ShenArts Holiday Market Call for Art 2026
Submit up to 8 handmade or artist-designed pieces (original artwork, small-batch products, or reproductions of your own designs) for a holiday gift market.
Does this fit your work? 5 questions score every call to your medium, location and budget. Free.
Get matched →- Deadline
- 45 days left
- Entry fee
- $35
- Location
- Virginia
- Exhibition window
- Nov 19, 2026 → Jan 11, 2027
- Applicants notified
- Oct 19, 2026
About
Overview
ShenArts is hosting its second annual Holiday Market, a festive shopping experience featuring handmade goods, artwork, and creative treasures made by local and regional artists. Work does not need to fit traditional fine art categories; handmade and artist-designed goods are encouraged. Artists are encouraged to include a range of price points, with smaller works, functional pieces, and stocking-sized treasures especially welcome.
What We Accept
- Ceramics and pottery
- Fiber art
- Wearable art and accessories
- Jewelry
- Prints
- Greeting cards, postcards, magnets, stickers
- Ornaments
- Woodworking
- Glass art
- Mixed media work
- Home décor
- Small sculptures
- Artist books and zines
- Handmade paper goods
- Candles
- Holiday-themed items
- Other handmade or artist-designed giftable products
Submission Requirements
- Open to artists working in all mediums
- Submit up to 8 pieces
- Work must be original handmade items, small-batch artist-made products, or reproductions of your own original artwork
- All work must be original design and creation of the artist
- Submission images must accurately represent the items being entered
- Artists may submit multiple types of products
Duplicate Policy
Original wall art may not be duplicated. For all other items, artists may submit up to five duplicates of each accepted design or product (six total of any accepted item). Each duplicate must be individually labeled with edition or variation numbers (e.g., Mug Design A – 1/6, 2/6, 3/6, etc.).
Pricing & Commission
Artists are encouraged to offer a range of price points suitable for holiday shoppers. Smaller, giftable, and affordable items are strongly encouraged. All work must be priced at the time of submission; no price changes may be made at drop-off unless submitted and approved 7 days before drop-off. ShenArts handles all promotion and sales and takes a 30% commission of the retail price.
Labeling & Drop-Off Requirements
All items must be clearly labeled with artist name, title or item description, retail price, and inventory or variation number when applicable. Work must arrive clean, complete, and ready for display with neat, retail-appropriate packaging. Fragile items should be clearly identified. Wall-hung artwork must arrive ready to hang with professional hanging hardware (sawtooth hangers not accepted). Artists must provide an inventory sheet matching all submitted items.
Key Dates
- Submission deadline: October 11, 2026
- Notice of acceptance: October 19, 2026
- Drop-off: November 16, 3 – 6:30 pm
- Opening reception: December 4, 5 – 7 pm
- Exhibition dates: November 19, 2026 – January 11, 2027
- Pick-up: January 11, 2027, 4 – 6:30 pm
Fees
- Members: $35
- Non-Members: $45
- Entry fee
- Members: $35. Non-Members: $45.
- Entries per artist
- Up to 8
- Sales commission
- Organizer retains 30% on sales
- Theme
- A holiday gift market celebrating handmade and artist-designed goods, with emphasis on affordable, giftable items suitable for holiday shoppers.
- Eligibility
- Local
- Audience
- Artists and makers working in all mediums
Every listing links to the organizer's official page. Always confirm deadlines, fees, and entry rules there before you apply.