Atlanta Dogwood Festival 2027

Overview

Celebrating its 91st year, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival is a premiere spring festival attracting an average of 200,000 visitors annually. The festival emphasizes art, music, and family entertainment and is continually rated among the top art shows in the country. Professional management with strong community and volunteer support make this a first-class event.

Festival Dates & Location

• Friday, April 9, 2027: 12:00 noon – 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, April 10, 2027: 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Sunday, April 11, 2027: 12:00 noon – 6:00 p.m.
• Venue: Piedmont Park, Atlanta, Georgia

Submission Deadline

October 28, 2026

Artist Participation Requirements

The artist accepted for participation MUST be in attendance during the entire Festival. Only one artist may display per booth unless the work is a collaboration of two artists (no more than 2 individuals per booth). No agents, dealers, or representatives may attend in place of the artist. No work produced by apprentices or employees permitted. All artists must present a Photo ID upon check-in.

Standards & Eligibility

The festival is designed for artists who create and execute original, professional quality work. All exhibited work must be produced by the artist and consistent with submitted images. Artwork produced by mechanical means (giclees, photo-offset, or other reproduction techniques) must be labeled "REPRODUCTION" and placed in browse bins or framed reproductions on only one wall not exceeding 10 linear feet. Multiple employee studios, buy-sell operations, mass-produced merchandise (coffee cups, note cards, calendars), items made with commercial molds or patterns, and hobby crafts are ineligible. All work shown must be for sale. Artists violating rules or failing to cooperate will not be permitted to exhibit; the show will be monitored for misrepresentation.

Categories

• 2-D Mixed Media: Two-dimensional, wall-hung artwork combining two or more distinct media in a collage-type manner; must be signed.
• 3-D Mixed Media: Original three-dimensional work incorporating the union of three or more media or physical materials.
• Clay: Original sculptural, decorative, or functional work where clay is the primary material; no machine-made or mass-produced items; must be signed.
• Photography/Digital Art: Original artwork created with SLR or digital camera, or computer-generated image, printed with traditional darkroom, ink-jet, or laser printing; no commercial photography; original prints must be signed and numbered.
• Drawing/Graphics/Printmaking: Original works in pen, pencil, color pencil, charcoal, or traditional printmaking techniques (etching, engraving, lithography, serigraphy, woodcuts); original prints must be signed and numbered.
• Fiber/Leather: Original work from fibers or leather, including basketry, handmade paper, weavings; must be designed and sewn by artist; no commercial, mass-produced items.
• Glass: Original sculptural or decorative work in glass; no molds or mass production; must be signed.
• Jewelry: Original jewelry from precious and non-precious metals, gemstones, enamel, glass, fiber, clay, or other materials; no buy/sell, kit, costume jewelry, or mass-produced items.
• Metal: Original sculptural or decorative metal items, painted or unpainted; no commercial or volume production; must be signed.
• Painting—Oil/Acrylic: Original work using oil, acrylic, or similar materials on canvas, paper, or board.
• Painting—Watercolor/Pastel: Original work using watercolor, pastel, or similar materials on canvas, paper, or board.
• Wood: Original sculptural or decorative work made primarily from wood; hand-tooled, carved, or machine-worked with natural or painted finish; no commercial or volume production; must be signed.

Jury Process

Exhibitors are selected based on design, quality, and presentation by an independent jury of art professionals. Artists are juried by category and assigned a score; highest-scoring artists per category are invited. A limited number of artists per category will be accepted to provide a balanced show. A score-based wait list is maintained in each category with cancellations filled from that list. The jury process is anonymous; the jury's decision is final. Total booths available: 260. Previous year's award winners are jury-exempt but must complete an application, submit all images, and pay all fees by the deadline.

Digital Image Requirements

Submit 3 digital images of your artwork and 1 digital image of your booth setup with your application. Digital images must be current and show artwork completed within the past two years. High-quality images are essential and may affect acceptance. Best images are full-framed with a single work, well-lit, and representative of the body of work intended for exhibition. Booth image should show your setup as it appears at an outdoor show, without the artist's name, banners, artwork titles, or people visible to remain anonymous.

Marketing & Promotions

Marketing strategy includes extensive pre-event mass media advertising (print, radio, internet, television), social media updates, and sponsor/patron promotions. During the event, significant public relations outreach keeps the festival highlighted in local media. Participating artists may be invited to participate in radio or television promotions during the event.