Statesboro Festival of the Arts 2027

Overview

The 3rd Annual Statesboro Festival of the Arts is located at The Market at Visit Statesboro and surrounding campus in downtown Statesboro, GA. This early spring event features juried art vendors, live music, activities for children, a food truck court, and southern hospitality. The Market offers a 7,500 square feet indoor facility for up to 30 vendors with roll-up garage doors and views of cultivated greenspace leading to historic downtown Statesboro. Additional outdoor vendor space is available on the surrounding paved lot.

Festival Dates

• Friday, March 19, 2027 – Artist set up (9am–4pm; after hours available upon request)
• Saturday, March 20, 2027 – Festival open to public (10am–5pm); artists may complete setup 8am–10am
• Sunday, March 21, 2027 – Festival open to public (10am–4pm); load-out 4pm–6pm

Key Dates

• Submission deadline: December 15, 2026 11:59pm EDT
• Notification of acceptance: January 4, 2027
• Booth fee and contract due: January 31, 2027
• Final cancellation date for refund (minus $50 admin charge): February 15, 2027

Eligibility

Applicants must be 18 years and older. Collaborative teams of no more than two artists are welcome.

Media Categories

• 2-D and 3-D Mixed Media: Work created using more than one medium
• Ceramics: Functional, decorative, and/or sculptural work created using clay and/or porcelain (clay or porcelain jewelry excluded)
• Drawing: Work created using dry media (pencil, charcoal, chalk) or fluid materials (ink or washes applied by pen or brush)
• Fibers: Decorative and/or sculptural work created using fiber
• Furniture: Functional or decorative furniture
• Glass: Functional, decorative, and/or sculptural work created using glass
• Jewelry: Functional, decorative, and/or sculptural work created using precious and/or non-precious materials
• Metal: Functional, decorative, and/or sculptural work created using metals
• Painting

Application Requirements

Applications are submitted through ZAPPlication.org only. Each application must include five digital photographs: four must clearly show work the artist intends to exhibit, and one must be an image of the artist's booth (booth photo must not contain signage, branding, symbols, or attributes revealing artist identity). An artist's statement is required. Artists applying in multiple media categories must submit separate applications and pay the application fee for each category.

Awards & Judging

SFA distributes $5,000 in cash prizes. Jurors evaluate applications through a blind jury process, reviewing digital photographs and artist statements. Jurors assess aesthetic merit, originality, technical proficiency, and marketability, assigning scores from 1–3 or 5–7 (no 4s allowed). Final scores are averaged by category, and a waitlist is created. Selected artists and waitlist status are communicated via Zapplication. Scores and juror comments are confidential and unavailable for artist review. The 2027 judges have discretionary privilege in selecting honorees.

Fees & Participation

• Application fee: $15 nonrefundable per application
• Booth fee: Amount not stated in listing
• Admission: Free to the public on Saturday and Sunday
• Parking: One parking pass provided per artist; official handicap-tagged vehicles only permitted in handicap spaces

Artist Amenities & Responsibilities

The festival provides convenient Friday set-up, VIP Invitational Patron Preview (6–8pm Friday), a Saturday Artist Reception and Award Ceremony (6:30–8:30pm), booth sitters, set-up support, low entry fees, and security. Artists receive one parking pass and must move vehicles to reserved artist parking after setup. All sales proceeds belong to artists; artists must collect and remit 8% Georgia sales tax. Security is provided during Friday setup (9pm–5am) and 24-hour security from 5pm Friday through 5pm Sunday. Exhibiting is at the artist's own risk; SFA and organizers do not insure personal property. Exhibitors participate as independent contractors.

Festival Schedule

• Friday, March 19, 6–8pm – VIP Patron Preview Event
• Saturday, March 20, 10am–5pm – Festival open; judges visit booths to determine award winners; 6:30–8:30pm Artist Reception and Award Ceremony (RSVPs required)
• Sunday, March 21, 10am–4pm – Last day of festival