Professional association · Blowing Rock, NC, United States · 1 program
Please read carefully before applying.
Jury Requirements: All applicants are required to submit four images of their work to participate in the jurying process (except award winners from the previous year, who get to bypass jury). You must apply on-line through this application process. All work must be the work of the exhibitor. All work must be original, handcrafted, created and exhibited by the approved artist themselves. Kits, imports, and mass produced items will not be tolerated. This rule is strictly enforced. Images must reflect work completed within the past two years. No critique will be provided. Artists are juried by category, with each artist's images viewed sequentially on a monitor. Each category is reviewed twice. First the jury executes a quick pass through the entire category to see the entire range of applicants, then reviews each series of images from each individual artist in detail, with discussion. The artist is then assigned a score. Those with the highest scores per category will be invited to participate. A limited number of artists per category will be accepted to provide a balanced show. In addition, a score-based wait list will be maintained with cancellations filled from that list. The jury process is handled anonymously and the decision of the jury is final.
Images: Applicants must submit four images – three images of individual pieces and one of the overall booth display. No images showing the artist or signs with their name are accepted. Jurying is a competitive process and image quality counts. Consider whether your images show your work clearly. Exhibited work may be compared to submitted images, to ensure accurate representation. Images for artists accepted into Art in the Park may be used for marketing purposes to promote the show, with appropriate photo credit given to the artist.
Wait List: We do maintain a running waitlist throughout the season. If you are invited to join the show, you must pay your booth fees before the show date. If you do not accept the invitation, you will not be penalized in any way.
Exhibit Spaces: Art in The Park is held outdoors on a relatively level surface and booth space is approximately 10' x 10'. Electricity is not available. Displays must be professional and aesthetically pleasing. All tents MUST be white and 10' x 10' or less, including weights. Weights are required but must not stick out beyond the 10 x 10 area. Open air booths are allowed. WiFi is provided via StarLink. There is no storage behind or around most booth areas. This is strictly enforced. Artists must stick to their 10' x 10' space only.
Weights: All tents must have sufficient weight to hold their tent down in the event of high winds. 500 pounds is suggested to weight your tent. Weight suggestions: gravel, barbells, and concrete filled PVC. Hollow PVC is NOT advised. Drilling into any area (the street or objects around your booth space) is strictly prohibited. Failure to comply can result in the show director requiring the artist to shut down their booth and cease all sales.
Artist Amenities:
Booth Sharing: Work of only one exhibitor may be displayed in one booth. Work produced by a two-person team is considered as a single exhibitor. There is a limit of two media per booth.
Prior to the Show: Set-up time is no earlier than 6 a.m.. Setup is not allowed the night before the show and will result in booth termination (unless specifically arranged with the show director). Exhibitors must have their vehicles completely unloaded and be in the process of setting up by 9 a.m. with all vehicles out of the show area.
Breakdown: After booth breakdown (including tent), exhibitor will receive a pass and at that time may get their vehicle. Trailers and large trucks may not enter show area until the majority of smaller vehicles have exited. All exhibitor booths must be removed by 7:30 p.m.
Restrictions: Art in the Park does not accept t-shirts, sweatshirts or any other mass produced item. Consumables (food, candles, soaps, etc.) are also not accepted. No vehicles are allowed in the exhibitor area during show hours. Only certified service dogs may be brought by exhibitors. Customers are allowed to bring pets, but artists are not allowed to have non-service pets in their booth, as this could pose a distraction and insurance liability. No alcohol is allowed on town property at any time. Disturbing foliage or nailing anything to trees or buildings is prohibited. No smoking or vaping at your booth or within the show area.
Booth spaces are 10' wide by 10' deep. Double booths are also available on a limited basis. Displays must be professional and aesthetically pleasing. All exhibitor tents must be white in color. The goal is to make your tent look like a "mini" art gallery. Electricity is not available.
Application Fee: $35 - only apply once! On the single application, select the show dates you'd like to participate in.
Booth Fees:
Application Deadline: January 29th, 2027; Acceptance and Booth Fees Due: April 30, 2027
Booth payments will NOT be processed through ZAPP. You will be provided with a payment link if you are accepted.
Average number of applications submitted each year: 350
Average number of artists selected from the jury to participate in the event: 160
Average number of exempt from jury artists who are invited to participate in the event: 12
How returning artists are selected: Selected by on-site jury
How images are viewed by jurors: LCD projectors onto screen or wall
Within a medium category, applications are sorted and viewed by: Application ID (number generated when application is started by artist)
Jurors score applications using the following scale: 1 - 5
Number of jurors scoring applications: 4
The show organizes the jurors for a: Single jury panel that scores applications for all medium categories
Jurors score: Convened as a group in one room
Am I allowed to observe the jury process? Jury process is closed
Booth Space · 10' x 10'
No electricity; WiFi via StarLink; professionally coordinated load-in/load-out
No alcohol is allowed on town property at any time. Art in the Park does not accept food, candles, soaps, or other consumables as artwork categories.