Artists' Market - Emerging Artist Program

Artscape is now accepting applications for the Emerging Artist Program at the 2027 Artists' Market, a juried marketplace featuring original artwork and handmade goods by professional artists and makers from Baltimore and the surrounding region. We are seeking a diverse range of artists whose work demonstrates strong artistic vision, craftsmanship, originality, and professional presentation.

Artists must create or substantially produce the work they sell. The work submitted with the application should accurately represent the work that will be offered for sale at the festival.

Reproductions — including giclée prints, photographic reproductions, and other commercially produced versions of original artwork — are permitted when clearly identified as reproductions.

Festival Dates: May 29–30, 2027
Artists' Market Hours:

Saturday: 11:00 AM–9:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM–9:00 PM

Application Fee
A $10 non-refundable application fee is required for each application. Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance.

By submitting an application, the applicant acknowledges and agrees to the Artists' Market terms, conditions, policies, and guidelines.

EMERGING ARTIST ELIGIBILITY

A limited number of emerging artists will be selected to participate in the Artists' Market with their 10' x 10' booth fee waived.

The Emerging Artists Program is intended for artists who are establishing a professional creative practice and have limited experience exhibiting or selling their work at juried festivals or markets.

To be considered, applicants must:

• Be a first-time Artscape Artists' Market exhibitor
• Have maintained a professional artistic practice for less than two years
• Live and/or work in Baltimore City
• Be at least 18 years old
• Be legally authorized to work in the United States
• Meet all other Artists' Market eligibility requirements

Emerging Artist applicants are evaluated through the same application and jury process as other applicants. Selection for the Emerging Artists Program is limited and is not guaranteed.

MARKET ELIGIBILITY & ORIGINALITY
The Artists' Market is intended for artists and makers who create original work and maintain an identifiable artistic practice. To participate:

• Artists must create or substantially produce the work they sell.
• Submitted images must accurately represent the work intended for sale.
• Artists may sell reproductions of their original work when those reproductions are clearly identified.
• Commercially manufactured merchandise may not be presented as original artist-made work.
• Artists working with assistants, fabricators, printers, or other production partners must disclose those relationships when requested.
• Collaborative work is eligible when the artistic collaboration is clearly identified in the application.
  Artists may be asked to provide additional information about their materials, production methods, or studio practice.

AI-generated work: Artscape welcomes artists using technology as part of their creative practice. Work that is wholly AI-generated without meaningful human authorship, artistic direction, or transformation is not eligible. Artscape reserves the right to request additional information about an applicant's process when necessary to determine eligibility.

PROHIBITED WORK & MERCHANDISE
The following are not permitted in the Artists' Market:

• Buy-sell merchandise
• Mass-produced or commercially manufactured merchandise presented as artist-made work
• Products made primarily from commercial molds, kits, or patterns without substantial original artistic transformation
• Counterfeit or unauthorized reproductions of copyrighted or trademarked material
• Weapons, including knives, swords, and similar items
• Any item prohibited by applicable law or festival policy
• Work that does not substantially correspond to the work represented in the application
• Multiple-employee studios or businesses primarily engaged in commercial production rather than an individual or identifiable artistic practice are not eligible.

Artscape reserves the right to determine whether an applicant's work meets the eligibility requirements.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants should be prepared to submit:

• Completed application
• $10 non-refundable application fee
• Description and images of the work proposed for sale
• Brief artist statement
• Current website and/or social media information, if available
• Requested category and product information
• Applicants should submit high-quality, recent images that accurately represent their current work.

Images should show a cohesive body of work rather than unrelated examples.

Applicants may also be asked to provide an image or description of a previous market or exhibition setup. While a professional booth is not required for emerging artists or first-time vendors, applicants should demonstrate that they can present their work safely, professionally, and effectively in a 10' x 10' outdoor space.

QUESTIONS

If you have questions about the Artists' Market application, contact Barbara Hauck at bhauck@promotionandarts.org. 

BOOTH FEES

All Emerging Artists' Market booths are 10' x 10' front-facing booths. The booth fee is waived for selected Emerging Artists. Booth placement is determined by the festival and is not guaranteed based on application order. 

Each booth includes:

• One festival-provided 10' x 10' tent with sidewalls
• Festival-provided booth identification/signage
• Access to electricity
• Overnight roaming security
• Artist listing on the Artscape website
• Inclusion in select Artscape promotional efforts, which may include social media, press materials, artist features, and other festival communications

Artists are responsible for supplying their own display fixtures, tables, chairs, shelving, merchandise displays, extension cords/power strips, tent lighting, payment-processing equipment, and other booth furnishings or equipment.

Pop-up tents, tent extensions, additional structures, or expansion beyond the assigned 10' x 10' footprint are not permitted.

ELIGIBLE CATEGORIES
Applicants must select the category that most accurately represents the work they intend to sell at Artscape. All work must be original, artist-produced, and of professional quality.

PRINTS & DRAWINGS

• Original works created using pen, pencil, colored pencil, charcoal, or traditional printmaking techniques, including etching, engraving, lithography, serigraphy, and woodcut.
• Combination techniques and collage are also eligible.
• Original prints should be signed and numbered where applicable. Reproductions — including giclée, photo-offset, and other mechanically or digitally produced reproductions — must be clearly identified as “Reproduction.”

MIXED MEDIA

• Artwork incorporating two or more distinct media or physical materials.
• Work should demonstrate a meaningful combination of media; simply incorporating different materials in framing or presentation does not qualify as mixed media.

PAINTING

• Original artwork created using oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, gouache, or similar materials on canvas, paper, board, or other appropriate surfaces.
• Combination techniques and collage are eligible.
• Reproductions of paintings, including giclée and other mechanically or digitally produced reproductions, must be clearly identified as “Reproduction.”

SCULPTURE

• Three-dimensional original artwork created using materials such as wood, metal, stone, glass, clay, fiber, or other materials.
• Eligible work may be functional or non-functional and may include carving, modeling, casting, assembling, fabrication, or other artistic processes.
• Artists are responsible for ensuring that all displayed sculpture is safely and securely installed within their assigned booth.

CRAFT & JEWELRY

• Original decorative or functional work emphasizing craftsmanship and the artist's skill in creating objects.
• Eligible media may include ceramics, fiber, leather, basketry, glass, handmade paper, wood, metal, and related craft disciplines.
• Jewelry may incorporate precious or non-precious metals, gemstones, enamel, glass, fiber, clay, and other materials.
• All work must be designed and made by the artist or an eligible artistic collaboration.
• Buy-sell merchandise, commercially manufactured products, kits, hobby crafts, and mass-produced items are not eligible.

WEARABLE ART

• Original apparel and wearable objects created by the artist using textiles, fiber, leather, weaving, or other artistic materials and processes.
• All designs must be created by the artist. Garments and other wearable pieces must be made by the artist or through a disclosed and eligible production collaboration.
• Commercially manufactured or mass-produced merchandise is not eligible.

LITERARY ARTS

• Original literary and sequential-art works created by the applicant, including novels, short stories, poetry and prose collections, handmade books, graphic novels, comics, and related publications.

PHOTOGRAPHY & DIGITAL ARTS

• Original photographic or digital artwork created by the applicant.
• Eligible work may include photography produced using film or digital cameras, darkroom processes, inkjet printing, digital processes, or other artist-driven methods.
• Digital and photographic reproductions are permitted but must be clearly identified as “Reproduction” where applicable.
• Commercial photography services and stock or commercially licensed imagery are not eligible.

OTHER

• Select this category only if your work does not reasonably fit within the categories above.
• Applicants selecting “Other” must provide a detailed description of their work and may be asked to provide additional images or information for review.

BOOTH & DISPLAY GUIDELINES
Booth Footprint

• Each artist will receive one 10' x 10' booth.
• All displays, merchandise, furniture, signage, storage, and equipment must remain within the assigned footprint.
• Artists may not expand into aisles, neighboring booths, walkways, or other festival space.

Tents

• Artscape will provide the festival tent and sidewalls.
• Artists may not bring their own pop-up tent or substitute their own tent for the festival-provided structure.

Displays

• Artists are responsible for creating their own displays within the provided footprint.
• Displays should:
  • Safely support and secure artwork and merchandise
  • Remain stable in outdoor conditions
  • Maintain clear customer access
  • Keep all merchandise and equipment within the booth footprint
  • Present work in a professional and visually organized manner
  • Comply with all applicable fire, safety, accessibility, and festival requirements
• No display, structure, signage, or merchandise may obstruct neighboring booths or public walkways.

Electricity

• Electricity is available within the booth. Artists are responsible for providing appropriate extension cords, power strips, adapters, and other equipment needed to connect their displays.
• All electrical equipment must be in good working condition and safely secured.

Booth Staffing

• Artists or an authorized representative must staff the booth during all Artists' Market operating hours.
• Artists are responsible for managing their own sales, payment processing, inventory, customer service, and security of merchandise.
   

SALES & BUSINESS RESPONSIBILITIES
Artists are responsible for:

• Setting their own prices
• Processing customer payments
• Maintaining sufficient inventory
• Collecting and remitting any applicable sales tax
• Complying with applicable business, tax, licensing, and legal requirements
• Providing receipts when appropriate
• Handling customer returns or exchanges according to their own posted policies and applicable law

Artscape does not process sales on behalf of individual artists and does not take a commission on Artists' Market sales unless otherwise stated in the exhibitor agreement.

INSURANCE & LIABILITY

• Business liability insurance is not required but is strongly encouraged.
• Artists participate at their own risk and are responsible for their merchandise, equipment, artwork, and personal property.
• Artscape and its partners are not responsible for loss, theft, damage, or injury arising from an artist's participation except to the extent required by law.
• Artists are responsible for ensuring that their displays and activities do not create hazards for festival attendees, staff, volunteers, or other vendors.
• Overnight roaming security will be provided; however, Artscape does not guarantee the security of individual artists' merchandise, equipment, or personal property.
• Artists should take appropriate precautions and should not leave cash, valuable merchandise, or other unsecured property in their booth overnight.
   

APPLICATION APPROVAL & PARTICIPATION

• All applications are subject to review and approval.
• Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance.
• Previous participation in Artscape does not guarantee acceptance.
• Accepted artists must complete all required participation agreements and payments by the deadlines established by Artscape.
• Selected artists may be required to attend a virtual or in-person orientation before the festival.
• Artscape reserves the right to deny or revoke participation if an artist's work, display, conduct, or business practices are found to be inconsistent with the application or festival policies.
• Acceptance applies only to the artist and work represented in the application. Artists may not transfer their booth or participation to another artist without prior written approval from Artscape.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Artists and their representatives are expected to conduct themselves professionally and respectfully toward festival attendees, fellow artists, staff, volunteers, and partners.

Harassment, discrimination, threats, disruptive conduct, unsafe behavior, or significant violations of festival policies may result in removal from the festival without refund and may affect eligibility for future participation.

JURY CRITERIA
Applications will be reviewed by Artscape organizers and/or a designated jury. Acceptance is not determined solely by artistic merit. The festival may make selections in consideration of the overall composition and visitor experience of the marketplace. Selection will consider the following:

Artistic Quality

• Originality and strength of artistic vision
• Distinctiveness of the artist's body of work
• Consistency and quality across submitted images

Craftsmanship

• Technical skill and command of materials
• Attention to detail
• Quality of construction, finish, and presentation

Professional Presentation

• Quality and consistency of the artist's visual presentation
• Evidence that the artist can create an organized, professional, and inviting market display
• Cohesion between the artist's work, branding, and presentation

Market Suitability

• Appropriateness of the work for an outdoor festival marketplace
• Variety and range of products appropriate for direct-to-consumer sales
• Contribution to a diverse and balanced Artists' Market

Authenticity & Policy Compliance

• Evidence that the artist creates or substantially produces the work
• Accuracy and completeness of application materials
• Compliance with Artscape's eligibility requirements and policies
   

APPLICATION TIMELINE
Application Opens: October 1, 2026
Application Deadline: January 15, 2027, at 5:00 PM
Application Notifications: February 26, 2027