Westport Fine Arts Festival 2027

Summary

Westport Fine Arts Festival is a notable highlight for collectors and residents from the Tri-State region, New England, and beyond. Our nationally recognized, juried festival features a premier roster of regional, national, and international fine artists exhibiting in a variety of media categories - including painting, photography, sculpture, fiber, printmaking, mixed media, glass, ceramics, jewelry, wood, graphics, and printmaking. All artwork is available for purchase in a wide variety of price ranges, subject matter, and styles.

This art festival is free to the public, and there will be on-site food vending, live music, and hands-on art projects and demonstrations for children and adults.

Westport Fine Arts Festival also welcomes interest from potential sponsors. Please contact the Operations Director at operations@westportdowntown.com

The Westport Fine Arts Festival is presented and produced by The Westport Downtown Association, with Artist Direction by Sue Brown Gordon of Gordon Fine Arts, who can be reached at FAFDirector@westportdowntown.com or directly at (518) 852-6478.

General information

The Westport Fine Arts Festival is held on the charming downtown streets of Westport, lined with high-end shopping, restaurants, and living space next to the beautiful Saugatuck River. The venue is stunning, impressive, and easy for artists and patrons to navigate the connected streets that are closed for the festival. This will be the 54th year for this prestigious annual event. Thousands of patrons eagerly look forward to visiting from surrounding Fairfield and Westchester counties and beyond. This show is widely considered one of the best for quality and was recently ranked #36 among the top 200 in the country. High-end sales and great artist hospitality make this a very desirable weekend opportunity for fine artists. Again this year, the Westport Fine Arts Festival and its producer, The Westport Downtown Association, has engaged the return of Artist Director Sue Brown Gordon of Gordon Fine Arts.

Artist benefits

• Exposure, historically, up to 12,000 patrons visit this established national show.
• Highest caliber artist liaison from Festival Director - Sue Brown Gordon - expert in fine art, artist relations, recruiting, and all aspects of your presence at our show.
• One image and an abbreviated bio are shown on the event page, linked to the artist's personal website, with the assigned booth number. (Info stays available to patrons for 10 months).
• Extensive festival media and publicity campaign, including radio, print, social media, pole banners, and local signage.
• A number of individual artists are promoted on social media.
• Overnight security.
• Westport Art Festival is a free community arts event.
• Awards and Catered Artist Reception, Saturday Evening
• Free Parking, overnight as well.
• Friday Set-up, in shifts for easy access.

Rules and regulations

• Each exhibitor is responsible for providing their own display and all exhibit equipment.
• Festival sends load in instructions with detailed information about a week prior to the event.
• Displays must be attractive and crowd proof.
• All tents must be WHITE and properly weighted, please bring your own weights.
• No items are permitted outside your booth, due to fire lane restrictions.
• There can be NO STAKING DOWN.
• You will be displaying on Town or private property.
• Please, NO SMOKING near booths.
• Set up phases are Friday after 12 noon (with a hard stop at 8.00pm) and Saturday after 6.00am and your load in slot will be scheduled by the Artist Director who will inform you.
• You will be able to park all weekend nearby at Westport Town Hall on Myrtle Avenue and you may wish to bring a hand truck. Town Hall parking includes overnight vehicle parking - at no charge.
• Show hours are 10.00am - 5.00pm both Saturday and Sunday, please attend your booth during these times.
• The festival's overall footprint is determined by the Westport Downtown Association in accordance with the Town of Westport.
• The festival becomes part of the street scape and booths co-exist alongside sidewalks, curbs, road features or parking lots.
• WDA requires artists to orient booth displays to harmonize with the permanent merchant community, specific instructions will be given by the Artist Director in load in information.
• The assignment of artists to booth spaces is determined by the Artist Director.
• No generators. Use batteries.
• No representatives, the artist must be present.
• This is a no refund show including but not limited to, weather, unforeseen circumstances or personal. Payment of your booth fee is your irrevocable confirmation of attendance.
• Security is provided Friday and Saturday nights, however, your booth and possessions are left at your own risk. Do not leave valuables in your booth over night.
• Festival is subject to inspections by Westport Fire Marshall and is monitored during show hours by Fire Watch Deputies as well as Police Officers for public safety.

Booth information and fees

• Application/jury fee $50.
• Single booth space: 10'x10', $625.00.
• Double booth space: 10'x20' - $1,250.00. Limited.
• Vendor Insurance coverage is required - we highly recommend purchasing through ACT (Artists Crafters & Trademans Insurance) at www.actinsurance.com or by calling 844.520.6991 - where you can purchase a single event policy or a year-round policy for multiples.
• Artists may provide their own insurance in the form of a CoI from their provider, listing Westport Downtown Association as additional insured for May 28-30, 2027. Our address is Box 547, 606 Post Rd. East. Westport, CT, 06680. The insurance form we need is Accord 25 - tell your insurer - they are very familiar with this type of request. This is due 30 days after acceptance notifications.

Jury details

• Average number of applications submitted each year: 400
• Average number of artists selected from the jury to participate in the event: 150
• Average number of exempt from jury artists who are invited to participate in the event: 12
• How returning artists are selected: Received an award
• Vendors that are excluded/ineligible: No buy sell, mass production or reps!
• How images are viewed by jurors: Computer monitor
• Within a medium category, applications are sorted and viewed by: Last Name (ascending order)
• Jurors score applications using the following scale: 1 - 5
• Number of jurors scoring applications: 4 - 5
• The show organizes the jurors for a: Single jury panel that scores applications for all medium categories
• Jurors score: Separately from various locations
• Jury process is closed