Chalk Art Festival Artist Registration

Palmetto Downtown Main Street (PDMS) invites professional street and chalk artists to apply for the 2027 Palmetto Chalk Art Festival, taking place Saturday and Sunday, January 23–24, in historic downtown Palmetto, Florida.

Following the success of our inaugural festival, PDMS is expanding the professional artist program for 2027. Approximately 15–25 professional artists will be selected to transform downtown pavement into vibrant works of temporary public art.

The Palmetto Chalk Art Festival brings together artists, residents, visitors, local businesses, live entertainment, food, vendors, and family activities for a two-day celebration of art, creativity, community, and downtown Palmetto.

There is no fee to apply as a professional chalk artist.

These Professional Artist Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) establish the requirements for professional artists applying to and participating in the 2027 Palmetto Chalk Art Festival, presented by Palmetto Downtown Main Street, Inc. (“PDMS”).

1. APPLICATION & ELIGIBILITY
Applications are open to professional and experienced chalk and street artists.

Each artist must submit an individual application by the published deadline of Friday, December 4 , 2026.

Applicants must provide complete and accurate information, including requested portfolio samples and professional experience. Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance into the festival.

There is no fee to apply.

2. ARTIST SELECTION
Applications will be reviewed by the PDMS Festival Artist Selection Committee.

PDMS anticipates selecting approximately 15–25 professional artists for the 2027 festival. The number of participating artists may be adjusted based on available space, funding, festival logistics, or other operational considerations. Selection may be based on artistic quality, experience, creativity, professionalism, previous chalk or street-art work, festival experience, and overall fit with the event.

All selection decisions are final.

3. ACCEPTANCE & PARTICIPATION
Artists selected for the festival will receive an official acceptance notification from PDMS. If an emergency or other circumstance prevents participation, the artist must notify PDMS as soon as reasonably possible. Artist participation may not be transferred, assigned, or given to another artist without prior written approval from PDMS.

4. FESTIVAL DATES & ATTENDANCE
The Palmetto Chalk Art Festival will take place Saturday and Sunday, January 23–24, 2027, in historic downtown Palmetto, Florida. Participating artists are expected to comply with festival check-in, working, completion, and other scheduling requirements. Specific arrival times, parking information, check-in procedures, artist schedules, and festival-day logistics will be provided in the official Artist Email Packet.

5. ARTWORK SPACE
Available professional artist spaces include:

4' × 8'
8' × 8'
10' × 10'

Artists may indicate a preferred size during the application process; however, preferred sizes are not guaranteed. PDMS will make final space assignments based on site conditions, artist needs, available space, festival layout, safety considerations, and operational requirements. Artists may create artwork only within their assigned area unless PDMS provides prior authorization otherwise.

6. ARTIST MATERIALS
Artists are responsible for providing their own chalk, pastels, blending materials, tools, protective equipment, and other materials necessary to complete their artwork unless otherwise communicated by PDMS. Artists must comply with any material restrictions established by PDMS, the City of Palmetto, property owners, or other applicable authorities. Materials that may permanently stain, damage, alter, or deface the pavement or surrounding property are prohibited unless specifically authorized in writing.

7. ARTWORK CONCEPT SUBMISSION & APPROVAL
Each accepted artist must submit a minimum of two proposed artwork concepts for review by PDMS. PDMS will approve one concept or request reasonable revisions before the festival. Artists should not assume that a submitted concept has been approved until written approval has been received from PDMS.

The artwork created during the festival must substantially reflect the approved concept. Significant changes to an approved concept require prior approval from PDMS. PDMS reserves final approval authority over all artwork presented at the festival.

8. FAMILY-FRIENDLY ARTWORK POLICY
The Palmetto Chalk Art Festival is a public, family-oriented community event.

All artwork must be appropriate for viewing by individuals of all ages. The festival does not permit artwork containing nudity, profanity, sexually explicit content, explicit imagery, graphic violence, discriminatory or hateful imagery, partisan political statements, or other content PDMS determines is inappropriate for a public family event. PDMS reserves the right to reject a proposed concept or require reasonable modifications when necessary to maintain the family-friendly nature and standards of the festival. Artwork that materially differs from an approved concept or violates these Terms may be stopped, covered, removed, or otherwise addressed by PDMS.

9. ORIGINAL WORK & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Artists are responsible for ensuring that their submitted concepts and completed artwork do not knowingly violate the copyrights, trademarks, publicity rights, or other intellectual-property rights of another person or organization. Artists retain ownership of their original artistic work. Participation in the festival does not transfer ownership of an artist's original artwork to PDMS. Artists are responsible for obtaining any permissions necessary for copyrighted or otherwise protected imagery incorporated into their work.

10. PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEO & PROMOTIONAL USE
By participating in the festival, artists acknowledge that the event will be photographed, filmed, recorded, and otherwise documented. Participating artists grant PDMS permission to photograph, film, and record the artist, the artist's creative process, and the artwork produced during the festival. Artists grant PDMS a non-exclusive, royalty-free right to use such photographs, video recordings, and other festival documentation for purposes including: festival promotion; PDMS marketing and communications; social media; websites; print materials; media and public relations; grant and sponsorship reporting; historical and archival documentation; and promotion of future PDMS programs and events. This permission does not transfer ownership of the artist's underlying original artwork to PDMS.

11. ARTIST STIPEND
Selected professional artists will receive a participation stipend as specified in their individual Artist Agreement or acceptance materials. Payment may be contingent upon the artist satisfying the participation requirements established by PDMS, including attendance, completion of required paperwork, and substantial fulfillment of festival responsibilities. Artists are responsible for providing any tax or payment documentation reasonably required by PDMS. Artists are responsible for their own federal, state, or other applicable tax obligations associated with payments received from PDMS.

12. MEALS
PDMS will provide designated meals to participating professional artists during the festival. Specific meal schedules and arrangements will be communicated in the Artist Email Packet. Artists with dietary restrictions should notify PDMS in advance. PDMS will make reasonable efforts to accommodate dietary needs but cannot guarantee that every dietary restriction can be accommodated.

13. WEATHER
The 2027 Palmetto Chalk Art Festival is a rain-or-shine event. Artists acknowledge that chalk and street artwork is inherently susceptible to weather, moisture, pedestrian activity, and other outdoor conditions. PDMS cannot guarantee weather conditions or the preservation of completed artwork. PDMS may modify schedules, artist working periods, layouts, activities, or other festival operations when reasonably necessary because of weather or safety conditions. In the event conditions create a significant safety concern, PDMS or applicable public authorities may delay, suspend, modify, relocate, or cancel portions of the festival. Any effect that weather-related cancellation or interruption may have on an artist stipend will be governed by the individual Artist Agreement.

14. PEOPLE'S CHOICE & FESTIVAL AWARDS
Participating artists may be included in the festival's People's Choice Award and any other artist recognition programs announced by PDMS. PDMS will establish voting procedures, eligibility requirements, deadlines, and award determinations. Artists agree to respect the integrity of the voting process and may not engage in fraudulent, deceptive, or manipulative voting practices.

15. PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
Artists are expected to conduct themselves professionally and respectfully toward fellow artists, volunteers, sponsors, vendors, festival attendees, PDMS representatives, City personnel, and members of the public. Harassment, threatening behavior, intentional property damage, substantial disruption of festival operations, or other conduct that jeopardizes the safety or experience of others may result in removal from the festival.

16. SAFETY & PROPERTY
Artists are responsible for maintaining a reasonably safe and orderly work area.

Walkways, emergency access areas, neighboring artist spaces, entrances, and other designated areas must remain clear. Artists must follow reasonable safety instructions issued by PDMS, festival staff, law enforcement, fire/rescue personnel, City officials, or other authorized personnel. Artists are responsible for damage they intentionally or negligently cause to property, equipment, or facilities beyond the normal temporary effects of approved chalk artwork.

17. PERSONAL PROPERTY
Artists are responsible for their own artwork supplies, equipment, personal belongings, and other property brought to the festival. To the extent permitted by law, PDMS is not responsible for lost, stolen, misplaced, weather-damaged, or unattended personal property. Artists are encouraged to appropriately secure and supervise their belongings.

18. ASSUMPTION OF RISK & LIABILITY
Participation in an outdoor public art festival involves ordinary risks associated with outdoor conditions, pedestrian activity, pavement surfaces, weather, art materials, equipment, and interaction with the public. By participating, artists acknowledge and voluntarily accept the ordinary risks reasonably associated with their participation.

To the extent permitted by Florida law, artists agree that PDMS and its officers, directors, employees, volunteers, agents, sponsors, and event partners will not be responsible for injury, loss, or damage resulting solely from risks inherent in the artist's voluntary participation, except to the extent caused by the negligence or wrongful conduct of a party that cannot lawfully be waived. Nothing in these Terms is intended to waive rights or responsibilities that cannot legally be waived.

19. WITHDRAWAL & CANCELLATION
If an accepted artist is unable to participate, the artist must notify PDMS promptly.

Repeated failure to communicate, failure to submit required materials, failure to meet established deadlines, or withdrawal without reasonable notice may be considered by PDMS when evaluating the artist for future festivals. PDMS reserves the right to cancel or modify the festival because of severe weather, emergency conditions, governmental requirements, public-safety concerns, or circumstances beyond PDMS's reasonable control. Any stipend implications associated with cancellation will be addressed by the individual Artist Agreement.

20. REMOVAL OR DISQUALIFICATION
PDMS reserves the right to remove or disqualify an artist for substantial violation of these Terms, including but not limited to: failure to follow artwork guidelines; creation of unapproved or prohibited content; material misrepresentation in an application; unsafe conduct; serious or repeated unprofessional behavior; intentional damage to property; fraudulent award voting; or failure to comply with reasonable festival instructions. When reasonably possible, PDMS will attempt to address correctable issues with the artist before removal or disqualification

21. FESTIVAL CHANGES
PDMS reserves the right to make reasonable changes to festival schedules, layouts, space assignments, programming, operational procedures, and other logistical details when necessary for safety, weather, attendance, government requirements, site conditions, or effective event management. PDMS will make reasonable efforts to communicate material changes to participating artists.

22. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
By submitting an application for the 2027 Palmetto Chalk Art Festival, the applicant acknowledges that they:

• Have read and understand these Professional Artist Terms & Conditions;
• Understand that submitting an application does not guarantee selection;
• Agree to comply with festival artwork and conduct standards if selected;
• Understand that a minimum of two proposed artwork concepts will be required if accepted;
• Understand that artists provide their own art materials unless otherwise stated;
• Understand that the festival is rain or shine;
• Understand that additional artist-specific requirements will be contained in the
• Artist Agreement and Artist Packet; and
• Agree that electronic acceptance through the festival's application system may serve as acknowledgment of these Terms.