Summer Arts Festival

Application Timeline

Applications Open: October 1st, 2023

Early Bird application Deadline: March 1st, 2024 (by midnight PT)

Early Bird Booth Fees Deadline: March 29th, 2024 (by 5pm PT)

All Applications Due: May 15th, 2024 (by 11:59pm PT)

All Booth Fees Deadline: May 31st, 2024 (by 5pm PT)

First Jury Round: November 30th, 2023Jurying: Performed on a rolling basis once a month in January, February, March, April, and May of 2024

Jury End: May 23rd, 2024

Artists Notified: By May 24th, 2024

Cancellation for 50% refund: June 7th, 2024 by 5pm

Booth Assignment & Information: June 10th, 2024

Artist Timeline

Early Art Vendor Check-In & Load-In: Thursday June 27th, 2024, 3pm-8pm

Art Vendor Main Check-In & Load-In: Friday, June 28th, 2024, 6am-9:30am
(Vendors may load-in all products, one lane of Harvard is closed to load-in from the street)

Festival Friday June 28th Hours: 10am-8pm (Art Vendors)

Festival Saturday June 29th Hours: 10am-8pm (Art Vendors)

Festival Sunday June 30th Hours: 10am-4pm (Art Vendors)

Load-Out: Begins at the conclusion of the festival on Sunday, June 30th, completed by end of day

Eligible Categories

Please note the following which applies to all categories and applicants: 

–Buy/Sell, importaed, or production work of any kind is not permitted at any point during the festival.

-All designs must be created by the participating artist(s) in the booth. No reproductions of copyrighted work or reproductions of other artist’s/entity’s designs or imagery are allowed.

-Artist can sell more than one media in their booth. If you are interested in selling more than one media in your booth, please submit your application under the category that represents the majority of products sold in your booth.

2D Mixed Media: Work that combines more than one medium on a 2D surface to create works of art with a one-sided orientation. Materials can include (but aren’t limited to) paint, assemblage, collage, ink, charcoal, and pencil. For work to be accepted as 2D Mixed Media, the work should clearly be the product of different materials and have no more than a one-sided orientation.

Painting: Works that have original compositions by the applying artist(s) and utilize one painting medium. Eligible mediums include oil based paints or inks, water-based paints or inks (gouache, watercolor, acrylic paint, acrylic ink, tempera, casein), or encaustics. Painting surfaces can include paper, canvas, linen, or wood panel but painters who work in a single media and challenges traditional painting surfaces or techniques are also welcome to submit under this category. If your paintings include more than one 2D media, please consider submitting under 2D Mixed Media.

Drawing: Works that are created with original compositions by the applying artist(s) that utilize one dry 2D medium. Eligible mediums include (but aren’t limited to) charcoal, pencil, pen, chalk or oil pastels, color pencils, crayons, graphite, and markers. Drawing surfaces are traditionally paper, but artists who work in a single media that challenge traditional drawing surfaces or techniques are welcome to submit under this category. If your drawings include more than one 2D media, please consider submitting under 2D Mixed Media.

Illustration: Drawn, painted, or printed works of 2D art that are descriptive. Illustration is used to visually represent or decorate a written text or idea and uses elements of storytelling and narration to explain, clarify, or illuminate a text or idea. Artists in this category utilize original compositions that they hand-create using media and techniques that can be found under Drawing, Painting, Graphic Art, Digital Art, Printmaking, and Photography. All digitally created work and photography in this category must be limited editions on archival-quality materials. If you are uncertain if your work fits in this category, please consider applying under Painting, Drawing, or 2D Mixed Media.

Digital Art: Artwork created using digital technology as part of the creative or presentation process. Works submitted under this category must include 100% original designs by the applying artist and cannot include reproductions of any other designs, concepts, or ideas of other artists/entities. Digital Art is understood to be original works of art even if its production may involve mechanical production or duplication.

Photography: Works created with original compositions that use photographic processes beginning with a camera lens. Photography prints are allowed but must be made from the artist’s original negative or digital image that are originally created and processed by the artist. Prints must be signed, numbered, and dated in a limited edition and meet archival quality standards. If any alteration is done with a secondary 2D media, please consider submitting under the 2D Mixed Media category.

Body Art: This category is for artists whose media includes temporary decoration of the body using skin-safe products. Body Art media can include henna artists and face painting. If you have a form of temporary form of Body Art that you create that is not henna or face painting, please reach out to our Exhibitions and Program Coordinator about your process to see if you qualify as a Body Art Vendor (ashley@uvarts.com)

3D Mixed Media: his category includes work that combines multiple materials to form a 3D object that is to be viewed from all sides and is intended as a non-functional work of art. This category includes the use of found objects, recycled materials, multiple traditional media, and assemblages to create new forms. Please note that in this category, the jury takes into consideration how much of the materials included are manipulated by the artist. If you plan to apply under this category, a complete and accurate description of your process will help the jury when reviewing your application.

 Body and Personal Care: Artists who create artisanal goods to use on the body or in daily personal care routines are eligible ot submit under this category. Work under this category include body care products (soaps, lotions, salves, bath salts, bath bombs, body sprays), candles, hair care products, and aromatherapy items and accessories. Samples are allowed by artists in this category. Works under this category must be created by the vendor with an artisanal element such as specialty blends of smells and ingredients.

Pet Supplies: Artists who create artisanal goods and hand-crafted goods for pets are eligible to submit under this category. Work under this category includes pet accessories (leashes, collars, blankets, beds, food/water bowls, pet clothing), specialty pet food or treats, pet care supplies such as brushes and shampoo/conditioners. Artists in this category who alter the surface of their works by etching, engraving, or sublimating images/designs may apply, but the applied designs must be original. In addition, the artist’s hand must be present in the production of the original object as well. 

Ceramics: This category is for original functional or non-functional/decorative works created by artists from clay, porcelain, stoneware, and/or earthenware. We welcome artists whose practice may challenge the definition of functional/non-functional ceramics and whose work challenges traditional ceramic techniques. Artists working in multiples are welcome, but mass-produced work is not permitted.

Glass: Original and functional or non-functional/decorative works handcrafted by the artist using glass blowing, fusing, molding, casting, or kiln forming techniques. Artists whose works may include etched, engraved, or sublimated images may apply, but the applied designs must be original and/or the glass object must be designed and handmade by the artist. Mass-produced work and/or the use of designs not created by the artist is not permitted. If you plan to apply under this category, a complete and accurate description of your process and what parts are handmade by you will help the jury when reviewing your application.

Jewelry: Works in this category include wearable accessories that include two or more elements that are hand-crafted by the artist. These elements can include (but aren’t limited to) metal working, cutting and polishing gems/stones, glass (blown, fused, molded, casted, or kiln formed), clay, wood, fiber, etc. In this category, the jury takes into account how much of the jewelry is made by hand and how much of the jewelry is made up of commercial components. If you plan to apply under this category, a complete and accurate description of your process and what parts are handmade by you will help the jury when reviewing your application. If an artist utilizes media from another category but only creates jewelry, that work must be submitted under the Jewelry category. Commercial casts/molds, mass production, or production studio work is not permitted.

Woodworking: Original functional or non-functional work using wood that has been hand-carved, hand-tools, machined worked, or turned by the artist is eligible for this category. If the works include a significant amount of other media (made by the artist or not) in their composition, please consider entering under 3D Mixed Media.

Fiber & Textiles:This category includes both decorative and wearable fiber /textile works. All decorative works must be handcrafted by the artist from natural and/or synthetic fibers. Decorative works include basketry, embroidery, weaving, knitting, crochet, tapestry, papermaking, straw, fabric, and plastic fiber. Wearables are objects of utility, beauty, and art that are intended to be worn and include knitting, crocheting, sewing, and weaving. For wearable works, clothing and fashion designers are encouraged to apply. All fiber and textile works must be created by hand or with the assistance of a home sewing machine only. No mass or factory-produced work will be accepted.

Metalwork:Functional or non-functional work that is handcrafted from metals. Functional work under this category can be created with the purpose of being used as a tool (knives, saws, shovels, pitchforks, etc). Non-functional work crafted under this category can be created with the purpose of being a three-dimensional standalone work incorporating metal materials. All work under this category must be welded, forged, or casted by the artist. No mass or factory-produced work will be accepted. If the works include a significant amount of other media (made by the artist or not) in their composition, please consider entering under 3D Mixed Media. 

Culinary Arts: This category is for prepackaged foods intended to be sold for offsite consumption. Samples are allowed, but booths under Culinary Arts are not intended to operate as a food booth. All foods under this category must be created in a fully licensed kitchen and must come to the market pre-packaged and sealed. Works under this category must be created by the vendor with an artisanal element such as specialty flavors. Foods for sale can include fruit preserves, canned goods (sauces, pickled foods, etc), sweets, olive oils, and vinegars. If you are a vendor that creates specialty pet treats or foods, please consider submitting under this category.

Leathercraft: Functional or non-functional work that is handcrafted from leather made using coloring and/or shaping techniques by hand. For wearable works, clothing and fashion designers are encouraged to apply. It is preferred that the work be handcrafted and hand-stitched but we will also accept work created with the aid of a machine as long as it is not mass produced.

Instruments: Musical instruments that are intended for performing and/or display are eligible under this category. Works must be handcrafted and locally assembled, but can include both acoustic and electronic instruments. Examples of Instruments that can be displayed under this category are drums, wind instruments (flutes, reed instruments, brass, etc.), stringed instruments (lutes, mandolins, guitars, violins, etc), and keyboards. Emphasis is placed on the quality of workmanship and originality. No mass produced instruments are accepted.