--- title: Orange Beach Festival of Art 2027 description: >- 53rd annual juried fine art fair in Orange Beach, AL; $4,550 in prizes, $40 application fee, $325 booth fee. url: 'https://www.artsume.com/programs/11d4a602-5f5f-44f6-9cd9-1ac7f899feb5' type: program status: open createdAt: '2026-10-06' updatedAt: '2026-10-06' programType: Festival/fair organization: Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach organizationUrl: 'https://www.artsume.com/o/coastal-arts-center-of-orange-beach' deadline: '2026-10-31' entryFee: 40 USD location: 'Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach, Orange Beach, AL, United States' isOnline: false compensationRange: '$4,550 in prizes across categories including Best of Show, 2D and 3D awards.' disciplines: - clay - digital media - folk art - glass - graphics/illustration/pencil - jewelry - leather - metal - mixed media - painting oil & acrylic - painting watercolor - paper - photography - sculpture - textile/fiber - wood --- # Orange Beach Festival of Art 2027 **Hosted by:** Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach **Type:** Festival/fair | **Location:** Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach, Orange Beach, AL, United States | **Deadline:** October 31, 2026 | **Entry fee:** $40 ## About This Program ### About the Festival The 53rd annual Orange Beach Festival of Art is a juried exhibition and sale of fine art hosted by the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach, Alabama. Our setting is both intimate and magnificent, set among stately oaks on beautiful Wolf Bay and offers spaces to only 90 fine artists. The event has become a regional attraction drawing over 15,000 visitors. The festival includes performing arts, gourmet coastal cuisine, a bayfront music stage, and a kids' art alley. Our beautiful 10,000 sq. ft. waterfront gallery anchors the grounds for the festival. In addition to the stunning location, the artists' dinner of a low country seafood boil, attentive management, and prizes of $4,550 make this a truly special show. - Voted "Best Art Festival in the Nation" by the readers of USA Today 2025 AND 2026 - 2019, 2022 - 2024 "200 Best" Fine Art Show by Sunshine Artist Magazine - 2019, 2020, 2021 "Best of Bama" Best Art Festival in State of Alabama by luxury magazine "ALABAMA" ### AI Policy (NEW for 2027) We recognize that AI will be a part of our lives in the future. We will be reviewing the changing landscape of this technology every year as it relates to the arts. For the 2027 show our policy is as follows. - No 100% AI created art will be allowed. - Many photographers and multi-media artists use AI in some form for editing and creation. If you use more than 20% of AI assistance in your work, you must acknowledge that in your application and label your presented work at the show as having been created with AI assistance. ### Show Type / Submission Requirements FINE arts only - no crafters please. A variety of mediums are welcome but please carefully indicate your medium type. Example: If you make jewelry that uses both clay and metal, that is still jewelry and not Mixed Media. Five (5) photos of your work and a booth photo are required. If you have never had a booth in a show before, you must set up a sample booth display and send a photo. FAILURE TO INCLUDE A BOOTH PICTURE WILL AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFY YOU. Mediums: Clay, Digital Media, Folk Art, Glass, Graphics/Illustration/Pencil, Jewelry, Leather, Metal, Mixed Media, Painting Oil & Acrylic, Painting Watercolor, Paper, Photography, Sculpture, Textile/Fiber, Wood. ### Rules and Regulations - One application per artist. Not different ones in different mediums. - Only exhibitors who are selling their own handmade items will be accepted. No kits, imports, manufactured, or retail merchandise will be accepted. - Accepted artists must be present for the entire event. - No late set-ups allowed. You must be in place and set up by 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. ### Booth Information and Fees Booth tents must be 10x10, but we provide at least 12'x12' spacing for ease of set-up. No large tent stakes allowed - please bring weights and be prepared for inclement weather. Booth fees are $325. All fees for accepted artists are due by January 8, 2027 and only payable by credit card through ZAPP. Limited double booths available, first come, first served. ### Jury Details Average number of applications submitted each year: 180. Average number of artists selected from the jury: 90. Average number exempt from jury: 3. Images are viewed by jurors on a computer monitor, sorted in random order within a medium category, and scored 1-5 by 3 jurors on multiple panels organized by medium expertise. The jury process is closed. ### Awards Each year, our top three award winners are automatically invited back. Applications are still required, but a $40 application coupon code for first place winners will be sent directly to those winners for use on ZAPP. 2026 Top Winners: Two-Dimensional 1st Place - Molly McGuire / Mixed Media; Three-Dimensional 1st Place - John Cheer / Clay; Best of Show - Sarah Cantor / Mixed Media. ## Eligibility & Requirements - **Disciplines:** clay, digital media, folk art, glass, graphics/illustration/pencil, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, painting oil & acrylic, painting watercolor, paper, photography, sculpture, textile/fiber, wood - **Note:** Only exhibitors selling their own handmade items will be accepted; no kits, imports, manufactured, or retail merchandise. One application per artist. Fine arts only, no crafters. No 100% AI-created art is allowed; artists using more than 20% AI assistance must disclose this in their application and label the work at the show accordingly. Accepted artists must be present for the entire event. ### Additional Requirements - 5 images of your own work - 1 booth photo (required; missing this automatically disqualifies you) - Accurately indicate your medium type ## Compensation & Benefits $4,550 in prizes across categories including Best of Show, 2D and 3D awards. **Includes:** Prize Prizes totaling $4,550 are awarded, including Best of Show, Two-Dimensional and Three-Dimensional category winners. Top three award winners are automatically invited back the following year and first-place winners receive a $40 application fee coupon. ## Timeline - **Opens:** October 6, 2026 - **Deadline:** October 31, 2026 - **Program Start:** March 13, 2027 - **Program End:** March 14, 2027 ## Contact **Contact:** Desiree Blackwell **Email:** dhodge@orangebeachal.gov ## How to Apply Apply at: https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=14592