--- title: St. Johns River Festival of the Arts Inc. 2027 description: >- Juried fine art & craft festival in Historic Downtown Sanford, FL, April 24–25, 2027, with $15,500 in cash awards. url: 'https://www.artsume.com/programs/1e48d155-ebe2-485c-80b0-e356845ef9cf' type: program status: open createdAt: '2026-09-29' updatedAt: '2026-10-11' programType: Festival/fair organization: St. Johns River Festival of the Arts Inc. organizationUrl: 'https://www.artsume.com/o/st-johns-river-festival-of-the-arts' deadline: '2027-02-17' entryFee: 25 USD location: 'Sanford, FL, United States' isOnline: false compensationRange: '$15,500 in cash awards across 20 prizes, from $300 to $3,000.' disciplines: - painting - watercolor - photography - wood - clay - digital art - drawing and graphics - fiber - glass - jewelry - leather - metal - mixed media - sculpture --- # St. Johns River Festival of the Arts Inc. 2027 **Hosted by:** St. Johns River Festival of the Arts Inc. **Type:** Festival/fair | **Location:** Sanford, FL, United States | **Deadline:** February 17, 2027 | **Entry fee:** $25 ## About This Program ### Summary The St. Johns River Festival of the Arts invites artists to apply for the Fifteenth Annual Juried Fine Art and Fine Craft Festival in Historic Downtown Sanford, Florida, on April 24–25, 2027. The festival takes place along charming brick streets lined with galleries, boutiques, cafés, pubs, and restaurants in one of Central Florida's most vibrant downtown districts. The event offers $15,500 in artist awards and attracts approximately 60,000 visitors throughout the weekend. A comprehensive marketing campaign promotes the festival throughout Central Florida using television, radio, print, billboards, digital advertising, event calendars, and social media. Booth fees are $275 for First Street and $235 for Side Street, plus a $25 application fee. First Street spaces are limited and typically fill early. New for 2027, the festival will introduce an Emerging Artist Program. Six emerging fine artists or fine craft artists who successfully complete the jury process will be selected to exhibit on Side Street at a reduced booth fee, providing an opportunity to gain experience exhibiting in a professionally juried festival environment. Artists enjoy convenient load-in and load-out, setup on Friday afternoon/evening or early Saturday morning, complimentary breakfasts and lunches in the Artist Retreat, booth sitters, and water service during festival hours. ### General Information **Awards: Over $15,500 in Cash Awards** - Best in Show — $3,000 - (2) Juror's Choice Awards — $900 each - (8) Awards of Excellence — $800 each - (8) Awards of Distinction — $500 each - Iris Award — $300 Categories include, but are not limited to: Painting, Watercolor, Photography, Wood, Clay, Digital Art, Drawing and Graphics, Fiber, Glass, Jewelry, Leather, Metal, Mixed Media, and Sculpture. Our jurors are experienced and knowledgeable in evaluating both fine art and fine craft across all categories. - Festival limited to approximately 150 artists - Nearby artist parking - Extra-large booth spaces available for side exposure - Jury fee: $25 - Booth fees: $275 First Street, $235 Side Street (subject to change) - New for 2027: Emerging Artist Program offering six reduced-fee Side Street spaces for emerging artists who successfully complete the jury process - Complimentary light breakfast and lunch provided Saturday and Sunday in the Artist Retreat - Booth sitters and water service available during festival hours ### Booth Information **First Street Booth Fees** - 10' x 10' booth: $275 - 10' x 20' booth: $550 **Side Street Booth Fees** (Palmetto Avenue locations only) - 10' x 10' booth: $235 - 10' x 20' booth: $450 **Emerging Artist Program** Six reduced-fee Side Street spaces will be available for emerging fine artists and fine craft artists who successfully complete the jury process. Selected Emerging Artists will receive a discounted 10' x 10' Side Street booth for $185. ### Jury Details All entries are juried. Applicants must submit three images representative of the work to be exhibited and one image of a fully assembled outdoor booth display. Jurors score applications on a 1–5 scale; three jurors score applications separately from various locations in a single jury panel covering all medium categories. Artists are typically notified of acceptance within three weeks of application. ## Eligibility & Requirements - **Disciplines:** painting, watercolor, photography, wood, clay, digital art, drawing and graphics, fiber, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, sculpture - **Age Requirements:** 18+ years old - **Note:** Applicants must be at least 18 years of age. Artists must exhibit within a single medium category; no booth sharing or additional media categories are permitted. The exhibiting artist must be present for the duration of the festival; no stand-in exhibitors, dealers, agents, or wholesalers are permitted. All work displayed must be created solely by the exhibiting artist and must be available for sale or commission. No manufactured items, commercial products, kits, commercial molds, commercial patterns, art supplies, picture frames, or mass-produced items may be displayed or sold. ### Additional Requirements - 3 images representative of the work to be exhibited - 1 image of a fully assembled outdoor booth display - Application and jury fee: $25.00 ## Compensation & Benefits $15,500 in cash awards across 20 prizes, from $300 to $3,000. **Includes:** Prize ## Timeline - **Opens:** September 28, 2026 - **Deadline:** February 17, 2027 - **Program Start:** April 24, 2027 - **Program End:** April 25, 2027 ## How to Apply Apply at: https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=14735