Artist Application

For over seventy years, artists and craftsmen have come to Fairhope, Alabama to celebrate the arts. Our beautiful downtown along the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay will host the 73nd Fairhope Arts and Crafts Festival Friday through Sunday, March 14, 15 & 16, 2025. The hours for the 2025 festival are Friday-Sunday 10am to 5pm.

The Fairhope Arts and Crafts Festival uses an application process to select the artists that will be participating in the Festival. The Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival uses only ZAPP for the application, invitation and payment process. We will never send you an application or request payment outside of ZAPP.

Artist Selection Process

Artists are juried by an independent panel and selected based on the images submitted with their applications. Therefore, CURRENT QUALITY IMAGES that show YOUR WORK & BOOTH to their fullest potential are encouraged. Images must be representative of the works that will be shown at our Festival.

Selection is based on quality and skill in workmanship, original and creative ideas and attractiveness of display. Artists with quality works may be accepted to a “wait list” once a category is full. Do not send samples-- they will not be presented during the jury process nor will they be returned.

Type of vendors that are excluded / ineligible are vendors of commercially manufactured items, ceramics from commercial molds, mass-produced items, plants, soaps, candles, food items, books, CDs, t-shirts and commercial jewelry. Reproductions, including giclee's, are allowed to be sold but must be clearly marked.

Check the rules and regulations section in ZAPP for all rules and regulations.

The Festival accepts applications in the following categories

1. Fibers/Leather – 3D work, wearable and not-wearable, created from fibrous materials. This category includes but is not limited to baskets, clothing, embroidery, paper, quilts, weaving, leather goods, etc. Leather should be 3D handmade work designed by the artist with leather.
2. Functional Crafts – Handmade crafts primarily intended for use, rather than decoration. This category includes but is not limited to musical instruments, brooms, implements, birdhouses, toys, belts, hats, etc.
3. Graphics, Drawing & Watercolor - 2D work using pen, pencil, rayon, marker, or brush including pastels, printmaking and watercolor.
4. Jewelry – Jewelry created by the artist without the use of commercial casts, molds, kits or production studio, regardless of medium. This the ONLY category allowed to display or sell jewelry.
5. Mixed Media – works combining two or more mediums
6. Painting – Oil, acrylics, and other materials applied with a brush. (Those creating pastels and watercolors may wish to apply in the Graphics, Drawing & Watercolor category.)
7. Photography – Digital and film, hand emulsion transfers accepted. Only the artist's original source material allowed.
8. Pottery/Ceramics – Earthenware, raku, porcelain, etc.
9. Sculpture – 3D forms in primarily in a single medium such as clay, metal, glass, wood, etc.
10. Wood – Original 3D work that is hand-tooled, machine worked, built-up, turned or carved, including but not limited to furniture, bowls, boxes, sculpture, etc.
11. Glass – 3D work created by the artist in glass. No molds or other forms of mass production are permitted.

2025 Dates and Deadlines:

• Start date application process: July 1, 2024
• Application deadline: September 8, 2024 ** APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 9/30/2024 (late fee applies) **
  
• Artist notification date: November 11, 2024
• Artist accept Invitation & Purchase Deadline: December 9, 2024
• Event date: March 14-16, 2025

Festival Fees

• Jury Fee/Application Fee $45 (non-refundable)
• Single Booth Fee $350
  
• Double Booth Fee $700 (If a double is purchased, you will have two adjoining spaces)
• Prime Corner Fee $75 (Prime spaces for the 2024 show will be VERY limited and will be juried in and notified upon acceptance. Please check box on application)
  

Note: The Fairhope Arts and Crafts Festival is a rain or shine event. An accepted application is a commitment to show and no refund will be made for cancellations.

Logistics

Booth Space: 10’ x 12’;
Tent Size 10’ x 10’

Electricity is not available. Generators and amplified music are not allowed.

Booth instructions will be sent to artists with booth numbers in February 2024.

Booths for 2025 will be a mixture of doubles and quads. If a double is purchased, you will have two adjoining spaces. Booth instructions will be sent to artists with booth numbers in February 2025.

Business License and Sales Tax

The State of Alabama and Baldwin County require each exhibitor and vendor to purchase a transient license. Each exhibitor is responsible for collecting Alabama State tax, Baldwin County tax, and the City of Fairhope taxes as required by law. Tax forms will be provided in the registration packets.

You can contact the Sales & Use Tax/License Inspection Department for more nformation.