Art Fair Rules and Information

Art Fair Rules and Information DBQFest 2022

DBQfest is Iowa’s oldest art fair & festival; celebrating Art, Music, and Culture since 1977. We focus on providing economic opportunities for visual, musical, and performing artists while offering a free art experience for all attendees and the community. For our Art Fair, our focus is primarily on fine art, handmade artisan goods, and high-quality original works.

Exhibition Rules

• All work exhibited in the booth must be designed and/or created by the accepted artist/craftsperson.
• Our focus is primarily on fine art, handmade artisan goods, and high-quality original works.
• Work produced solely with commercial kits, molds, patterns, plans, and prefabricated forms not permitted.
• Imported or buy/sell items are not permitted.
• Prints are permitted, provided they are copies of the original works by the exhibiting artist.
• As the artist, you are your own best salesperson and your presence is requested for the entire event.
• If your booth features art from more than one category, each category must be represented in your application entry.
• You are only allowed to sell or display work that has been juried into the show and appears in your application entry.

Entry Guidelines

Visit our Artist page for a link to the Zapp online application, or click here.

All applications must include 4 high-quality images of work to be exhibited. Mailed-in applications and photos will not be returned, all images will be destroyed after the selection process. Hard copy applications will only be sent out by explicit request.  Please contact: director@dubuquefest.org for information.

Selection Process

*THIS IS A JURIED EVENT, applications do not guarantee a booth at the event

Acceptance to the DubuqueFest Art Fair is determined by a jury of artists and craftspeople. Our focus is primarily on fine art and handmade artisan goods.  Our goal is to bring economic opportunities to the artists in a unique and artistic way while celebrating culture.  The jury will keep this focus top of mind when selecting exhibiting artists. Artist selection is based on submitted artist statements and 4 photos in the application. 

The judgment of the jury is final. Exhibitors will be asked to remove work which is inconsistent with approved images, not original works of the artist, or is in violation of the above rules.

Awards

DBQfest offers first, second, and third place ($500, $300, & $200) cash prizes- awarded to the top artists.
Winners will be determined by an independent judge.

Details

LOCATION/TIME: Rain or shine in Washington Park, between Locust & Bluff, 6th & 7th Streets in Dubuque, Iowa. No early check-ins!

• Friday August 6, 2021 artist check in 3-6PM
• Saturday August 7, 2021 8AM check-in and Breakfast; Art Fair 10AM-5PM. Then close up and come the Artist reception and see who wins the awards
• Sunday August 8, 2021 8AM Breakfast; Art Fair 10AM-5PM. Tear down begins at 5:00PM

Fees

$15 Jury fee + $150 Entry fee
$15 Jury Fee – non-refundable & due upon applying.
$150 Entry Fee – due upon acceptance into the fair and secures 11’x11’ booth space.

Online applications may also include a small processing fee. Applications will not be reviewed until the jury fee is paid. If accepted, you will be asked to pay the booth fee by May 31, 2022.

Exhibitors are responsible for the 7% sales tax (call (563) 556-4631 for information).

Scholarship

DBQfest believes in encouraging and supporting up-and-coming artists. We offer 2 booth scholarships to emerging artists. Scholarships include waived jury fee, waived entry fee, and the rental of a 10 x 10 tent at no cost to the artist. If you are interested in this scholarship, do not apply through Zapplication, please send an inquiry  email to Ali at director@dubuquefest.org for the Scholarship Application.  

Booths Information

Exhibitors supply all their own equipment for their booths. All tents should be weighted or staked. Most spaces have ample storage space adjacent to the booth. Booth spaces are on grass. We will not be providing vendors with a table, tent or chairs for this event. Vendors are responsible for supplying all their display items. This event is outdoors, so bring your sunglasses and other needs.

Booth fee – $150

Booth space – 11 x 11 booth, with varied amount of space between booths.

Important, show set-up time, event time and tear-down time

Set-up time 

• Fri. August 5, 2022 3pm – 6pm
• Sat. August 6, 2022 8am

Event time

• Sat., August 6, 2022 from 10am-5pm
• Sun., August 7, 2022 from 10am-5pm

Tear-down time

• Sun. August 7, 2022 at 5pm

Sellers are responsible for their booth and goods. Make sure you have someone at your booth or watching your booth at all times. If you need to take a restroom or food break, let us know and a DBQFest volunteer will look over your booth. With that said, if you decide to wander around or leave, DBQFest will not be responsible for guarding your belongings

Parking

All spaces around Washington Park are reserved for exhibitors to load and unload their work, only. After unloading, free artist parking and free overnight RV parking is available. Free parking is limited and is on a first-come, first-served basis.  No vehicles should be left in parking spaces surrounding the park.  We want passersby to see your art!

Liability

All work will be displayed entirely at the exhibitors’ risk. No liability can be assumed by DubuqueFest, the Dubuque County Fine Arts Society, or the City of Dubuque. Overnight security will be provided.

Accommodations

Travel Dubuque at (563) 556-4372 or toll-free at 800-798-8844; https://www.traveldubuque.com/

LEGAL

-Vendor understands that the jury fee is nonrefundable.

-Vendor shall not vend any goods or services other than those described herein at and during DBQFest without the the ArtFair’s consent.

-Vendor’s vending station shall be no larger than 11ft x 11ft or taller than 15 feet, unless granted special permissions by DBQFest; shall be clean and orderly; and shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

-Vendor’s staff may announce the availability of the goods to be vended only while they are within the confines of the vendor’s location.

-Vendor’s staff shall be clothed and groomed in a clean, neat fashion and shall conduct themselves in an orderly fashion.

-No loud music, noise, or sound amplification devices shall be used by vendor’s staff at the location.

-Vendor shall have access to Washington Park to sign in and start setup on Fri., August 5, 2022 no earlier than set up 3pm – 6pm. No early arrivals will be accepted. If Vendors arrive after 6pm and the check in booth is not staffed, the map can be used for Vendors to set up that evening.  Sign in will start again at 8am on Sat. August 7, 2022. Show starts at 10am

-The City of Dubuque prohibits dogs in Washington Park. The vendor will be required to comply with city pet ordinances and may forfeit their participation in the festival if police have to ask them to leave because they bring a dog.

-Vendor will have up to 3 hours after the event’s conclusion at Washington Park, Dubuque, Iowa to dismantle and remove all things brought to the location by Vendor. Vendor shall leave the location clean of trash and substantially in the condition it was before Vendor occupied it.

-Vendor hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless DBQFest against any damages or claims that may arise in connection with Vendor’s presence at the Event and Vendor’s activities of any kind.

-We require a $15 application fee, due upon applying – this is non-refundable and separate from an accepted vendor fee. Once accepted into the fair you have until 3 weeks prior to the event to cancel and receive a 50% refund of your vendor fee. Any cancellations in the 3 weeks leading up to the event will not be refunded. Please only accept entry if you are sure you will be able to make the event. If you cancel, you forfeit your spot in the fair and you are not permitted to sell or trade your space. We reserve the right to fill spots as we see fit.

For More Information

Contact DubuqueFest Director Ali Levasseur
email: director@dubuquefest.org – or visit our website at: DBQfest.com

Dates to Remember

• February 17, 2022 – Artist Applications open
• May 31, 2022 Application deadline
• May 31-June 9th, 2022; JURY REVIEW
• June 9th 2022 Notification Date
• June 11th, 2022 – Purchase deadline if invited to show
• August 5, 2022 – check-in begins
• August 6-7, 2022 10AM-5PM – DubuqueFest Fine Arts Fair open