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2015 ARTIST PLANNING GUIDE
This document is subject to change as of March 18, 2015
About the Festival – 2015 is the 54th annual Columbus Arts Festival. Since its humble beginnings on
the Statehouse lawn in 1961, the Festival has evolved into one of the largest and most prestigious visual
arts festivals in the country. Located at the picturesque Columbus Riverfront, the Columbus Arts Festival
features more than 300 nationally-acclaimed artists, gourmet fare from some of the city’s finest
restaurants and exciting live performances.
The Columbus Arts Festival is hosted by the Greater Columbus Arts Council, located at 100 East Broad
Street Suite 2250, Columbus, OH 43215. For inquiries, please contact:
Scott Huntley, Festival Director
shuntley@gcac.org
P 614 221 8531
Inal Elbeyli, Festival Coordinator
P 614 221 8569
ielbeyli@gcac.org
Kez Hall, Festival Coordinator
khall@gcac.org
P 614 221 8625
Accepted artists will be notified via email after February 15, 2015. You will receive emails periodically;
we encourage you to read them so that you stay updated.
Artist Technical Sheet and Contract
All artists must fill out a contract available through
www.columbusartsfestival.org/application/artists_technical. You have to file booth requests, festival
tent rentals, all electrical requirements, and other on-site needs through this document. This is
imperative information that must be submitted by March 15, 2015.
Payment & Responsibilities
Fees
The standard 10’x10’ booth space fee is $495.00. All spaces have access on one side and one electrical
outlet (5 amps/550 watts). One (1) parking space is also included in your booth fee. A corner booth is an
additional $75.00 fee for a total of $570.00. A double booth is a 10’x20’ space that has an additional fee
of $475.00, which sums to a total of $970.00.
Taxes
City of Columbus and State of Ohio sales taxes are applicable on all sales. The current rate is 7.50%. The
Ohio Department of Taxation website is www.tax.ohio.gov. Each exhibitor is responsible for recording,
collecting and paying current state and local sales taxes on all sales made during the Columbus Arts
Festival. This requires appropriate reporting to the State of Ohio and City of Columbus with proof or
accurate record of each individual transaction. State of Ohio taxation can be found on
www.columbusartsfestival.org/artists/exhibiting. All participating artists must pay sales tax and secure
the appropriate paperwork prior to the Festival.
Refund Policy
There will be no guaranteed refund of fees for withdrawals after April 30, 2015. Up to March 21, 2015,
100% of fees, less a $35 processing fee, will be refunded. Between March 21-April 30, 2015, artists will
receive a 50% refund of their booth fees, less a $35 processing fee. All cancellations must be sent in
writing to inal@gcac.org.
Exhibitor Equipment & Rentals
Artist Booth Space
Booth purchases are available from February 15 to March 7, 2015. Booth assignments will be available
through Zapplication after May 1, 2015.
All artists will have a booth sign, exhibitor name badge, one vehicle site access/parking pass, a listing on
ColumbusArtsFestival.org, listing in the festival guidebook, festival assistant badge (as requested) and
access to the Artist Lounge. The 2015 Columbus Arts Festival Staff will inspect booths onsite to ensure
adherence to rules and standards. Individuals selling work that is not their own, or otherwise
misrepresenting their product or themselves are not welcome and are requested to refrain from
applying. Exhibitors found not to be in compliance at the very least will be asked to remove the
unacceptable items, and risk forfeiture of all rights as an exhibitor. This includes closure of their booth
for the rest of the Festival with no refund of fees.
Artists are responsible for providing their own booth, equipment and insurance. We do provide limited
festival tents for an additional $100. Tents include lighting (two (2) 100 watt bulbs) in addition to the five
amps of power provided. Please see Electricity to purchase additional electric. Tables and chairs can also
be rented for an additional cost. To purchase tables and chairs please contact Festival Coordinator Inal
Elbeyli. Deadline to purchase a festival tent is May 1, 2015.
The Columbus Fire Department has introduced a new regulation restricting the use of EZ‐Up tents
during any outdoor festival. If you have an EZ‐Up tent we suggest you purchase a festival tent. Artists
found in violation will be asked to leave the Festival.
If you are bringing your own tent, please include a Certificate of Flame Resistance with your Artist
Technical Sheet. Certificates should be included with the purchase of a tent/canopy. We have the
following major tent manufacturer’s certificates on file: Caravan Canopies, Craft Hut/ Trimline/ Flourish,
Light Dome, and Show‐Off. The Columbus Fire and Building Departments require a fire extinguisher in
each booth (household size is fine). You must bring your own and be prepared to present the
extinguisher during inspections.
The Columbus Arts Festival has introduced new regulations due to weather related incidents, EZ‐Up and
accordion style tents are banned for use during the Festival. Any violation to these rules will result in the
removal of the exhibitor. All work exhibited must be limited to the booth space.
The Columbus Arts Festival does provide an option for exhibitors to purchase a festival tent. Festival
tents are processed by application date. Please see information listed under Artist Technical Sheet if you
would like to purchase a festival tent.
Weight System
The Columbus Arts Festival will be sending you a newsletter in Spring 2015 to provide you information
on a proper weighting system.
Electricity
Five (5) amps (550 watts) of power are included with your booth fee. You may purchase an additional
five (5) amps for $45. Ten (10) amps total is the maximum allowed per booth. Deadline to purchase a
festival tent is May 1, 2015.
WiFi
WiFi is available around the Festival site. To access the internet on site please log on and find the Time
Warner Cable connection. Please note that the signal strength may be low due to a large number of
users trying to connect at the same time, and plan accordingly.
Guidebook Advertising
The Columbus Arts Festival guidebook is distributed as a pre‐festival marketing tool as well as on‐site
with a plethora of resources for patrons of the Columbus Arts Festival. Artists’ have an opportunity to
promote their business by purchasing a guidebook ad. Guidebook ads can be purchased on our website
under our “Get Involved” tab.
On Site: June 12 - June 14, 2015
Check-In Information
Artist check‐in is located at corner of Bell and Rich Street, in the Artist Parking lot. Photo identification is
required for check‐in. Proxy or helpers are not permitted to check in for you or set‐up your booth. Check
in starts Thursday, June 11th, 2015 at 8:30 A.M. Please arrive at your designated time frame so we can
check you in and send you on your way to start your booth set up. Booth assignments, driving
instructions and location procedures can be found on www.columbusartsfestival.org/artists/exhibiting.
Check-In Procedures
Columbus Police Officers along with our Operations/Artist Market Teams will assist you with entering
the festival site. Check‐in with your Artist Market Team member assigned to your area prior to
unloading. Load-in times are assigned and structured, so please do not request an exception to our
process of getting vendors, artists, electric, beverages and all other aspects of the festival set-up on site.
Your access/parking pass must be in your driver’s side window at all times from festival set-up to festival
close.
Emergency Notifications
We will have an emergency notification system. A loudspeaker system is positioned in multiple locations
across the Festival. Should an emergency arise, please notify security, staff or a committee member.
Please make sure to provide an emergency contact on your technical sheet.
Security
The Columbus Arts Festival provides 24-hour security through the Columbus Police Department.
However, artists are solely responsible for the security of their booths and equipment. The Columbus
Arts Festival staff recommends removal of all valuables from your booth each night. All displays and
materials should be stored in a secure place. We encourage participants to take precautions with their
belongings and always lock car doors. Pickpockets and other professional thieves recognize large public
events as opportunities to exploit unsuspecting people. Use precautions normally taken when traveling
and participating in any outdoor event to protect your product, cash and other belongings.
Emerging Artist Program & Mentors
Established in 2011, the Columbus Arts Festival Emerging Artist Program encourages participation by
Central Ohio artists. The program is specifically for artists who have extremely limited or no experience
exhibiting and selling their artwork at an outdoor venue. Artists who apply in this category must be
residents of Franklin or surrounding counties in Ohio which include Union, Delaware, Licking, Fairfield,
Pickaway, Fayette and Madison. The program is designed to attract and excite new Columbus artists to
the possibilities of the Art Festival circuit, while giving them the practical guidance they need for
success.
Children’s Gallery Donation
A long standing tradition of the Columbus Arts Festival is the Children’s Gallery. Hosted Saturday and
Sunday during the Festival, the Children’s Gallery is one of the most popular destinations for young
visitors. Typically the kids and parents start lining up before the gallery even opens. The area is specially
designed kid‐sized doorway allows kids 12 and under the opportunity to purchase a piece of artwork –
donated by you – independent from the influence of an adult. All artwork is sold for $5 or less. The 2015
Artist Market Committee members will approach each artist on Friday or Saturday requesting Children’s
Gallery donations. Please include a business card with your donation, as we encourage the children to
find their artist on‐site and thank them personally for their donation. We appreciate our artists who
have graciously donated to the Children’s Gallery in the past.
About ColumbusArtsFestival.org
The Columbus Arts Festival website is an interactive tool for artists and patrons. All participating artists
will be displayed on our Artist Gallery page, where you can find artist contact information and a
photograph of their work. Several important tools such as the Artist Handbook, Festival Prospectus,
juror biographies, an Artist Statement example and a link to the Zapplication website will also be
available through the website.
The Sheraton and the Double Tree hotels
The Columbus Arts Festival is proud to partner with the Sheraton and the Double Tree hotels. The
special room rates for artists will be posted on www.columbusartsfestival.org/artists/exhibiting.
Information about the hotels can be found below:
Sheraton Columbus Hotel
at Capitol Square
75 E State St, Columbus OH 43215
(614) 365-4500
www.sheratoncolumbuscapitolsquare.com
DoubleTree Suites by Hilton
Hotel Columbus Downtown
50 S Front St, Columbus OH 43215
(614) 228-4600
http://doubletree3.hilton.com/en/
hotels/ohio/CMHSBDT/
Parking
One (1) parking space is included in your booth fee. Extra parking spaces may be purchased through
Zapplication. Artist parking is located on Bell and Rich Street. Please have your parking pass on your
driver’s side window at all times when you are on-site.
Artist Awards
During the Festival, three jurors will review work displayed at each exhibitor’s booth on Friday, June 12,
2015. Jurors will leave a color sticker indicating your booth has been reviewed. Awards will be presented
to 11 prize winners on Saturday June 13, 2015. All award winners, in addition to receiving a cash prize,
will be invited to participate in the 2015 Columbus Arts Festival.
All festival juror biographies are available at: www.columbusartsfestival.org/artists/jurors/.
Thank you for participating in the 2015 Columbus Arts Festival!