Columbus Arts Festival 2027

About This Call

The Columbus Arts Festival, honored by Sunshine Artist Magazine as one of the top fine art and design festivals in the country, takes place June 11-13, 2027 on Columbus' Downtown Scioto Riverfront. Produced by the Greater Columbus Arts Council in its 65th year, the festival attracts hundreds of thousands of art patrons and offers a vibrant atmosphere for artists to buy and sell original work and meet patrons face to face. The festival includes music, dance and theatre performances, a family-friendly arts area, and food vendors.

Artist amenities include one parking space in the dedicated artist lot, 5 amps of electricity per booth, complimentary water, continental breakfast, volunteer booth sitters upon request, access to restroom facilities, and limited storage space behind booths. All booths are accessible by vehicle for setup and teardown. Average festival sales based on 2026 data are $10,000, with total awards of $20,000 including a $4,000 Best in Show prize. The Greater Columbus Arts Council provides marketing support through paid television, radio, digital and social ads, as well as earned media and public relations efforts.

Applications are due December 11, 2026 via ZAPPlication.org. Jury selection occurs January 22-24, 2027, with notifications sent February 9, 2027. All work must be original, handcrafted, and signed. No buy/sell work, mass production, or work generated by or with the aid of Artificial Intelligence is permitted. The festival accepts work in 2D and 3D mixed media, ceramics, digital art, drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, wood, and an Emerging Festival Artist Program for residents of Franklin County and surrounding counties with limited festival experience.

Dates to Remember

• September 7, 2026: Artist applications available on www.ZAPPlication.org
• December 11, 2026: Applications due
• January 22-24, 2027: Jury selection
• February 9, 2027: Notifications emailed to accepted, waitlisted, and not invited artists
• February 10, 2027: Artists can log into Zapplication to purchase space and amenities
• May 1, 2027: Booth assignments and other information available to artists
• June 10, 2027: Artist set-up
• June 11-13, 2027: Columbus Arts Festival on the Downtown Scioto Riverfront

Jury Procedure

• Festival jury is conducted by a panel of five experienced arts and industry professionals and is based solely upon the quality of the work as illustrated in the submitted digital images.
• Jury will have two rounds (Round 1 with image and Round 2 with image and read material/technique statement).
• Images must be void of artist signature or any identifying marks; this will ensure an anonymous jury process.
• An artist description of materials, technique and inspiration of current body of work no more than 140 characters, including spaces, is required.