About This Call
The Old Town Art Fair takes place June 12-13, 2027, on the streets of the historic Old Town Triangle neighborhood on Chicago's near north side. Considered one of the top outdoor fine art shows in the nation and celebrated for over 75 years, the fair is managed entirely by volunteers. Fair proceeds support nonprofit organizations including the Menomonee Boys and Girls Club, local schools, community groups, and neighborhood improvements.
The fair features a maximum of 235 booths and attracts discerning, art-educated art buyers in a direct-to-consumer sales model. A single booth costs $800 (including a $25 Itinerant Merchant Fee required by the City of Chicago); a limited number of double booths are available at $1,800. Artists are juried into one of several media categories: 2-D Mixed Media, 3-D Mixed Media, Ceramics, Digital Art, Drawing/Pastel, Fiber, Glass, Jewelry, Metal, Painting, and Photography. An Emerging Artist category is available for artists ages 18-25, recently graduated (within 2 years), or who have made a recent career change to the Visual Arts, with a reduced application fee of $20.
Cash awards are given for First and Second Place in each media category, plus an additional Best of Show award. Artists retain all proceeds from sales. Benefits include a website gallery with artist information and link, organized load-in and cooperative load-out, complimentary continental breakfast on both days, booth sitters, complimentary water and snacks, express food concession lanes, reserved artist parking, and access to indoor bathrooms and water filling stations.
Summary
The Old Town Art Fair is produced by the Old Town Triangle Association, a nonprofit neighborhood organization whose Director also serves as staff support to the Fair. The show succeeds thanks in no small part to the tireless efforts of as many as 750 unpaid volunteers. We continue to place a strong emphasis on increasing our marketing profile to bring more buyers to you in a unique direct-to-consumer sales model.
Important Dates
- January 15, 2027: Application Deadline
- January 22-24, 2027: Application Jurying
- February 8, 2027: Jury Invitations Sent to Applicants
- March 1, 2027: Booth Fee Deadline; No Booth Fee Refunds after this Date
- Early May 2027: Important information e-mailed to Artists and available on website
- Early June 2027: Artist Gallery on Website
- June 11, 2027: On-site Artist Check-In and Booth Set-Up
- June 12, 2027 (10 AM-7 PM) & June 13, 2027 (10 AM-6 PM), Rain or Shine: Old Town Art Fair
Media Categories
- 2-D Mixed Media
- 3-D Mixed Media
- Ceramics
- Digital Art
- Drawing/Pastel
- Fiber
- Glass
- Jewelry
- Metal
- Painting
- Photography
- Printmaking
- Sculpture
- Stone
- Wood
- Emerging Artist
Reproductions are not allowed at the Old Town Art Fair. Artwork must be first and foremost an artistic expression, designed and handmade by the accepted artist/artist team. Production studio work is absolutely prohibited. Use of generative AI tools to produce or alter content is prohibited in applicable categories.
Emerging Artist Category
The Old Town Art Fair launched an Emerging Artist program in 2023 to elevate and provide a platform for new and under-recognized artists to show their work and evolve in a variety of genres and mediums. "Emerging Artists" are defined as artists who are at an early stage in their career development and have little experience exhibiting and selling their artwork.
- Artists must be either 18-25, recently graduated (2 years or less) from College/University, or who have made a recent career change to the Visual Arts.
- Select "Emerging Artist" as the medium category and apply with only ONE medium per application.
- Reduced application fee is $20, using coupon code EA27.
Artists may apply to either the Emerging Artist program or the general show, but they may not apply to both.
Booth Information and Fees
- Single booths: 10' deep x 15' wide; width cannot exceed 10' and height cannot exceed 9'.
- Double booths (limited availability): 10' deep x 30' wide; width cannot exceed 25' and height cannot exceed 9'.
- Booth Fee: $800 for a single booth, $1,800 for a double booth, paid in full by March 1, 2027.
- The booth fee includes a $25 required Chicago Itinerant Merchant Fee forwarded to the City on the artist's behalf.
- Corner booths carry an additional $275 premium and are assigned by time stamp of request.
- There is no electrical power for booths.
- Tent rental companies are not allowed; artists must bring and set up/take down their own booths.
Refund and Cancellation Policy
There is no refund for the Application Fee. Booth payments made before March 1, 2027, can be refunded by contacting the Old Town Triangle Association. No refunds of the single booth fee are allowed after March 1, 2027.
Jury Details
- Average number of applications submitted each year: 850
- Average number of artists selected from the jury: 235
- Average number exempt from jury who are invited: 40
- Images are viewed by jurors on a computer monitor, in random order within each medium category.
- Jurors score applications on a 1-10 scale; 9 jurors score applications, organized into multiple jury panels by medium expertise, scoring separately from various locations.
- The jury process is closed.