be of the same quality shown in the juried images.
• Commercial components (beads, stones, pearls, etc.) simply strung/assembled or twisted on wire will not be considered. (Bead weaving will be considered)
• No more than 50% of a piece may consist of commercial findings. The major impact of the piece must be the original work of the artist.

 
BOOTH SHARING:
Artists may share a booth, as long as each artist has applied individually and has been juried and accepted. When sharing a booth, one artist has to be responsible for the fees associated with the booth being shared.
 
BOOTH SUBLETTING: Booth subletting is not allowed. 
 
FIREPROOFING REQUIREMENTS:
The Seattle Fire Department has become much stricter in the past two years. YOU ARE NO LONGER ALLOWED TO FIRE-PROOF YOUR FABRICS ON YOUR OWN. You may use commercially fire-retardant fabric or drapes in your booth. You must have a certificate from the manufacturer posted in your booth before the show opens. Pro-panel, mesh, and wood walls and tablecloths are exempt from this rule. We don't want to have to remove you from the show because the fire marshal won't let us open the doors until your non-compliant materials are gone. Please go to the links below for more information. Call or email us if you have questions.
 
NWAA Fire Code Handout
http://nwartalliance.org/?p=74
 
Seattle Fire Department Handout
http://nwartalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Flame-ProofingandStorage.pdf
15/06/Flame-ProofingandStorage.pdf
 

IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT BOOTH PRICES-
The Seattle Parks Department is enforcing its 10% on-site fee for all vendor sales in the venue. Note - This is NOT the same as the Seattle Business license fee.
 
NWAA negotiated from their initial request of 10% of total artist sales to 10% of the booth purchase cost (which is much lower). Because of this, we need to add a 10% fee on top of our regular booth fee. Please note, NWAA has not raised our booth prices in years. This increase goes directly to the city of Seattle. See the rates below. 
 
STANDARD BOOTH FEES: Our booth pricing includes electricity. Proper lighting enhances your art and increases your sales, as well as improves the overall look of the show and appeals to patrons. We encourage you to utilize it to complement your display.  
 
Notifications will be sent on Wednesday, Jan 27th. Booth purchases start Thursday, Jan 28th at 9am PST and end on Feb 10th at midnight. Booths are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis. Pole & drape and temporary business license purchases will stay open longer. 
 
Note: You may only purchase one booth per accepted artist. Booth appearances may be reviewed during the show and may impact your jury score for future events.
 
STANDARD SIZE BOOTHS FEES (may use tent frame without canopy):

• 10x10 In-Line $632.50 - ($575 booth plus $57.50 fee) 
• 10x10 Corner $742.50 - ($675 booth plus $67.50 fee) 
• 10x15 Corner $1012 - ($920 booth plus $92 fee) 

• 10x6 In-line $522.50 - ($475 booth plus $47.50 fee), Rows A and H
• 10x8 In-line $577.50 - ($525 booth plus $52.50 fee), Row D
• 10x6 Non-Premium Corner $550  - ($500 booth plus $50 fee)
• 10x8 Premium Corner $687.50 - ($625 booth plus $62.50 fee), Row D
• 12x6 Premium Corner $605 - ($550 booth plus $55 fee),
• 10x6 Gallery in-line $522.50 - ($475 booth plus $47.50 fee) - pole & drape included in booth fee 
• 15x6 Gallery in-line $632.50 - ($575 booth plus $57.50 fee) - pole & drape included in booth fee 

**Due to the SHALLOW depth of these spaces, standard 10x10 pop-up frames cannot be used. Plan your display to use pole and drape or other display methods.
 
OTHER PRODUCTS AVAILABLE THROUGH ZAPP:
The following will be available on ZAPP upon receipt of an invitation to the event: 
 
TEMPORARY BUSINESS LICENSE - $20
If you do not provide us with a Seattle business license number on your application, you will be required to purchase a temporary business license at $10 per day for this 2-day show. This is not the same as your UBI#. This is a separate purchase and is NOT INCLUDED in your booth fee. If you are a Seattle resident, you MUST have an annual license.
 
ARTISTS IN ACTION: 
We encourage artists to share their process with our patrons. If you'd like to demonstrate your art at your booth during the event and are interested in participating in this program at no cost, just sign up through Zapp!
 
POLE & DRAPE: $80
Pole and drape are not required, but if you don't have booth walls to enhance your booth, it is highly suggested you purchase the pole and drape service. Pole and drape (only available in black to maintain consistency of appearance throughout the show) must be purchased in Zapp in advance. Please contact us with any questions about your pole & drape needs.
 
EXTRA POLE & DRAPE HARDWARE: $10 per piece
This is where you would order an extra crossbar, if needed.
 
Booth price includes electricity plus an additional charge that the City of Seattle places on indoor shows that accounts for 10% of the booth cost. 

Artist Cancellation / Refund: Notice of cancellation by the Artist of participation in any event must be provided to NWAA in writing via email.

• If notification is provided by Feb 17th, 90% of all booth fees paid to NWAA, excluding Application fee will be refunded.
• If notification is provided by March 1st, 70% of all booth fees paid to NWAA, excluding Application fee will be refunded.
• If notice is provided by March 24th, the Artist shall receive 50% of all fees paid to NWAA, excluding Application fee.
• Notices received after March 24th will not be entitled to a booth refund. 
• Temporary business licenses, pole and drape, and extra hardware are fully refundable at all deadlines