The Arts Alive festival is celebrated in historic downtown Florence, Alabama during the third weekend in May. Presented by the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts Volunteers, Arts Alive features two juried venues: a gallery exhibition and an art market in the park. This application is for park participants only.
On May 15th and 16th, Wilson Park will transform into one of the largest art markets in the southeastern US as up to 100 juried artists utilizing various mediums sell their work from colorful booths.
The purpose of Arts Alive is to raise money for the sponsorship of workshops and scholarships for art teachers and students in northwest Alabama. Your participation in Arts Alive aids in the promotion of arts education.
The festival is committed to eliminating impediments and is dedicated to the involvement of artists and patrons of every social position, ethnology, convention, orientation, ability, and walk of life.
General information
THIS APPLICATION IS FOR PARK ARTISTS ONLY
Arts Alive Art Market in the Park
Wilson Park, Downtown Florence, Alabama
May 15 & 16, 2027
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Jury Fee (nonrefundable) $40.00
Booth Fee $225.00
Application Deadline is February 05, 2027
Artists working in the areas of painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, textiles, mixed media, metal, clay, glass, jewelry, photography, and wood are invited to apply for a booth position to sell artwork in Wilson Park the weekend of May 15 & 16, 2027. Artist applications will be reviewed by a juror and selected based on skill, quality of work, booth display, and creativity. Artists will be notified of acceptance the first weekend of March. Selected artists may sell artworks in the park (commission-free) and will be judged for awards.
Awards, as selected by qualified jurors, will be announced and presented on the night of Saturday, May 15th at the garden party honoring artists at the Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts.
Rules and regulations
Open to all artists 18 years of age and older residing in the United States, Mexico, and Canada who are working in the following disciplines: painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, textiles, mixed media, metal, clay, glass, jewelry, photography, and wood. Artists are selected based on the quality, creativity, and originality of their work.
- Booths displaying work created by more than one artist must be noted on the application.
- All booths must be equipped with stable support (weights, stakes, etc) and artwork displayed with weather and large crowds in mind.
- The Arts Alive Committee is not responsible for the set up or break down of booths or the transport of artwork.
- Entries received after the deadline will not be considered.
Booth information and fees
Booth spaces are 12 feet x 12 feet.
Additional adjoining booth space may be purchased for $200.00. Adjoining booth spaces may only be purchased after a booth space at regular price has been purchased.
Artists are responsible for their own displays (supports, structure, set up, and tear down). The Arts Alive Festival is not responsible for property damage or loss.
A security patrol will operate in the park Friday and Saturday night.
Artists will transact their own sales and will comply with all sales tax regulations. Tax information and paperwork will be provided in the artist check-in packet.
Jury details
- Average number of applications submitted each year: 140
- Average number of artists selected from the jury to participate in the event: 110
- Average number of exempt from jury artists who are invited to participate in the event: 6
- How returning artists are selected: Selected by peer jurors
- Vendors that are excluded/ineligible: Hobby crafts and buy/resell objects.
- How images are viewed by jurors: Computer monitor
- Jurors score applications using the following scale: 1 - 5
- Number of jurors scoring applications: 6
- The show organizes the jurors for a single jury panel that scores applications for all medium categories, separately from various locations.