Art in the Village 2027 - Carlsbad

Summary

For nearly three decades, the Carlsbad Village Association has hosted Art in the Village, a free, one-day, open-air art show, that features the extraordinary work of fine artists from all over the region. The 2026 event brought together over 150 local and regional fine artists and musicians for a festive day of visual and performing arts.

Celebrating the dynamic fine art culture in Carlsbad Village and the surrounding areas, the event attracts thousands of residents and travelers by offering a diverse selection of fine artists in media such as painting (oil, acrylic, watercolor), classical and contemporary sculpture, glass, drawing, photography, metal, digital art, printmaking, wood, fiber, and mixed media.

Starting at 10AM attendees browse exhibiting artist booths, watch performance art, enjoy interactive demos, and listen to live music along State Street and Grand Avenue right in the heart of downtown Carlsbad Village.

General Information

Show Date: Sunday, June 27, 2027 Set Up Date: Sunday, June 27, 2027 Show Hours: 10AM – 6PM

ZAPP Online Application Opens: October 1, 2026 Returning Artist Priority Application Deadline: October 23, 2026 Regular Application Deadline: January 15, 2027

ZAPP Application & Jury Fee: $30

Late Applications: Late applications will be accepted after 1/15/27 with an increased application fee of $40. The application will remain open until the show reaches sold out status.

Update to Jury Process: All applications will be juried, invited, and confirmed on a rolling basis until the fine art show reaches sold out status.

Location: Art in the Village lines four downtown blocks on State Street and Grand Avenue in the heart of downtown historic Carlsbad Village, an affluent and popular San Diego County coastal town.

Eligibility: Items sold must be original and handcrafted by the displaying artist(s). The exhibitor must be the designer and creator of the art. No buy/sell or imported items are allowed.

Artist Amenities:

• Complimentary water/snacks brought to artists
• Roaming Booth Sitters to allow for artist breaks
• Artist parking close to the show
• Complimentary invitation e-postcard to be sent to your contacts
• Online artist gallery at no additional charge

Categories

Artists will apply in one of the following categories:

• Clay/Ceramics: Functional or sculptural, original clay or porcelain work.
• Digital Art: Original work in which the original image, or manipulation of other source material, was executed by the artist using the computer. Work must be in editions, signed and numbered.
• Drawing: Work created using dry media including chalk, charcoal, pastels, pencil, wax, crayons, etc. or from a fluid medium of inks and washes applied by pen or brush.
• Fiber: Decorative work including basketry, embroidery, weaving, leatherwork, tapestry, papermaking. No forms of mass production are accepted. No longer accepting wearable art in this category.
• Glass: Works that are functional or decorative and are kiln-formed, crafted by glass blowing, molding or casting. No manufactured molds or other forms of mass production allowed.
• Jewelry: All jewelry, no matter the medium, must apply in this category. Original jewelry made from precious and non-precious metals, gemstones, enamel, glass, clay, fiber, etc. No commercial casts, molds, settings, or production studio work is allowed.
• Metal: Sculptural or functional work using metal as its primary medium.
• Mixed Media: 2D and 3D work which combines materials from two or more mediums in one piece.
• Painting: Acrylic, oil and watercolors apply to this category.
• Photography: Film and digital files used to create photographs from the artist's original image. Work must be printed by the artist or under the artist's direct supervision.
• Printmaking: Prints hand pulled from traditional methods, including etching, engraving, silkscreen, stone and plate lithography, linoleum block or woodcut, produced in signed and numbered limited editions.
• Resin: Epoxy resin creations made by combining resin and hardener for purely aesthetic purposes.
• Sculpture: 3D work using additive or subtractive processes in a single medium.
• Wood: Primary material is wood, either functional or decorative. Original carved, hand-tooled or machine-worked wood. Includes wooden furniture.

Reproductions

2-D Reproduction Definition: A reproduction is defined as any existing work of art (such as painting, watercolor, drawing, photograph, etc.) that is copied by digital or photographic means and printed on an offset press, a serigraph press, or through a computer by means of an inkjet or electrostatic printer.

2-D Reproduction Policy: Limited editions signed and numbered at the front of each piece, displayed on one wall, and browse bins only. Reproduction pieces must be clearly marked as "Reproduction" or "Limited Edition Reproduction" on the front of each piece and on the wall or browse bins.

Collaborators

Collaborators participate in both the creation and the production of the work; they are not assistants, business partners, employees, apprentices, or part of the production studio. All work displayed must bear the names of both collaborators. No more than two collaborators will be accepted, both collaborators must be named on the application. Both collaborators must check-in and be present for the entire show.

Rules and Regulations

1. All artwork must be the original work of the displaying artist.
2. Buy/Sell vendors are strictly prohibited. Artwork will not be permitted if it is created from non-artist made molds, kits, or other commercial methods.
3. The displaying artist must be present for the entirety of the show, except for short reasonable breaks. No agent or representative may stand in for the artist.
4. The work of only one exhibitor may be displayed in each assigned booth space, except for artist collaborators.
5. Artists may display artwork only in the category in which they were accepted.
6. All trash and debris must be removed from the artist's area before exiting the grounds.
7. Artists closing their booth prior to the end of the show will not be permitted to return.
8. Each artist is responsible to collect, report and pay the local sales taxes.
9. Four (4) images of the artwork plus one (1) of the booth must be submitted with the application.
10. Application/Jury Fee is non-refundable. Normal Application fee is $30. Late Application fee (submitted after 1/16) is $40.
11. Returning artists from immediate year prior who apply and pay for their booth by October 23, 2026 will receive priority booth consideration for same booth space.

Booth Information and Fees

1. Booth Fee: $300
2. Each booth space allows for one exhibitor. Booth spaces cannot be shared.
3. Corner Booth (2 adjacent sides open to public): $50 additional fee. Limited space available.
4. Showcase Booths: Grand and State Intersection: assigned by the jury board; if approved, the artist may accept and pay a $100 upgrade fee.
5. Electricity is not available.
6. Booth Size: Each artist will be provided a space measuring 10' x 10'.
7. Art in the Village takes place on flat, paved streets located in Village of Carlsbad.
8. Exhibitors are responsible for providing all booth structures, racks, tables, chairs, display units, or other fixtures suitable for outdoor use.
9. Any material used as a tent, canopy, awning, or siding must be made from nonflammable or flame-resistant fabric.
10. All artists are required to provide own weights for securing canopies.
11. No single use plastic bags are allowed for customer purchases.
12. Set-up/Tear down same day - Sunday. Set-up at 6AM (show starts at 9AM) and tear down begins shortly after 6PM.

Refund and Cancellation Policy

There are no refunds or transfers for cancellations once payment is received. Funds are committed to the production, promotion, and marketing of Art in the Village. No refunds will be given in case of inclement weather, acts of nature, or restrictions by government agencies.

Jury Details

• Average number of applications submitted each year: 300
• 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: 0
• How returning artists are selected: History of participation, Local artist
• Vendors that are excluded/ineligible: Only fine artists may participate. No buy/sell or imported items are allowed. The jury does not accept wearable art, except for certain fine art jewelry.
• How images are viewed by jurors: Computer monitor
• Applications are sorted and viewed by: Application Received (date the application was submitted)
• Jurors score applications using the following scale: Yes, No, or Maybe
• Number of jurors scoring applications: 3
• 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

All applications are juried, invited, and confirmed on a rolling basis until the show reaches sold out status. A single jury panel of 3 jurors scores applications for all medium categories on a Yes/No/Maybe scale, viewing images on a computer monitor. The jury process is closed to observation. A professional booth display photo is required and is weighted heavily in scoring.