The 18th Annual Barrington Art Festival takes place in the charming downtown of Barrington, Illinois, located 35 miles northwest of Chicago. Known for its grand mansions and horse farms, Barrington is an affluent community with a wealthy population that has a deep appreciation and buying history of art. The festival features approximately 125 artist spaces in a downtown setting filled with cafes, boutiques, and restaurants. The festival layout has artists back to the curb with a main center walkway for visitors. Free admission for patrons.
Artists keep all sales income from the show. Load-in is available Friday evening and Saturday morning, with artists able to drive close to their booth space to unload. Amdur Productions provides staff support throughout the festival, booth sitting services, close day and overnight artist parking at no additional cost, and overnight security. Equipment rental (tents, weights, tables, chairs) and professional panel walls are available for an additional fee. Setup and takedown assistance is available on a scheduled basis for a fee. Amdur Productions works to provide hotel discounts at local establishments.
General information
- Conservative art sells well here
- Suburban setting
- Artist Sales: Artists keep all their sales income from the show.
- Exhibitor Spaces: About 125 spaces
- Staff Support: Amdur Productions staff is present on site throughout the entire festival to assist artists from load in to load out.
- Load-in: Friday evening and Saturday morning load-in available. Artists will be able to drive up to or very close to their booth space and unload their vehicle.
- Booth Sitting: Amdur Productions staff is available to booth sit for artists throughout the entire festival.
- Artist Parking: Amdur Productions reserves close day and overnight parking for artists at no additional cost.
- Equipment Rental: Tents, tent weights, tables, chairs are available for rent (fee).
- ProPanel Rental: Limited "pro-panel" walls available for artists, first come/first served, quantity limited, fees apply.
- Set Up/Take Down Help: Booth set up and take down assistance is available on a scheduled pre-reserved time, fees apply.
- Hotel Rooms: Amdur Productions works to provide discounts at local hotels for each festival.
- Awards: Bestowed at an awards party after the festival on Saturday of the festival.
- Marketing: A large multi-layered marketing plan supports this show with digital and print advertisements, on radio, posters, street banners, social media, and through direct mail postcards. A professional public relations team ensures high visibility for this festival.
- Security: Overnight security is provided.
Booth information and fees
In most fests, spaces are 12' wide X 10' deep and work must be contained within the assigned space. Exhibitors must have a white tent. All tables must be skirted to the ground. Only one artist's work or the work of two approved collaborating artists may be displayed per booth.
Double and corner spaces may be requested but are not guaranteed and are awarded at the sole discretion of the Festival Committee.
Jury details
Average number of applications submitted each year: 200. Average number of artists selected from the jury to participate in the event: 120. Average number of exempt from jury artists who are invited to participate in the event: 20. How returning artists are selected: Received an award. How images are viewed by jurors: Computer monitor. Jurors score applications using a 1-7 scale. The show organizes the jurors for a single jury panel that scores applications for all medium categories, and jurors score separately from various locations. The jury process is closed.
A wait list is selected from the jury's scores in each category, and wait listed artists are invited into the show as cancellations occur in that particular category.