Peace River National Art Festival March 16, 17, 2024

Deadline for this event is January 15, 2023

ALL artists must be register before applying. If you have not registered for an event, click "HOW TO APPLY" above. It is very simple and user friendly. 

Registered users click "APPLY ARTISTS" above. If you would like to be on our email list to receive notifications when applications are available click "subscribe" on this page.

Charlotte County’s premier outdoor juried fine arts show, the 14th annual Peace River National Art Festival returns to Laishley Park, Punta Gorda, from 9:30am-4:30pm.

The event is sponsored by the Visual Arts Center, the community’s nonprofit cultural facility. Food, beer and wine are available.

The show is limited to 80 artists and we work very hard to limit repetition in art works. The festival attracts thousands of visitors. The festival is run for the benefit of the Visual Arts Center of Punta Gorda. Charlotte County, Florida and the City of Punta Gorda have been instrumental in making this event a treasured community event.

This is a solid successful event. Friday set-up where you can drive up to booth. Parking is close and the location is beautiful. 

Important Dates

Application Deadline January 15

Friday Set-up All Day In Park 10AM
Show Times 9:00am-4:00pm Saturday and Sunday

For Requirements, Fees, Image Preparation, Category Requirements, and rules click read more below and this page will expand.

REQUIREMENTS:

Images: 3 Images of Artwork Only.

Application Fee : $35

Booth Fee $415

Application Process

Applications will be reviewed by show staff and selected outside individuals. Some acceptances may be made prior to the jury system.

There are 80 available spaces.

SHOW INFORMATION

Display
Spaces are approximately 12’ x 12’ with additional storage behind you display. You will be allowed to drive up to your space to unload. Double spaces are available. Display surface is turf, you must use weights, driving spikes into the turf is allowed. Limited electricity is available. All spaces are handicapped accessible. Exhibitors should make arrangements for wind or rain, as this is an open-air venue. The Festival will go on rain or shine.

Attendance
We anticipate visitors, with middle to high income, consisting not only of existing collectors, but also museum and gallery goers interested in original, affordable, high quality fine art and fine craft.

Marketing Strategy
Our goal is to reach local and regional art buyers and enthusiasts through:

# Local Newspaper Advertising - newspapers, regional consumer & trade magazines/publications in and around surrounding areas
# Radio ads
#Hired Marketing firm to place listings in all calendar sections. Press releases and articles in local newspapers.

# Festival website and on line event listings

ARTIST INFORMATION

Standard Art Festival Application jpeg images will be used for the online application.

Booth Assignments

There is a space on your application for booth requests. We will make every effort to accommodate your requests, corner booths can not be assured. Corner spaces and electricity may be requested, but are assigned solely on the basis of availability and at the discretion of the Festival. All booths and their contents must be furnished by the artist, be able to withstand crowds and weather, and fit within an assigned space. Any exhibitor not adhering to display regulations or selling anything other than original art will be asked to leave.

Set-Up & Break-down
Check-in will begin on Friday, at 10am. Artists who do not check in prior to 8PM Friday must contact the festival director to declare their arrival and set up time. All artists must be up and running at 9:00 AM Saturday. Artist parking is adjacent to display areas. There is no charge for parking.

Exhibitors may begin to break down their displays at the close of the show, Sunday at 4:30pm. Break down must be completed by 9:00pm. All ZIP TIES must be removed from premises.

Spaces are handicapped accessible. Artists may drive up to booth location or at least very near. You have to dolly up to 10 yards to display space. Artists must provide own dolly. Photo ID is required at check-in.

ARTIST REGULATIONS

Exhibiting artists must be 18 years or older and must be present during all show hours. Agents or representatives of the artist do not replace the requirement of the artist to be present during show hours. Assistants are welcome, but not in place of the artist. Any artist leaving prior to the end of the show will be unable to exhibit in any other boulderbrook productions event. Booth sitters may not be available for this event.

All work shown must be original work by the artists hand. Work made from commercial molds, kits, patterns or copyrighted designs not owned by the crafts person are not permitted. Any commercially made embellishments must be subordinate to the handcrafted work. All work must be for sale. Reproductions (including Giclees) are allowed in browse bins only. Reproduction policy available upon request. No t-shirts, posters, calendars, cards/postcards, or any other personal merchandise that is a mass reproduction of an original piece of artwork will be permitted in artist’s booths.

Sales

The exhibitor must handle all sales and all proceeds go to the artists. Artists are required by law to pay local sales tax. All artist information will be supplied to the Florida Department of Revenue.

Security
24-hour Police security is provided throughout the Festival beginning on Friday at 2:00pm. All exhibitors work at their own risk. It is understood that the Festival does not carry insurance to cover personal property of any exhibitor. Exhibitors are considered to be independent contractors, and it is suggested that exhibitors obtain their own insurance.

On-Site Artist Amenities
Hospitalities may include continental breakfast on Saturday and a light lunch on Sunday in addition to discounted hotel rates. Close on site parking. Adopt-an-artist program. Patron Purchasing Awards. This is the easiest load in and breakdown of any show you will ever do.

Media Categories

Ceramics: Functional and sculptural work where the primary material is clay. All original clay and porcelain work other than jewelry is accepted in this category. No machine-made or mass produced work is permitted. If multiple pieces of the same design are displayed each piece must be signed.

Digital Art: This category includes any original work for which the original image, or the manipulation of other source material, was executed by the artist using a computer. Work in this category should be of archival quality.

Drawing/ Graphics/ Pastels: Works created using dry media including chalk, charcoal, pencil, wax crayon, etc. or from the fluid medium of inks and washes oil sticks or pastels. Printed works for which the artist’s hand manipulated the plates, stones or screens and which have been properly signed and numbered as a limited edition may be entered in this category. All photogravure, photocopy and/or offset reproductions, will be rejected. Printmakers are required to disclose both their creative and printmaking processes.

Fiber Decorative: A Mixed Bag of functional,decorative, and wearable art. Artists will be selected in all segments of this category and although the category is combined jurying will be separated according to slide images. Wall hangings, quilts, rugs, etc., where the primary material is fiber. Leather, wearable art, batique. Should you have any questions regarding this category contact the festival director.

Furniture: Should be included as mixed Media 3D, Sculpture, or Woodcraft accordingly. Furniture is a unique category and applicants will get direct attention, however, there are few applicants in this category so it is grouped within others. If you have any questions regarding your category contact the festival director.

Glass: Functional and sculptural work where the primary material is glass.

Jewelry: Work primarily made from materials including 14K gold, sterling silver and the use of precious stones and enamels. No commercial casts, molds or production studio work is allowed.
Work primarily made from precious and or non-precious metals and other materials such as glass, ceramics, paper, fiber, wood, leather, polymer clay, semi-precious stones, etc. No commercial casts, molds or production studio work is allowed.

Metal: Functional and sculptural work where the primary material is metal. Includes all non-sculptural, non-jewelry works crafted from metals. No production studio work is allowed. Some metal may be categorized as sculpture, you choose the category you feel best fits your application of material.

Mixed Media

3-D Mixed Media: Work that is three-dimensional and the primary intention of the work is the union of two or more media. Soft sculptures are included in this category.

2-D Mixed Media: Work that is two-dimensional and the primary intention of the work is the union of two or more media. Make note on your application as to 2D or 3D.

Oil Painting / Acrylic Painting: Works created with acrylics. Works created with oils.

Watercolor/Gouache Painting: Works created with watercolors and/or gouache.

Sculpture: Traditional Sculpture

Photography: Photographic prints made from the artist’s original negative or digital image processing, and which have been processed by that artist, or under his or her direct supervision, are included in this category. Photographers are required to disclose both their creative and printing processes.

Wood: Functional and sculptural work where the primary material is wood. Original works must be hand-tooled.