Emerging Artists get real festival experience—free booth space, exposure to thousands of visitors, a mentor artist, and a workshop series—all designed to help early-career artists (typically within their first 10 years) take the next step toward selling their work professionally. RiverArtsFest selects just three Emerging Artists each year

If you’ve ever considered selling your original works through a fine arts festival, this is your time to see firsthand what it takes.

Selected Emerging Artists are provided free entry and a 10x10 booth space at the annual festival. In addition to exposure to thousands of festivalgoers and potential sales, Emerging Artists are paired with a mentor—a seasoned festival participant and local artist—for guidance and support throughout the program. Artists also participate in a preparatory workshop provided by RiverArtsFest.

• Located full-time in Shelby County or an adjoining county

• Little to no prior experience exhibiting or selling work. No gallery representation, no prior juried festivals of RAF's caliber

• At least 18 (exceptions considered case-by-case)

• A working visual artist creating your own original work, not interpreting someone else's or working under an instructor

RiverArtsFest reserves the right to pre-screen and research emerging artists to ensure they are a fit for this category and do not have extensive experience exhibiting and selling their work.

Applicants go through the same blind-jury process as our general Artist Market—jurors never see your name.

Artists must apply with 5 work samples (same medium, most recent 3 years).

Artists must provide an Artist Statement, a brief overview of their current artwork including artistic inspiration, philosophy, evolution of style, current directions, influences, etc. Artist Statements must be written in first person and may not include identity information.

Keep your name and identifying details off everything: images, file names, metadata, and signatures.

IMPORTANT: Applications with identifying info are disqualified.

Submit through Zapplication.org — same portal as the general show. Use your 5th work sample in place of a booth photo, select "Emerging Artist" as your category, and choose the $35 Emerging Artist application fee (booth fee: $0).

Work Sample Requirements:

• All work sample images must be of original pieces made by the applicant.

• Work samples should be in the same medium.

• Samples should be of similar style and technique to complement each other and create a cohesive body of work.

• Each image should include one work sample only. Sets may be considered as one sample, for example, a set of jewelry may consist of earrings, necklace and bracelet designed to be worn together; a tea set may consist of a teapot, creamer, cups and saucers; and a triptych of three separate paintings that combine to make one image.

Naming work sample files: Work sample image file names should begin with the image number followed by the title of the artwork.

Images must be:

• JPG, JPEG format

• Sized at exactly 1920 by 1920 pixels at a resolution of 72 pixels per inch

• Under 250 MB (inclusive of all 5 images) description

Applicants who are unsure about the eligibility of their work samples should contact the program director at least one week prior to submitting their application.