4 Bridges Arts Festival 2027
Submit five digital photographs showing your cohesive body of work and booth setup for juried consideration to compete for $15,000 in awards at this annual outdoor arts festival.
Does this fit your work? 5 questions score every call to your medium, location and budget. Free.
Get matched →- Deadline
- 64 days left
- Entry fee
- $45
- Award
- $15,000
- Location
- Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Exhibition window
- Apr 16, 2027 → Apr 18, 2027
- Applicants notified
- Nov 20, 2026
About
Overview
The 26th Annual 4 Bridges Arts Festival (4BAF) is a nationally significant juried show presented by the Association for Visual Arts in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Held at the First Horizon Pavilion, a 50,000 square foot covered outdoor venue, the festival celebrates visual artists with $15,000 in cash awards and connects them with avid art buyers and collectors.
Festival Dates & Hours
- Friday, April 16, 2027: Artist check-in 8 am–3 pm; Artist dinner 4:30–5:30 pm; Preview Party 6–9 pm
- Saturday, April 17, 2027: Public hours 10 am–6 pm; Jury judging 10 am–3 pm; Awards 4 pm
- Sunday, April 18, 2027: Public hours 10 am–5 pm; Load-out 5–8 pm
Application Deadline
October 31, 2026, 11:59 pm EDT. Applications submitted through ZAPPlication.org only.
Application Requirements
Submit five high-quality digital photographs: four showing your cohesive body of work you intend to exhibit, and one image of your booth (booth photo must not include signage, branding, symbols, or attributes revealing your identity). An artist statement is required as part of the jury evaluation.
Eligibility
Must be 18 years or older. Collaborative teams of no more than two artists welcome. Artists wishing to present work in more than one medium must submit separate applications and pay the fee for each category.
Fees & Awards
- Application fee: $45 per application (nonrefundable)
- Discounts and fee waivers available to Association for Visual Arts members and previous year 4BAF award winners
- Awards: $15,000 in cash prizes distributed by jury discretion
- All sales proceeds belong to artists; sales tax (9.25%) must be collected by artist
Important Dates
- October 31, 2026: Application deadline
- November 20, 2026: Acceptance notifications emailed
- February 28, 2027: Booth fee and signed contract due
- March 12, 2027: Final cancellation date with booth fee refund minus $50 administrative charge
Jury Process
Three credentialed art professionals conduct a blind jury evaluation, reviewing digital photographs and artist statements without knowing artist identity. Jurors score applications 1–3 or 5–7 (no score of 4 allowed); three scores are averaged for a final score. A waitlist is created by category based on jury scores. Scores and comments are confidential.
Festival Site & Amenities
The First Horizon Pavilion in Chattanooga's Southside District is a 50,000 square foot facility with a roof and open sides, providing protection from weather and excellent airflow. The concrete floor venue includes interior restrooms, ample parking for cars/vans/trailers, reserved free artist parking with passes, and artist hospitality featuring snacks, meals, and beverages throughout the weekend.
Preview Party
Friday, April 6–9 pm. Artists must attend and have booths open for sales. Attracts approximately 1,000 local art enthusiasts, patrons, and collectors. Preview Party tickets: $125/person. Public admission Saturday–Sunday: $5/person ($6 by credit card); children under 18 free.
- Award
- Cash prizes totaling $15,000
- Entry fee
- $45 per application; discounts and fee waivers may be offered to Association for Visual Arts members and previous year award winners.
- Eligibility
- Artists must be 18 years or older; collaborative teams of no more than two artists are welcome.
- Also worth noting
- Waitlist maintained
- Waitlist
- The organizer keeps one.
Every listing links to the organizer's official page. Always confirm deadlines, fees, and entry rules there before you apply.