CCAD Art Fair & Marketplace 2026

Overview

The CCAD Art Fair & Marketplace is a juried showcase of student and alumni artwork held on campus on the first Saturday in December. The event provides students the opportunity to practice communicating their work, learn the juried show process, engage with the community, and earn money. It also engages the Columbus community, raises money for scholarships, and offers alumni a chance to reengage with CCAD and mentor current students.

Key Dates

• Applications Open: August 2026
• Application Deadline: September 30, 2026 (Midnight)
• Jurying: October 3–17, 2026
• Artist Notifications Sent: October 20, 2026
• Accept Invitation & Purchase Deadline: November 1, 2026 (11:59pm)
• Event Date: Saturday, December 5, 2026, 9am–2pm

Eligibility

Open to current CCAD students and alumni.

Fees

• Jury Fee: $25 (current students can waive with coupon code StudentF26; alumni cannot use code)
• Booth Fee: $25 for students / $75 for alumni, due November 1st at midnight or within 3 business days of notification if invited after November 1st
• Jury fees are non-refundable; booth fees are non-refundable

Application Requirements

Submit 4 digital images via ZAPPlication (www.zapplication.org). Artwork will be judged blind by a panel of artists and art professionals on a scale of 1–7. Paper and slide applications will not be accepted.

Artist Statement

Exhibitors must submit a statement of 200 characters or less describing the materials and techniques used to create the artwork, excluding personally identifying information. The statement will be read by the jury during selection.

Selection & Jury

The CCAD Art Fair & Marketplace uses blind jury selection, allocating approximately 60% of tables to current students and 40% to alumni. At least 100 artists will be selected; waitlist applicants may be selected if needed to balance the show. Jurors look for high-quality work showing understanding of art practices, clear intention, creativity, originality, skill, and technique.

Collaborative Work

Artists may apply to share a table by registering as a team and submitting one application with 4 images capturing work from both artists evenly. Collaborative work is limited to two artists. Teams with one student and one non-student are not eligible for the student jury fee waiver.

Event Details

The fair runs Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 9am–2pm at the Loann Crane Center for Design. First Look is 9am–10am; general admission is 10am–2pm. Artists keep 100% of profits on cash, credit, and check sales after paying jury and booth fees. Customers are encouraged to purchase tickets online before the event.