Summary
More than 100,000 art savvy, loyal attendees and buyers visit this high caliber festival every year! Located in the affluent community of Highland Park, Illinois, the 44th Annual Port Clinton Art Festival is one of the most acclaimed art festivals in the country.
Highland Park is a community where more than 60% of the households have incomes of $100,000 or more. About 28% of the households have incomes of $200,000 plus. Situated in the affluent suburb of Highland Park, art collectors wait to buy at this end of summer event. The best of the best is what art lovers come to see and buy at this festival. Spread over the downtown streets, people start arriving at this festival before the official 10 am opening Saturday.
Jury selection is very competitive. Artists are encouraged to submit their very best images in jury.
About This Call
The 44th Annual Port Clinton Art Festival is held in Highland Park, Illinois and attracts over 100,000 art savvy attendees and buyers annually. The festival features approximately 260 artist spaces spread over downtown streets and is one of the most acclaimed art festivals in the country.
General Information
- Fine art sells well
- Artist Sales: Artists keep all their sales income from the show.
- Exhibitor Spaces: About 260 spaces
- Staff Support: Amdur Productions staff is present on site throughout the entire festival to assist artists from load in to load out.
- Booth Sitting: Amdur Productions staff is available to booth sit for artists throughout the entire festival.
- Load-in: Friday afternoon/evening and Saturday morning load-in. Artists will be able to drive up to or very close to their booth space and unload their vehicle.
- Artist Parking: Amdur Productions reserves close day and overnight parking for artists at no additional cost.
- Tent Rental: Tents, tent weights, tables and chairs available for rent. Fees apply.
- Pro Panel Rental: We have limited "pro-panel" walls available for artists. Rental is on a first come/first served basis, quantity is limited. Fees apply.
- Set Up/Take Down Help: Booth set up and take down assistance is available on a scheduled pre-reserved time. Fees apply.
- Hotel Rooms: Amdur Productions works to provide discounts at local hotels for each festival.
- Marketing: A large multi-layered marketing plan supports this show with digital and print advertisements, on radio, posters, street banners, social media, and through direct mail postcards. A professional public relations team ensures high visibility for this festival.
- Security: Over night security is provided.
Rules and Regulations
- All artwork submitted to jury, displayed and presented for sale at festivals must be created, designed and made or made under the direct supervision of the accepted artist(s). All artwork shown must be for sale.
- An artist may apply in more than one category, but not twice in the same category.
- Jewelry created through fabrication and casting is allowed if the original casts are made by the artist.
- No commercial casts/molds allowed in production.
- Photography/Digital art: Original work made by the hands of the photographer is allowed. All printing of images must be done by the photographer or under their supervision.
- The Artist certifies that jury images submitted represent their current original work and represent the category and body of art that will be displayed at the festival.
- Art collaborators (up to two artists in total) producing a single body of work qualify as an exhibitor. A collaborator is not an employee or helper. If artists enter as a collaboration, it must be clearly noted on the application and art shown must be signed by both.
- No work made solely by apprentices or employees is allowed. All artwork must be made in the country the artist resides in.
- Buy/sell items are strictly prohibited from all or part of an artist's booth.
- Multiples: Limited editions of work in which the artist hand manipulates plates, stones, or screens numbered and signed in editions up to 500 are allowed. Reproductions by mechanical techniques including "giclee" and "iris" prints must be signed and numbered (up to 500).
- AI, Artificial Intelligence: Amdur Productions will allow artists to apply with art made with/by Artificial Intelligence when it is clearly identified as AI created art. AI art will be juried on the criteria of: Body of Work, Artistic Theme, Technical Competence, and Originality. The "author" artist of the AI art must be the person applying and if selected for a festival, must be in person at the festivals.
- The Festival Committee reserves the right to change any requirements for the betterment of the festival as a whole.
Festival Policies
- Misconduct toward staff, artists or vendors will not be tolerated.
- Acceptance is non-transferable. Booths cannot be split without expressed consent.
- All festivals are drug-free; no smoking or vaping near booths.
- Accepted artists must be present during all festival hours.
- Only artwork in the accepted category is allowed; non-complying artists will be asked to leave with no refund.
- Discount/sales signs and ribbons from other shows are not allowed.
- Each exhibitor is responsible for collecting and remitting local sales tax.
- White tents only.
Booth Information and Fees
Space Fees
- 12' Wide by 10' Deep Exhibit Space Fee: $950 + $60 permit fee
- 20' Wide by 10' Deep Exhibit Space Fee: $1,900 + $120 permit fee
- Corner Upgrade: Additional $300
Spaces are 12' wide x 10' deep and work must be contained within the assigned space. Exhibitors must have a white tent and all tables must be skirted to the ground. Double and corner spaces may be requested but are not guaranteed.
Refund and Cancellation Policy
Application fees are non-refundable. If an artist cancels on or before April 1, 2027, they will be given a refund for the amount paid towards the booth, less a $50 processing fee. Application fees, credit card processing fees, and permit fees are non-refundable. No refunds after April 1, 2027.
Jury Details
- Average number of applications submitted each year: 440
- Average number of artists selected from the jury: 226
- Average number of exempt-from-jury artists invited: 19
- Images are viewed by jurors on a computer monitor
- Jurors score applications using a 1-7 scale
- A single jury panel scores applications for all medium categories, separately from various locations
- The jury process is closed