Call for Front Porch Group Exhibition Proposals

This is an opportunity for artists based in the Greater Williamsburg area to participate in the Festival as collective and to host a group booth. In 2026, the Board Committee on Local Artists will select 3 applications to host co-op booths at the 2026 An Occasion for the Arts Festival, taking place October 3-4, 10am-5pm.

The event will provide each selected group with a 10’ x 30’ professional tent with 50’
linear feet of mesh walls for hanging artwork, and side walls for closing up the tent
during inclement weather and overnight. This opportunity is intended to alleviate some of the pressures of participating as a Main St. artist including: owning your own tent and walls, being present for the full weekend, having a large enough body of work to host your own booth, and managing your own POS system. The group is responsible for load in, set up, pedestals for sculptural work, staffing booth, managing sales, and load out.

Selected Groups will pay a $1,500 booth fee to cover the production costs of participation.

Booth fee will be due by August 15.

There are two parts to the application process:

1. Application Form:

The main Point of Contact for the group should fill out the online application form
here.

– Group Name and Description
– 4-10 sentence Booth proposal
– List of participating artists
– Onsite point of contact information

2. Submit Images:

The group must submit at least 1 artwork sample for each artist, representative of the kind of work they will display during the Festival.

This form can be used to submit each individual image with artwork information (This can be done by the group point of contact or by each individual artist in the group, just make sure to include the group name with each artwork submission)

Applications accepted through July 15, 2026.

Free to Apply

After the application period closes, 3 group booth proposals will be selected and notified with additional details about scheduling, set up, and sales.

Apply Now

Rule and Regulations

1. Eligibility: The group must consist of at least 6 practicing local artists.

All participating artists must live in one of the designated local counties:
– Charles City County
– Gloucester County
– Hampton County
– James City County
– New Port News County
– Prince George County
– Surry County
– Williamsburg County
– York County
– Poquoson County

2. During all open hours of the event at least one of the participating must be present to manage the booth. No dealers, agents or representatives will be permitted. Artists must wear their Festival Name Badge at all times during the Festival open hours, or when setting up or cleaning up in their booth.

3. All artists’ work on display must be original, hand-crafted artwork, made by the artists listed in the group application.

4. Work done by a production studio is not acceptable. The Festival wants
artwork made by the hands of the artists selling the work. If the hands of others
make the artwork, please don’t apply to the show. You will not be accepted.

*** An Occasion for the Arts Policy Regarding Reproductions: We realize that in
order to make shows financially feasible, some artists must sell less expensive,
“bread & butter” creations. Our guidelines regarding the sale of “bread & butter” pieces:

a) must NOT be the largest part of inventory that is displayed and they should occupy only a small part of your booth and less than 10% of stock,

b) must be in the same style and category as the work you were accepted in.

For example:
– note cards reproduced from an artist’s original work may be exhibited but in small quantity
– a wood turner may sell wooden pens provided they have created them and are displayed in small quantity.

What you have juried with into the show should be the prime focus and occupy the vast majority of your booth.

Prohibited are: commercially manufactured or reproduced items;
For example: posters, mouse pads, magnets, etc.); T-Shirts and commercial clothing; any item that employs the use of commercially available molds or patterns; items that have been purchased and then embellished.

2D Reproductions: All reproductions must be clearly labeled “reproduction” on the front of the piece or clearly labeled on front of a display bin, and comprise no more that 10% of stock.

5. Groups must provide a Certificate of Insurance (COI) naming An Occasion for the Arts as an Additional Insured no later than 60 days prior to the festival. Each group must secure vendor liability insurance for their booth. Affordable one -time event insurance is available through ACT.

Artists are solely responsible for securing property insurance, which is strongly
recommended for the protection of their artwork, equipment, displays, and personal property. An Occasion for the Arts is not responsible for loss, theft, or damage to artwork, equipment, or booth materials due to weather, accidents, vandalism, or any other cause.

6. In order to make sales onsite during the Festival the group or each individual
artist must hold a business license with the City of Williamsburg. If this is a
barrier for participation, An Occasion for the Arts may be able to provide support
in securing proper licensing. It is not required that the artwork in the group booth
be available for sale.