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Get matched →A NEW FINE ARTS FESTIVAL IS COMING TO THE HEART OF SAVANNAH.
We invite you to be part of the Inaugural Savannah Arts Festival at historic Forsyth Park — a new juried fine arts and fine craft event created to bring exceptional artists directly into one of the South's most recognized and heavily visited destinations.
Savannah offers something few festival markets can match: a nationally recognized arts community, millions of annual visitors, a thriving Historic District, strong tourism and hospitality industries, and an audience already drawn to art, architecture, design and culture.
And the location matters.
Forsyth Park is Savannah's front yard. Surrounded by the Historic District and its distinctive homes, hotels, restaurants and businesses, the park is a destination for residents and visitors alike. Rather than asking patrons to discover a new venue, we are bringing the art directly to a place where Savannah already gathers.
The Savannah Arts Festival will be juried and artist-focused , featuring original, artist-made work across a variety of mediums. Our emphasis is on quality presentation, thoughtful artist selection and building an event with long-term potential.
For artists, an inaugural festival also means opportunity: the chance to enter a new market, establish your presence and become part of the event from its very first year.
Great cities deserve great art festivals. Savannah is ready.
Join us at Forsyth Park and help us launch a new Savannah tradition.
IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES:
Accept applications: October 03, 2026
Application Deadline: March 09, 2027
Jury dates: March 09, 2027
Notification of acceptance: March 10, 2027
Accept invitation & purchase deadline: April 07, 2027
WaitList Released: (as deemed necessary by the show/ category by category)
Event Dates: May 29-30, 2027
**Load-In Dates: May 28, 2027: Friday ONLY (12:00 PM - 7:00 PM)
*(subject to change if concert scheduled)
Late applications may be accepted at the discretion of the Director and included on the Wait List.
**If a concert is scheduled:
Required licenses :
(First time attendees) City of Savannah Business License required ($85, good for 1 calendar year). Artists living in a county that immediately surrounds Chatham county are exempt from this requirement. Artists should list the event address as their business address.
Every listing links to the organizer's official page. Always confirm deadlines, fees, and entry rules there before you apply.
CATEGORIES
2-D Mixed Media : Includes more than one type of physical material such as collage, papermaking, encaustic, pen and ink, paint, pencil, watercolor, or photography. The finished art is suitable for wall mounting.
3-D Mixed Media: Includes more than one type of physical material such as mosaic, papier mache, clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood, or, any other 3-dimensional objects.
Ceramics: Original shaped and fired clay including earthenware, porcelain, and raku.
Digital Art: Two-dimensional works from which the original image is manipulated by the artist using a computer using programs such as Drawing, Illustrator, Paint, or other software applications.
Drawing & Printmaking : Original drawings made with pen, pencil, charcoal, pastels o,r chalk. The printmaking process may include pulled plates, linoleum prints, etching, engraving, silkscreen, or, lithography. All prints must be signed and numbered by the artist. Photocopies are not permitted.
Fiber: Works created from fibers including basketry, batik, weaving, papermaking, knitting, and quilting. The embellishment of manufactured materials is not permitted.
Glass: An object made of glass including blown, fused, stained, cast, and molded. The embellishment of manufactured materials is not permitted.
Handicraft : Handmade items made by the artist from manufactured, recycled, or repurposed materials transforming the combined materials into a unique product in a cohesive collection. A complete description of items is required.
Jewelry : All Jewelry is crafted from metal, glass, stone, clay, or other materials. Commercial molds or casts are not permitted. At least 50% of the organic materials in the finished product used must be produced by the artist.
Metal: Functional and non-sculptural works incorporating metal.
Painting : The use of oils, acrylics, watercolors, and tempera suitable for hanging.
Photography: Prints, transparencies, or, digital images made from the artist's original negative or taken with a digital camera that has been processed by the artist.
Sculpture: Three-dimensional work is done in any individual medium.
Wood & Furniture : Original works in wood that are built, turned, carved, or, tooled. Embellished manufactured wood items are not permitted.
PROHIBITED ITEMS
- T-shirts and commercial clothing
- Posters
- Manufactured toys
- Commercially manufactured or reproduced items (resale)
- Jewelry is made from more than 50% manufactured components
- Any item that employs the use of commercially available molds or patterns
AMENITIES
- Friday Load-in (May 8th, 2026 from 12:00 PM - Noon - 7:00 PM)
- Free Parking Nearby
- Designated Festival Hotline available during event hours regarding assistance, emergencies, questions, concerns, etc.
- 24 Hour onsite Security by Atlanta Police Department
ADVERTISING & PROMOTION
- AFFPS is among the top award-winning art festival organizations in the southeast.
- Voted Best Festivals by local media
- The holder of the only Guinness World Record by any arts festival organization in the U.S.
- AFFPS employs professional marketing strategies including:
- PR and online media platforms
- Print and online media ads
- Radio and TV
- Billboards, banners, posters, and, yard signs
- Extensive business partner collaboration
- Social media
- Dedicated interactive website
- Direct mail
- 300+ online calendar entries
PARKING
Free parking is available for both artists and festival guests within close proximity to Chastain Park. Parking on the residential streets around the park is not permitted.
WAITLIST
A waitlist will be maintained. Selected wait-listed artists may be contacted when the Wait List is released one day prior to the event date.
NO SHOW POLICY
Artists who have not checked in and/or called the Festival Emergency Number ( the number will be available in confirmation materials) by Saturday at 8:00 a.m. will be considered a "no-show." No Show artists are not eligible for refunds. Assigned space(s) will be forfeited to a wait-list artist.
RAIN OR SHINE
There will be no "rain date" and fees will not be refunded in the case of inclement weather. The event will take place rain or shine.
SALES TAX
Artists are responsible for collecting and reporting Sales Taxes. Sales Tax reporting documents are provided to participating artists at check-in at the event. The current Sales Tax rate for this event is 8% (Georgia 4%, Fulton County 3%, City of Atlanta 1%).
HOW THE FEES ARE USED
All AFFPS Festivals support the Georgia Foundation for Public Spaces, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to building a stronger arts community. The GFPS provides scholarships for artists to help them with their artistic career
Non-Refundable Administrative Processing Fee: $35.
Artist notification date: 2027-03-10.
Event dates: May 29, 2027 to May 30, 2027.
Location: Forsyth Park , Savannaha, Georgia.
Setting: outdoor.
Minimum 4 images required to apply.