FAVA's Art Fair in the Square 2027

The Firelands Association for the Visual Arts (FAVA) is pleased to invite artists to participate in FAVA's 5th Annual Art Fair in the Square in partnership with the City of Oberlin, Ohio.  

Accepted Application Types: Artist / Guilds / Art Clubs / Craftspeople

 Images: minimum of 3; maximum of 6 (include examples of work, and at least one of display if available)

Fee: (Application Fee): $50 (Use coupon code EARLY27 on or before April 30, 2027 for $10 off your application) 

Application Deadline: July 15, 2027

Confirmation of Acceptance: We will approve all applications by Aug.10, 2026. Early applications will be notified at an earlier date. (Check your application status: "accepted" means you've been accepted to participate.)

EVENT INFORMATION:

FAVA’s Art Fair in the Square

Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026

Time: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Location: Tappan Square, 67 N Main St, Oberlin, OH 44074

 Hosted by:

The Firelands Association for the Visual Arts (FAVA) & The City of Oberlin

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FAVA’s 5th Annual Art Fair in the Square

Saturday, September 11, 2027
10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Tappan Square • Downtown Oberlin, Ohio

Rain or shine — there is no rain date.

Application Fee: $50 for one 10'x10' booth space
Early Bird: Save $10 when you apply by April 30, 2027 using code EARLY27
Application Deadline: July 15, 2027

The Firelands Association for the Visual Arts (FAVA), in partnership with the City of Oberlin, invites artists and makers to apply for the 5th Annual Art Fair in the Square!

Held in beautiful Tappan Square in the heart of historic downtown Oberlin, Art Fair in the Square brings artists, makers, food trucks, live music, and thousands of visitors together for a day celebrating art and creativity.

We welcome applications from artists and makers working in a wide variety of media, as well as artist groups, guilds, and art clubs. Our goal is a lively, diverse Art Fair filled with original work made by the people who are there to share it.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Who May Apply:
Individual artists and makers, artist groups, guilds, and art clubs.

Application Images:
Please submit a minimum of 3 and maximum of 6 images. Images should clearly represent the type and quality of work you plan to bring to the Art Fair. If you have participated in other outdoor events, we encourage you to include at least one image of your booth or display.

Application Fee:
$50 for one 10'x10' booth space.

Apply on or before April 30, 2027 and use coupon code EARLY27 to receive $10 off your application fee.

Please note: Your fee reserves your 10'x10' space only. FAVA does not provide tents, tables, chairs, or display equipment. Each artist is responsible for bringing everything needed to set up their own booth.

Application Deadline:
July 15, 2027

Acceptance:
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early applicants may hear from us sooner. All applicants will be notified of their status no later than August 10, 2027.

If your application is marked “Accepted” in Café, that means you have been approved to participate in the 2027 Art Fair in the Square.

EVENT INFORMATION

FAVA’s 5th Annual Art Fair in the Square
Saturday, September 11, 2027
10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Tappan Square
67 N. Main Street
Oberlin, OH 44074

Hosted by:
Firelands Association for the Visual Arts (FAVA) in partnership with the City of Oberlin

Check-In & Setup

Setup: 7–10 a.m.
Artist Check-In: 7–9 a.m.

Please check in at the FAVA tent in Tappan Square when you arrive. Look for Art Fair/FAVA signs.

All booths must be completely set up and ready for visitors by 10 a.m.

Booth assignments and additional information about unloading, parking, and day-of logistics will be sent to accepted artists before the event.

Please allow plenty of time for unloading and setup. Parking and vehicle access immediately around Tappan Square are limited, particularly during a large event. We appreciate everyone unloading promptly and moving their vehicles away from the immediate Art Fair area before completing booth setup.

Artist Hospitality

FAVA is located just down the street from Tappan Square at:

39 S. Main Street
Oberlin, OH 44074

Participating artists will have access to indoor restrooms at FAVA, along with morning coffee, water, and snacks throughout the day.

We’ll also have volunteers circulating during the Art Fair to help where they can.

What to Expect

Art Fair in the Square takes place outdoors in Tappan Square and features artists and makers from throughout the region, food trucks, and live music.

Each accepted artist receives one approximately 10'x10' space for their booth and display. Artists who need additional space may request a second booth in advance.

The Art Fair takes place rain or shine, and there is no rain date. Please come prepared for September weather in Ohio!

ART CATEGORIES

Choose the category that best represents your work. If your work crosses categories, choose the closest fit and tell us more in your application.

2D Mixed Media: Two-dimensional work combining materials or techniques from two or more media.

3D Mixed Media: Three-dimensional work combining materials or techniques from two or more media.

Bath, Body & Candles: Handmade candles, soaps, lotions, oils, salts, fragrances, and similar products.

Ceramics: Original functional or sculptural work created from clay or porcelain.

Digital Art: Original artwork created or substantially developed by the artist using digital tools. Work incorporating source material must reflect substantial original artistic creation or transformation by the applying artist.

Drawing: Original work created primarily with dry media such as charcoal, chalk, pastel, pencil, colored pencil, crayon, or similar materials, as well as ink drawings and washes.

Fiber & Textiles: Original work incorporating fiber, textiles, leather, weaving, basketry, papermaking, wearable art, dolls, or related techniques.

Furniture: Original furniture designed and made by the applying artist. Factory-produced furniture that has simply been decorated, altered, or embellished is not eligible.

Glass: Original functional or sculptural glasswork, including blown, kiln-formed, molded, cast, fused, or cold-worked glass.

Jewelry: Original jewelry made or assembled by the applying artist using metal, glass, clay, fiber, stone, wood, or other materials.

Metalsmithing: Original sculptural, functional, or decorative work made primarily from metal.

Painting: Original paintings in media including acrylic, oil, gouache, watercolor, encaustic, and similar painting media.

Photography: Original photography created from the applying artist’s own source images, including film and digital photography, hand-colored photography, and other photographic processes.

Printmaking: Original artist-made prints created through processes such as relief, intaglio, lithography, screenprinting, monotype, or other printmaking techniques.

Sculpture: Original three-dimensional work created using additive, subtractive, modeling, casting, assemblage, or related sculptural processes.

Wood: Original work that is carved, turned, constructed, hand-tooled, or machine-worked by the applying artist.

Other: Have we missed you? Choose “Other” and tell us about your work in your application.

A Note About Prints & Reproductions

Artists may sell reproductions of their own original artwork, including prints, cards, and similar items, alongside their original work.

Commercially manufactured merchandise or work featuring artwork that is not your own is not permitted.

BOOTH INFORMATION

Each accepted artist receives one approximately 10'x10' space in Tappan Square. We aim to provide 36” between booths for accessibility.

What You Need to Bring

Artists must provide their own tent/canopy, tables, chairs, displays, racks, and any other equipment needed for their booth. FAVA does not provide tents, tables, or chairs for artist booths.

You are welcome to design your booth however works best for your artwork, as long as everything—including your tent, tables, chairs, artwork, displays, inventory, and supplies—fits safely within your assigned 10'x10' space.

If you need more than a 10'x10' footprint, please arrange to purchase an additional booth space in advance.

Extra inventory, boxes, packing materials, and other items that do not fit safely within your booth should be stored in your vehicle or trailer during the event. Nothing may extend into pedestrian walkways or neighboring booth spaces.

Electricity is not available for artist booths.

Tents & Weather

Art Fair in the Square is an outdoor event, and all tents/canopies must be securely weighted or staked for the duration of the Art Fair.

Please bring appropriate tent weights or stakes with you and come prepared for changing September weather, including wind and rain.

Artists are responsible for protecting and securing their own artwork, tent, displays, and other property. FAVA cannot be responsible for weather-related damage.

RULES & REGULATIONS

Before applying, please make sure your work and booth meet the guidelines below. By submitting an application, you agree to follow the rules and policies of Art Fair in the Square and FAVA.

All work must be original and created by the applying artist or maker and must fit within the media guidelines described in this prospectus.

Your application is a commitment to participate if accepted. Application and booth fees are nonrefundable if you cancel.

Artists and makers are expected to remain set up for the full Art Fair, from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. We understand that emergencies, illness, severe weather, or conditions that could damage artwork may occasionally require an exhibitor to leave early. If that happens, please check in with FAVA staff before packing up whenever possible. Exhibitors who leave early without notifying FAVA or without reasonable cause may not be invited to participate in future fairs.

Resale and mass-produced merchandise are not permitted. The work offered for sale should substantially reflect the creativity, design, and craftsmanship of the applying artist or maker.

Exhibitors are responsible for the setup, safety, and security of their own booths and artwork. FAVA, the City of Oberlin, and their representatives are not responsible for loss, theft, or damage to artwork, displays, tents, equipment, or other personal property.

Work exhibited at the Art Fair should be consistent in quality and type with the work shown in your application. Please do not apply with one body of work and arrive with substantially different merchandise.

Artists and makers are responsible for bringing all of their own booth equipment. This includes a tent/canopy, tables, chairs, display racks, and anything else needed to exhibit and sell their work. FAVA does not provide tents, tables, or chairs. All tents must be securely weighted or staked for the duration of the event.

A single artist or an artist group, guild, or club may purchase more than one 10'x10' booth space with advance approval from FAVA. Payment for additional space must be completed by the July 15 deadline.

Gas-powered generators are not permitted. Exhibitors may not play amplified music from their booths. FAVA hires musicians to provide live music throughout the Art Fair, and we want everyone—including neighboring artists—to be able to enjoy it.

OTHER PARTICIPANTS

Food Vendors

Interested in bringing your food truck or food business to Art Fair in the Square? Please contact Kathleen Jackson, FAVA’s Executive Director, for information about food vendor participation. She may be reached at Kathleen@fava.org.

Community Nonprofits

We are happy to make a limited number of complimentary spaces available to area nonprofit and community organizations as part of our Community Resource Alley.

These spaces are separate from juried artist booths and are intended to give local organizations an opportunity to share information and connect with the community.

Interested organizations should contact FAVA for availability and participation information.

Sponsors

Businesses and organizations interested in supporting FAVA or Art Fair in the Square should contact us for sponsorship opportunities.

Contact FAVA:
kathleen@fava.org

MARKETING

If you use a business, studio, or “doing business as” (DBA) name, please include it on your application.

Otherwise, please tell us exactly how you would like your name to appear on the Art Fair map, website, and other promotional materials.

By participating, you give FAVA and the City of Oberlin permission to use the images submitted with your application, along with photographs taken during the event, for promotion of Art Fair in the Square and related nonprofit activities.

AMENITIES & SERVICES

Participating artists can expect:

Free public parking in downtown Oberlin

Indoor restroom access at FAVA

Morning coffee at FAVA

Water and snacks throughout the day

Artist hospitality and volunteer support

Live music throughout the Art Fair

Pre-event information about booth assignments, unloading, parking, and day-of logistics

WEATHER

Art Fair in the Square is a rain-or-shine event. There is no rain date.

Ohio weather can be unpredictable, so please come prepared. Artists are responsible for protecting and securing their artwork, tent, displays, and other property.

We understand that weather conditions may affect different types of artwork differently. If conditions during the Art Fair create a risk of damage to your work and you need to pack up early, please let FAVA staff know before doing so whenever possible.

If severe or dangerous weather creates a safety concern, FAVA and/or the City of Oberlin may modify, suspend, or cancel event activities as necessary.

REFUND POLICY

Application and booth fees are nonrefundable.

If FAVA or the City of Oberlin must cancel the entire event, FAVA will communicate directly with participating artists regarding the circumstances and any available options.

ABOUT THE JURY PROCESS

Why is Art Fair in the Square juried?

Our jury process helps us make sure the Art Fair remains focused on original artwork and handmade goods created by participating artists and makers.

Jurying also helps us create a varied Art Fair representing a range of media and creative practices.

Applications are reviewed using the images and information submitted through the online application. Images are viewed digitally.

LEGAL AGREEMENT

By submitting an application to the 2027 FAVA Art Fair in the Square, the applicant confirms that they have read and agree to the requirements, rules, and guidelines contained in this prospectus.

The applicant confirms that they are directly involved in the creation of the work they intend to exhibit and that the work meets the requirements for participation described above.

Application and booth fees are nonrefundable.

Exhibitors participate at their own risk and are responsible for their own artwork, merchandise, tent, displays, equipment, and other personal property. FAVA and the City of Oberlin are not responsible for theft, loss, or damage to an exhibitor’s work or personal property. Exhibitors are encouraged to carry appropriate insurance for their artwork, property, and business activities.

To the extent permitted by law, the applicant agrees to release and hold harmless FAVA, the City of Oberlin, and their respective representatives from claims arising from the applicant’s participation in Art Fair in the Square, except as otherwise provided by law.

If accepted, the applicant grants FAVA and the City of Oberlin permission to use images submitted with the application and photographs or video taken during the event for nonprofit promotional, publicity, archival, and educational purposes.

The applicant understands that:

Art Fair in the Square takes place Saturday, September 11, 2027, from 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Artist check-in takes place between 7–9 a.m.

Booth setup must be completed before 10 a.m.

Each artist is responsible for providing their own tent/canopy, tables, chairs, displays, and other booth equipment

The event takes place rain or shine and has no rain date

Exhibitors are responsible for collecting, reporting, and paying any taxes applicable to their sales

Exhibitors are expected to follow the rules, policies, safety requirements, and reasonable instructions of FAVA and the City of Oberlin throughout the event

Failure to follow these requirements may result in removal from the event or affect eligibility for future Art Fair in the Square events.

By submitting the application, the applicant confirms that they have read, understand, and agree to these terms.

Applicant must be an artist, guild, art club, or craftsperson.

 A minimum of 3; maximum of 6 photos that include examples of work, and at least one of display if available should be submitted with application.

The application fee of $50 (Use coupon code EARLY27 on or before April 30, 2027 for $10 off your application)  must be submitted by the July 15, 2027 deadline.

Artists, guilds, art clubs, or craftspersons should be 18 years or older. Minors wishing to apply should be accompanied by an adult who will be present at all times and will complete the application process as guardian of the minor(s).

NOTE: Please input your information exactly as you want it to appear on art fair materials, mailings, registration check-in, etc. (e.g. John Smith Studio vs. John Smith studio or JOHN SMITH STUDIO)