--- title: Desert Art Festival - February 12 - 14, 2027 description: Three-day juried outdoor fine art & craft festival in Rancho Mirage, CA for 100 exhibitors; $25 application fee, booth fees apply. url: https://www.artsume.com/programs/94c63bee-d07a-4c8c-906b-2941c97db2eb type: program status: open createdAt: "2026-10-24" updatedAt: "2026-10-24" programType: Festival/fair organization: West Coast Artists organizationUrl: https://www.artsume.com/o/west-coast-artists deadline: "2026-11-27" entryFee: 25 USD location: The River at Rancho Mirage, Rancho Mirage, CA, United States isOnline: false --- # Desert Art Festival - February 12 - 14, 2027 **Hosted by:** West Coast Artists **Type:** Festival/fair | **Location:** The River at Rancho Mirage, Rancho Mirage, CA, United States | **Deadline:** November 27, 2026 | **Entry fee:** $25 ## About This Program ### Summary The Desert Art Festival, on President's Weekend, a three-day Holiday event. The Desert Art Festival will be held at The River at Rancho Mirage. One hundred of the finest artists will display their original work in all mediums of fine art and fine craft. The Desert Art Festival is a three-day outdoor celebration of the visual arts. This event typically features the work of 100 exhibitors. Our goal is to provide a venue for creators of quality fine art and fine craft to meet with the art-buying public. This show has large established patronage from Canada and the Eastern States (snowbirds) as well as California. There is a prior day set up and overnight security. Overnight parking is available at the venue. Admission and parking are free to the public. ### General Information You are invited to submit your application for admission to the Desert Art Festival, President's Weekend. This Artist Prospectus and Exhibitor Application includes essential details on exhibitor participation and should be read carefully before applying. ### Jury Procedure A maximum of 100 artists will exhibit at the 2027 event. The jury is comprised of professionals working within the art community. The panel uses a blinded jury process to review a set of four images provided by each artist. The process, materials, dimensions for each image, and artist information statements are made available to the jury. Artistic excellence is the sole criterion for the selection of exhibitors. The panel is convened to discuss their rankings, and the artists with the top scores will receive invitations to exhibit. High-scoring artists who are not initially invited to exhibit will be added to a waitlist and offered the opportunity to exhibit should an invited artist decline to participate in the Festival. ### Rules and Regulations Booth Space and Regulations: - All booth spaces are sized to accommodate display tents measuring 10' X 10' for $400.00 + 10% commission or 10' X 20' for $550.00 + 10% commission with a $50 corner request fee. If you do not agree to pay a commission, please reconsider and do not apply. - Canopies must be white. - Electricity is not available. - Display arrangements must meet with the approval of the committee. The committee is looking for a balance of the variety of artwork and how it is displayed. - Artists must exhibit work on Friday and Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Overnight Parking/camping is acceptable at The River in the parking lot. ### Sales Artists will pay a 10% commission on all sales made at and generated from the festival. If you disagree with paying a commission, please reconsider and do not apply. The commission on sales is due at the close of the festival on Sunday at 4:00 pm. Artists are responsible for their sales and collecting and reporting the State of California sales tax on any sales. ### Additional Policies The Desert Art Festival presents the original work of exhibiting artists. We do not accept mass production studios, organizations, representatives, or groups. No imports, commercial, or purchased for resale work. - Exhibitors must be at least 16 years old. - Artists must be present with their work for the entire event. Representatives may not attend in place of the artist. - Artists may exhibit only in the category in which they were juried and may not display work in new categories without re-jurying. - Work must be consistent with the submitted images. ### Hours Set-up: 10:00 am - 9:00 pm Thursday, February 11, or 6:00 am - 9:00 am Friday, February 12, 2027 Festival Hours: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Friday and Saturday, and 10:00 - 4:00 pm Sunday Tear down: Sunday 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm ### Booth Information and Fees Spaces are 10' X 10' and canopies must be white. Tables must be covered to the ground. No storage of boxes or packing materials outside of the booth. Canopies must be securely anchored, as the show is on the pavement/concrete. - 10' X 10' space $400.00 + 10% commission - 10' X 20' space $550.00 + 10% commission - Corner $50.00 ### Refund and Cancellation Policy Friday, January 15, 2027: Deadline to cancel participation in the 2027 Festival to receive credit for the booth fees. Refunds will be at the committee's discretion before January 15, 2027. Cancelations must be received in writing before January 15, 2027. No Credits or refunds after January 15, 2027. ### Jury Details - Average number of applications submitted each year: 150 - Average number of artists selected from the jury to participate in the event: 80 - Average number of exempt from jury artists who are invited to participate in the event: 20 - How returning artists are selected: Selected by show director or board - Vendors that are excluded/ineligible: no commercial, manufactured, imports, resale, representatives, pre-packaged food, clothing. - How images are viewed by jurors: Computer monitor - Jurors score applications using the following scale: 1 - 5 - Number of jurors scoring applications: 2 - The show organizes the jurors for a: Single jury panel that scores applications for all medium categories - Jurors score: Separately from various locations - Am I allowed to observe the jury process? Jury process is closed - Other information: Outdoor booth images are required ## Eligibility & Requirements - **Disciplines:** All disciplines - **Age Requirements:** 16+ years old - **Note:** Exhibitors must be at least 16 years old. The festival presents the original work of exhibiting artists only; mass production studios, organizations, representatives, or groups are not accepted, nor are imports, commercial goods, or work purchased for resale. Artists must be present with their work for the entire event; representatives may not attend in place of the artist. Artists may exhibit only in the category in which they were juried and may not display work in new categories without re-jurying, and submitted work must be consistent with the submitted images. ### Additional Requirements - 5 images per media category (4 individual pieces of work, 1 outdoor booth display image) - Images in 1920 x 1920 pixel format - $25.00 non-refundable jury/application fee - Up to 3 applications may be submitted for this show ## Compensation & Benefits Artists pay a 10% commission on all sales made at and generated from the festival, due at the close of the festival on Sunday at 4:00 pm. No compensation is provided to artists by the organizer. ## Timeline - **Opens:** October 23, 2026 - **Deadline:** November 27, 2026 - **Program Start:** February 12, 2027 - **Program End:** February 14, 2027 ## How to Apply Apply at: https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=14624