Westsylvania ArtsFest Call for Vendors and Open Arts Exhibition (Due Apr. 20/May 11)
Westsylvania ArtsFest Call for Vendors and Open Arts Exhibition
Call for Vendor Deadline: April 20th, 2026
Open Arts Exhibition Deadline: May 11th, 2026
The Indiana Arts Council is proud to announce the return of the Westsylvania Arts Festival. After a successful inaugural year, the festival has plans to return on May 23, 2026 running in conjunction with the Westsylvania Jazz and Blues Festival.
The Indiana Arts Council is proud to produce the 2nd Annual Westsylvania Arts Festival on Memorial Day Weekend from 11am to 6pm. It will be held with the Delaney Chevrolet Westsylvania Jazz & Blues Festival on the main street of historic Indiana, PA. The Delaney Chevrolet Westsylvania Jazz & Blues Festival is a well-established music festival that attracts at least 1,500 people to Downtown Indiana. ArtsFest includes three components: the art vendors street market (next to the music festival), an art demo and hands on experience zone, and an open arts exhibition.
The Indiana Arts Council and the Indiana County Tourist Bureau advertise and promote this "first weekend of summer" festival through various media including print, radio, and social media in regional cities including Johnstown, Altoona and Pittsburgh, all within an hour's drive.
Forty-five booth spaces are available. Vendors are also invited to apply to the Westsylvania Open Arts Exhibit. Open Arts is a juried exhibit in local galleries with awards including purchase prizes.
Vendor
Important Dates:
Application Opens: January 16, 2026
Application Deadline: April 11, 2026
Jury Process: February 2, 2025 – April 24, 2026
Jury Notification Results: Rolling deadline within three weeks of application
Accept Invitation & Purchase Deadline: May 1, 2026
Cancellation Deadline: May 11, 2026
FESTIVAL!: May 23, 2026 11:00am-6:00pm
Jury Process:
Selection will be determined by the professional quality of the work and its presentation. Work will be juried by representatives of the entities organizing the festival: The Indiana Arts Council, The Artists Hand Gallery, The Westsylvania Jazz & Blues Festival, and Downtown Indiana, Inc.
Waitlist:
45 booths spaces are available, and will be offered on a rolling basis after jurying. Once all booth spaces are purchased, applicants will be placed on a wait list.
Application Requirements:
All artists must submit a total of four images of their work and one booth shot.
Artist Awards:
Artists participating in the associated Open Arts Exhibition will be eligible for awards. Until the Exhibition link is live, please indicate interest to IAC.ArtsFest@gmail.com so that we can keep you in the know! Awards will not be presented to art in booths.
Media Categories:
Basketweaving
Ceramics
Digital
Drawing
Fiber Arts
Glass
Graphic Arts
Jewelry
Metalwork
Mixed Media
Mosaic Art
Painting
Photography
Sculpture
Wearables: Non Jewelry
Woodworking
Open Arts
Artwork will be displayed at two locations—The Fox Clark Gallery and The Artists Hand Gallery. This is ONE show with TWO display locations. Individual artwork display location will be determined by show organizers.
This is an open art show. Anyone may enter. Acceptance is not juried. Entries will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis as space permits. Therefore, early entry is strongly encouraged. Artwork may be entered for sale or not for sale. Sales taxes will be added to the given price, but no commission will be taken. All entries must hang for the entire duration of the show.
All information on the attached entry form must be filled out. Artwork tags must be completed and attached to the front and back of 2-D work and to the topsides and bottoms of 3-D work.
Both 2-D and 3-D artwork will be accepted. All mediums will be accepted. All work must be original, completed only by the submitting artist and permanently signed. No giclees, kits, molds or reproductions of any kind will be accepted. No wet paintings will be accepted.
2-D artwork should be ready to hang, framed or with edges neatly finished. All 2-D work should have an appropriately gauged wire on the back for hanging. Frames must be secure with strong joints. Wire should be attached to the frame 1/3 from the top and not show above the frame.
3-D artwork must be stable and should have a base not more than 12” wide or be able to be displayed on the floor. Jewelry entries must be polished and securely joined to backings. Specific instructions for any special installations must be provided in writing.
Artwork should not be more than 40” in any direction and weigh no more than 50 lbs. Artists wishing to display larger work must seek advance approval. All work must be suitable for family viewing.
Cash and merit prizes will be awarded.
IAC and its partners reserve the right to refuse work that does not meet requirements.
Artwork must be picked up on the date and time listed. IAC and its partners will not be responsible for any unclaimed art that is not retrieved at the designated time. If unable to retrieve your own artwork, you must arrange in writing with the IAC to have it released to your designated person. Artwork will not be released to just anyone without prior arrangement.
IAC and its partners will make every effort to handle artwork in a professional manner and take reasonable precautions for the transfer (if needed) and display of each item. However, IAC will not assume responsibility for normal wear or damages resulting from construction or framing/presentation techniques that are inadequate, fragile or otherwise difficult to handle. While precautions will be taken to safeguard your work, neither the IAC nor its partners will be responsible for any loss or damage.
IAC reserves the right to select which pieces will be shown as determined by space limitations, the visual flow of the exhibit, community standards, and that the work is in sound condition and meets the established criteria.
Finally, the IAC thanks you for your interest and participation in this inaugural Westsylvania Arts Show! We are also grateful to our partners—the Indiana Art Association, The Fox Clark Gallery and The Artists Hand Gallery–as well as the founders of the Westsylvania Jazz and Blues Festival, the Center for Economic Operations of Indiana County, Downtown Indiana, the Indiana Tourist Bureau, and the Indiana community for their support.