Click here for a PDF version of the Rules and Regulations.
Rules/Regulations
The Worthington Arts Festival considers its enforcement of the rules our exclusive right and responsibility. Committee members will visit displays throughout the event to ensure compliance with rules. The work presented for jury must be representative of the work to be shown, with appropriate inventory. Example: If a ceramics artist submits 3 original bowls and one large coffee cup to the jury, the expectation is the artist will bring and sell 75% original bowls in their booth.
No mass-production, buy and sell, or manufactured work is permitted. All work must be designed and executed by the accepted artist(s) and representative work juried into the show. Exhibiting work not juried into the show may be grounds for removal. The WAF retains the right to bar work from the show if it is deemed to be any of the above at compliance inspections.
Artists may sell reproductions of their original work in signed and numbered limited editions not exceeding 250 of a single work. Reproductions must be archival, matted, & unframed and may not exceed 24″x40″. You must provide clear details on the reproduction process. All reproductions must be clearly marked as such. Reproductions can be no more than 10% of the overall work displayed in your booth.
If you have questions regarding mass production/buy and sell and allowable reproductions, please contact Lizzie Howald at lhowald@mcconnellarts.org. The Worthington Arts Festival retains the right to determine permissible vs. non-permissible work and its eligibility to be displayed in the festival.
Any storage that detracts from the overall booth or festival appearance will be considered an infraction and can result in the artist being asked to leave. There is 1 foot of storage space available between each tent. Storage cannot interfere with another artists’ booth space or tent. Storage space will be shared amongst neighboring artists.
Artists are required to display their booth number, an Artist Statement including a photograph of the artist in booth during the Festival.
Artists may apply in multiple categories. Each medium is evaluated separately and appropriate application fees submitted. If application is in more than one category, only the booth slide may be repeated.
All artists must be present for the duration of the festival. An ID with name matching that submitted via ZAPP is required at check-in.
Artists retain 100% of their sales and are responsible for the collection and reporting of all applicable sales taxes. Ohio sale tax is 7.50% www.tax.ohio.gov.
Due to the safety of attendees and artists, the Worthington Arts Festival may be paused, cancelled or delayed due to weather deemed to be inclement. No refunds, partial refunds or application fees will be returned during those times of delay or in the event of a cancellation.
EZ-Up tents may be used only if WHITE. Any violation to this rule will result in the removal of the exhibitor. All tents need to be weighted. You must provide 40 pound+ weights per leg to secure your tent in the event of strong winds or storms. The WAF WILL inspect the weighting and security of your tent and if protocol is not properly followed, you will be removed from the festival. NO STAKES are allowed.
BOOTH INFORMATION
FEES and PRICING:
Non refundable Jury/Application fee: $50. If applying for more than one medium, a separate application fee is required. Collaborations require only one fee.
Booth fee:
10 x 10 $320
10 x 20 $420
If you are accepted into the Festival in two separate categories, you will be given one booth, unless you have specifically applied for additional space.
SET UP:
Friday, June 16, 2023 between 8:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday, June 17, 2023 between 7:00am-9:00am (limited)
The WAF does not provide dollies, hand trucks, wagons, or other moving equipment. Some WAF volunteers may be available to assist.
DUE TO RECENTLY APPROVED CONSTRUCTION BEING HELD AT THOMAS WORTHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL, THE FESTIVAL SITE WILL BE ADJUSTED TO THE WORTHINGTON VILLAGE GREEN WHICH MAY AFFECT LOAD IN PROCEDURES.
Please be conscious of other artists’ time and space. You will be required to unload belongings from your vehicle and then move it to the artist parking before returning to set up your booth.
Free parking is available in designated lots with displayed parking pass. You must notify the MAC if you are camping overnight and must have a pass displayed for camping. Due to the relocation to the Worthington Village Green, the MAC will no longer be open through the night for campers.
No electrical, dumping, or running water is available.
EZ-Up tents may be used only if WHITE. Any violation to this rule will result in the removal of the exhibitor. All tents need to be weighted. You must provide 40 pound+ weights per leg to secure your tent in the event of strong winds or storms. The WAF WILL inspect the weighting and security of your tent and if protocol is not properly followed, you will be removed from the festival. NO STAKES are allowed.
JURY DETAILS
Average number of applications submitted each year:
150
Average number of artists selected from the jury to participate in the event:
120
Average number of exempt from jury artists who are invited to participate in the event:
4
How returning artists are selected:
Selected by on-site jury
Vendors that are excluded/ineligible:
Mass production, non-fine art/fine craft, past exhibitors who have violated rules and regulations.
How images are viewed by jurors:
Computer monitor
Within a medium category, applications are sorted and viewed by:
Application ID (number generated when application is started by artist)
Jurors score applications using the following scale:
1 – 5
Number of jurors scoring applications:
4
The show organizes the jurors for a:
Single jury panel that scores applications for all medium categories
Jurors score
Separately from various locations
Am I allowed to observe the jury process?
Jury process is closed
EVENT INFORMATION
The 29th Annual Worthington Arts Festival is one of Central Ohio’s premier, community Fine Art/Fine Craft shows. The show has been ranked in sales of fine art and fine craft in the US by Art Fair Source Book, along with the top 200 shows in Sunshine Artist. The location draws approx. 15,000 visitors over the two day festival. The show also follows the weekend of the Columbus Arts Festival, allowing for reduced costs for artists that may be accepted into both shows. Advertising is targeted to the greater Columbus area, including the growing, surrounding suburbs. All artists have booth sitters available as needed and have access to free water throughout the show.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Celebrating its 29th year, the Worthington Arts Festival is in the sixth year of production and coordination by the Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center, a dynamic professional community arts center serving more than 85,000 visitors annually.
There will be the opportunity for a limited number of artists invited to participate in a preview patron party, the evening of Friday, June 16th.
Set Up/Registration:Friday, June 16, 2023 between 8:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday, June 17, 2022 between 7:00am – 9:00am (limited to special circumstances)
Show Hours:
Saturday, June 17, 2023 9:00am – 5:00pm (soft open at 8:00 AM)
Sunday, June 18, 2023 11:00am – 5:00 pm
ELIGIBILITY
We seek to maintain the highest standards for both artists and the viewing public. Participation is open to artists in all Fine Art and Fine Craft mediums.
Exhibitor must provide the jury with four images and one booth photo representative of their work.
The photos submitted must not have a name on them, as the jury is a blind jury. The booth photo must show the entire booth, Photoshop imagery of your booth will not be accepted.
Artists wishing to exhibit work produced in more than one category must submit an application, images and application fee for each category. Only one booth fee is paid. Jewelry, for example, cannot be exhibited with another medium without being accepted through the jury process in the jewelry category.
MEDIA CATEGORIES
Ceramics: Original clay and porcelain work excluding jewelry. If multiple pieces of the same design are displayed, there must be a signature on each piece. Machine-made and mass-produced work is not permitted.
Digital Art: Original work for which the original image, or the manipulation of other source material was executed by the artist. Work must be mounted or printed on archival quality material and be properly signed as a limited edition. Artist must disclose their printing process during the Festival.
Drawing and Pastels: Original work created using dry media including chalk, charcoal, pastels, pencil, wax, crayon, etc. or from the fluid medium of inks and washes applied by pen or brush.
Fiber: All work crafted from fibers, including basketry, embroidery, weaving, tapestry and papermaking. No factory produced items, regardless of modifications, may be exhibited. Please note: clothing should be submitted under “Wearable Art.”
Glass: All handmade works that are functional or decorative by design and are kiln-formed or have been crafted by blowing, molding, or casting. Works may be etched or engraved. No forms of mass production are permitted.
Jewelry: All jewelry produced from metal, glass, clay, fiber, paper, plastic, or other materials must be entered in this category. No commercial casts, molds or production studio worked is allowed. Limited use of per-made material such as beads or small ornamental items is permitted.
Leatherwork: The primary material is leather including belts, handbags, wearables and sculptural work. All factory-produced items regardless of additional modification or embellishments by the artist are not acceptable.
Metalwork: Includes all non-jewelry works crafted from metals.
Mixed Media: This category includes works, both 2D and 3D, which incorporate more than one type of physical material to produce. This includes work only.
Painting: Works created in oils, acrylics, watercolor.
Photography: The camera is the primary source of the imagery, that culminates with a 2-dimensional print. This includes traditional film photography that has not been manipulated beyond the traditional darkroom. Pieces must be signed, numbered and dated in limited editions of no more than 250. Prints must have been processed by the artist. Descriptions of surfaces and processes must be disclosed.
Printmaking & Graphics: Printed works for which the artist hand-manipulated the plates, stones, or screens. Prints must be signed and numbered as limited editions. Processes are required to be disclosed.
Sculpture: Three-dimensional original work created in any medium.
Wearable Art: Handmade hats, belts, clothing of any kind apply in this category. All designs and creations must be cut and assembled by the artist. Labels must disclose the artist name.
Wood: Original works in wood that are hand-tooled, machine-worked, turned or carved.
Other: Should be used for mediums that do not fit into the above categories. Artists in this category must provide a detailed description of their process and materials.
2023 CALENDAR (subject to change):
November 5, 2022 Artist application available on www.ZAPPlication.org
February 5, 2023 Online application due by midnight (EST)
February 7, 2023 Jury selection begins (subject to change)
March 15, 2023 Notification emailed to accepted, waitlisted and not invited artists
May 1, 2023 Full payment and acceptance due through Zapplication.org
May 1, 2023 Deadline to cancel and receive booth refund (less $25 admin. fee)
June 16-17, 2023 Artist set-up
June 17-18, 2023 29th Annual Worthington Arts Festival
COLLABORATING ARTISTS:
All artists must be present to exhibit all days of the festival. This includes collaborating artists. If artists apply as collaborating artists, each artist must be present. If each artist is not present, artists will not be permitted to set-up or exhibit. Collaborating artists may only show their joint work. Both names must appear on all application materials.
ZAPP
If you are submitting an application as a collaborating artist/partner, you must submit the name(s) with the application. Here is how to submit your Zapplication as a collaborating artist:
• Go to “my Profile: on ZAPP
• Enter one of the two collaborating artists as the primary contact in the profile form (this name will always appear first in the publications and online if accepted).
• After completing the information requested, enter the collaborating artist’s name(s) in the section at the bottom of the profile page.
• This information is carried over to the application for purposes of identifying a collaborative effort.
• You may not add a partner after the jury.
AWARDS:
$1,000 best in show, $500 & $250 merit awards. Award winners are accepted into the following years show without having to participate in the jury process. Jurors will review all work prior to festival, in addition to reviewing on site. You may, or may not, have the chance to speak with jurors onsite.
Total Applications accepted: 300
Total Invitations: 120
CONTACT INFORMATION:
McConnell Arts Center of Worthington
777 Evening Street
Worthington, OH 43085
arts@mcconnellarts.org
614-431-0329