Outdoor Artist Application - 2026

The Creative Arts Guild’s annual ARTS FEST, a festival of fine arts and crafts, will be held on the Guild’s campus at 520 West Waugh Street, Dalton, GA 30720. In addition to the Outdoor Artist Market, ARTS FEST also includes a juried ARTS FEST Gallery Exhibit, which hangs in the Guild’s galleries September 18 - October 16, children’s multicultural activities, live music and performances, food vendors, and self-guided tours of the Robert T. Webb Sculpture Garden. Admission is free and open to the public.
 
ARTS FEST weekend kicks off with our Friday evening ARTS FEST Preview Party. Guests will enjoy making purchases from the Outdoor Artist Market and the Indoor Juried Exhibit, as well as sampling tasty treats prepared by the Guild’s culinary program as well as a variety of local restaurants. (While artists are expected to be present in their booth during the party, they will receive one free ticket for a guest.) 

Founded in 1963, the Creative Arts Guild is Georgia’s oldest multi-disciplinary community arts organization. The Creative Arts Guild is located in Northwest Georgia, approximately 20 miles south of Chattanooga, TN and 70 miles north of Atlanta.

Application Fee:

Each application must include a $25 application fee, nonrefundable. 

Booth Fee (Will only be charged on :
• Spigel Pavilion Booth Fee $110
• Electricity $25 - Electricity availability is limited and will be assigned on a first come, first served basis.   

Booth/Exhibitor Information: 

The Outdoor Artist Market is located on the Guild’s Spigel Pavilion. The Spigel Pavilion is a covered, partially enclosed area with a concrete floor. The pavilion ceiling provides shelter from rain and direct sun while the “walls” of the pavilion are open, allowing air to circulate from all sides. Electricity is available for an extra $25, and must be paid for when your application is submitted.

Booth spaces are 10’ x 10’. Exhibitors are responsible for providing their own displays. Tents are optional on the pavilion, but any tents used must be EZup quality or better. All tents must be secured with weights on each tent leg; stakes may not be used. Two artists may share a booth as long as each artist submits their own application. Artists must be present with their work. If you have a specific space request, please make a note on the application. Location requests will be accommodated whenever possible, but are not guaranteed.

Check-in for Outdoor Artist Market:
Exhibitor check-in is Friday, September 18, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Any artist not arriving or calling the Guild by 4:00 P.M. to notify of a delay will be considered a no-show and the space will be reassigned. Artist and booth set up must be complete by Friday at 6:00 pm.

Night Security:

The Guild will furnish outside security Friday and Saturday nights, but exhibitors’ discretion is advised. THE CREATIVE ARTS GUILD ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE FROM ANY CAUSE. 

ARTS FEST Hours:
Friday (9/18) 7pm - 9pm, Saturday (9/19) 10:00am - 5:00pm, Sunday (9/20) 11:00am - 5:00pm. Exhibitors are required to remain open during these hours and present until 5pm on Sunday. Artists that do not abide by ARTS FEST rules or that do not remain fully open during ARTS FEST hours will not be invited to return. 

Sales:

Artists will be responsible for handling their sales and should plan to have change and other financial necessities. Artists will be responsible for collecting and reporting 7% Georgia sales tax. Forms for reporting sales tax will be provided to Outdoor Artist Market artists. The Guild does not charge commission on Outdoor Artist Market sales. 

Services to Artists:

Booth sitters will be available to relieve artists for short breaks. Creative Arts Guild volunteers provide a breakfast for artists on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Light snacks and beverages will be available throughout each day in the Artist Hospitality Area. Artists and a guest are invited to our artist/volunteer dinner at the close of ARTS FEST Saturday evening. 

Cancellations and Refunds:
Cancellations by accepted artist participants must be received in writing before 5:00 p.m. on September 1, 2026 for a refund of booth fee. Application fees are non-refundable. ARTS FEST is a rain or shine event; booth fees will not be refunded in the case of inclement weather. 

Submission Categories   

• 2D/3D Mixed Media: Wall hung or sculptural works created using a combination of two or more distinct media.

• Basketry: Functional, decorative, or sculptural work created from materials that are woven or plaited.

• Ceramics: All functional or sculptural original clay, raku, or porcelain work. Clay or porcelain jewelry should be submitted under the jewelry category.

• Digital Art/Photography: Work created using an artist’s original photographic negative or work created from an artist directing or supervising the digital imaging process. Artists must use archival quality materials and print images in a limited edition series with each image signed and numbered.  Artist must provide details about their technique and disclose their creative and printing processes.

• Drawing: Original drawings using chalk, pastels, charcoal, pencil, wax crayon, etc, or made using fluid materials such as ink or washes that are applied via pen or brush.

• Fiber/Leather: Works created from fibers and/or leather. Wall hangings, quilts, rugs, wearable items, belts, handbags, and sculptural works qualify so long as the primary material is fiber and/or leather.

• Furniture: Functional tables, chairs, screens, desks, etc. crafted from any material.

• Glass: Work that has been hand-crafted by the artist by blowing, fusing, casting, or kiln-formed. 

• Jewelry: All jewelry crafted from precious or non-precious material. Precious materials include, but are not limited to; 14k gold, sterling silver, precious stones, and enamels. Non-precious materials include, but are not limited to; glass, ceramics, paper, fiber, wood, leather, polymer clay, and semi-precious stones.

• Printmaking: Printed works by hand-manipulated plates, stones, or screens and which have been signed and numbered as a limited edition. Artist must provide details about their technique and disclose their creative and printing process.

• Metal: Functional and sculptural work where the primary material is metal. 

• Painting - Acrylic/Oil: Works created with acrylics or oil. 

• Painting - Watercolor/Gouache: Works created with watercolor or gouache. 

• Paper & Bookmaking: Functional and sculptural work created primarily from paper. 

• Sculpture: Three-dimensional artwork in any medium.

• Wood: Original works in wood that are hand-tooled, machine-worked, turned, or carved.

RULES ON ACCEPTED WORK: 

- Artists may not exhibit or sell:

      - Work not created by the artist who applied for Festival

      - Work made using commercial casts/molds, kits, or patterns.

      - Factory-produced materials, embellished or non.

      - Dried flower arrangements, decoupage, and decal crafts

      - Copyrighted designs, t-shirts, or stationary          

      - All artwork must be for sale         

      - Work must reflect the quality and craftsmanship evident in pieces                            presented in the application.

Fine art prints/reproductions will be eligible for the Outdoor Artist Market exhibit but may constitute no more than 33% of the artist’s total display. Any artwork by any mechanical means, i.e., giclees, photo-offset, or any other reproduction technique must be clearly labeled as reproduction and displayed in bins.