Rules for Participation and Condition of Entry

Gresham Arts Festival

July 15, 2023

By applying to the Gresham Arts Festival you are agreeing to receive notices from the City of Gresham via email. This is the primary communication tool the Gresham Arts Festival uses. 

Event overview

The Gresham Arts Festival is a juried, premier art event held annually during the third week of July in the heart of historic downtown Gresham at the Gresham Arts Plaza.

Founded 21 years ago, this event is a local treasure and renowned around the Pacific Northwest. The City is a long-standing partner and event host for the Gresham Arts Festival, with a rooted devotion to celebrating the arts. Year after year, the festival continues to grow. With thousands in attendance in 2022, we know the future's bright for our annual family-friendly arts festival.

Jury process

1. The Gresham Arts Festival is a juried event. Spaces are limited in each medium. 
2. Artists are accepted with a majority vote by a jury as space allows in each medium. The jury votes based on the quality of the artist’s submitted work and not based on prior knowledge of artist or artist’s previous participation. You will be notified of the jury's decision as noted on the application. The jury may ask qualifying artists to be on a waitlist.
3. Only one medium is allowed per booth. Photos should be representative of current work and not photos of previously submitted work.
4. Submitted images of artists' work may be used on the Gresham Arts Festival website and in event advertising efforts, in current and future years. 
5. Each medium has its own waitlist and artists will be notified according to the dates listed on the application.

Exhibit fee

1. The $150 exhibit fee includes your booth space and publicity for the Gresham Arts Festival. Exhibit fee is due after acceptance by the date stated on the application. Payment options and instructions will be emailed to you. Artists may pay the exhibit fee with check, money order, credit or debit card, or e-check.  
2. The City offers a quick and easy payment option for artists interested in paying their exhibit fee online through Invoice Cloud, a third-party automated payment service that accepts Visa, MasterCard and Discover as well as debit cards and e-checks. Invoice Cloud charges a $1.95 fee for e-check payments and a $2.95 fee for credit and debit card payments.
3. A $25 fee will be charged on any check returned by the artist’s bank.
4. No commission will be collected on sales and there is no sales tax in Oregon.

Booth space

1. Booth size is 10 x 10 and artists must be present at the booth or have a designated representative. Only one artist per booth is permitted. No more than two booth spaces may be requested.
2. Each artist is responsible for insurance coverage on his or her booth and its contents. Artists must provide their own booth tent and display equipment that are of sound construction and capable of withstanding inclement weather and wind gusts. Booths should be weighted sufficiently.
3. Booth spaces are located on City streets (there may be oil) and in grass areas on the Arts Plaza; some spaces are not level. Exhibitors are advised to bring leveling devices as needed.
4. Canopies cannot exceed booth size; no canopies over 10 x 10 are allowed. Canopy material must be fire-resistant and/or fire-retardant and proof provided to the fire inspector upon request.
5. Booths must furnish their own portable fire extinguisher (see Page 6 in our fire prevention planning guide for more information).
6. No animals are allowed in or around the artist booths unless they are marked service animals. 

Insurance

Participants are required to have insurance of at least $1,000,000 of general liability coverage, with the City of Gresham listed as additional insured. For artists that do not have this business liability, submission of your auto policy will be acceptable. Booth numbers will not be assigned until a copy of your insurance certificate is mailed or emailed to Gresham Arts Festival Event Coordinator Sasha Konell.

Set up/take down and hours of operation

1. Artists may begin setting up their booths at 5:30 am the day of the event. Set up must be completed by 8:30 am on the day of the Gresham Arts Festival. Two weeks prior to the event, a load-in/load-out map and instructions will be emailed to artists. Please unload and move your vehicle to the artists’ parking area before setting up your booth space. Volunteers will be available to assist you with unloading.
2. Artists’ vehicles must be moved to the exhibitor parking lots before the show begins. Artists will abide by all local fire and police regulations and direction. Any vehicle remaining in the show area or fire lanes during Gresham Arts Festival hours will be towed at the owner’s expense.
3. The artist’s booth must be open and staffed during the hours of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
4. Tear down of the booth may begin after the conclusion of the Arts Festival at 5:00 pm. All exhibits must be removed by 7:00 pm. No early tear down is allowed. 

Hospitality

At the City of Gresham, we value each artist who participates in our festival. Saturday, the day of the Arts Festival, there will be a hospitality tent for artists, hosted with light refreshments and snacks, plus a chance to break from the heat. There will also be vouchers from various sponsors handed out with your welcome packet the morning of the event.

Rules and regulations

• Please be kind and respectful. All artists and vendors are expected to be respectful of one another's person, medium and allotted space during the event. All artists are expected to follow the rules and regulations of the event.
• Reproductions of original work, such as posters and cards, may be sold, but may not occupy more than 15% of the total booth space. Commercially produced work from kits or imported art and goods may not be exhibited. Hand-pulled prints and photographs in signed and numbered limited editions will be accepted as original work under the appropriate category.
• Artists may only sell and display the art medium approved by the festival jurors. The selling of refreshments and snacks is prohibited. 
• Booth assignments are determined by the festival event coordinator. Requests or demands for a specific location will not be accepted.
• Electricity is not provided. Generators are not permitted. If you require electricity, please note this in the comment section of your application.
• A tent or canopy is required for each booth, and all set-up materials, tents and canopies must meet the rules and standards of the City of Gresham Fire Marshal (see our fire prevention planning guide for more information).
• All boxes and storage bins must be stored away by participants in their vehicles or tucked away within the 10 x 10 booth space. No boxes or storage bins can be stored behind your booth on pedestrian sidewalks.

Questions?

Email ArtsFestival@GreshamOregon.gov or call 971-438-6477.

Please proceed to artists’ waiver and hold harmless agreement.