Application for Juried Art Show
Welcome!
The Saco Arts Festival Committee invites you to participate in the 55th Annual Saco Arts Festival, taking place on Saturday, June 20, 2026 and located in Saco, Maine. Thousands of people attend this annual celebration that has become one of Saco’s most beloved traditions.
The Saco Arts Festival is a juried fine arts event celebrating original works in painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, fiber art, printmaking, and fine craft. Original fine art to include paintings, drawings, prints, and photographs are acceptable for display. Print reproductions of original art are acceptable as long as they are not your primary offering. A limited number of fine craft to include sculpture, ceramics, fiber art, printmaking and jewelry will also be accepted.
Applications:
Please use the form below to apply for a place in this show. The Saco Arts Festival is open to all artists who wish to exhibit original paintings, drawings, photographs, and prints. Please be aware that this is considered a “fine art” show and works will be carefully considered by our volunteer jury before being accepted.
Application Deadlines & Notification Timeline:
- Applications will not be accepted after March 31, 2026. You will receive an email confirmation once your application has been received.
- All applicants will be notified of their status in the show on or before April 10, 2026.
- If accepted to the show, artists will be sent a link for payment, or will be able to pay via check.
- All exhibitors must include photos of, or a link to, photos of their work to undergo fair evaluation by a jury.
- Participants from previous years do not have an assured place in this year’s show. Every submission will undergo fair evaluation by a jury.
- The Arts Festival Committee reserves the right to limit pottery, jewelry, and other fine craft to a limited percentage of the total exhibition field.
Type of Work Accepted:
All original paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, and fine craft pieces are acceptable for exhibition. If there is any question about the admissibility of a certain work, the Committee will base its judgement solely at their discretion.
- Original fine art – Paintings, drawings, prints, mixed media
- Photography – Original photographic prints and fine art photography
- Sculpture – Clay, metal, wood, stone, and other sculptural works
- Fine craft – Handmade pottery, ceramics, glass art, fiber art, woodworking
- Jewelry – Handcrafted, original jewelry designs
- Textiles and fiber arts – Weaving, quilting, felting, tapestry
Type of Work NOT Accepted:
- Food, beverages, or baked goods
- Health and wellness products
- Home goods (candles, pillows, etc.)
- Clothing and apparel
- Crafts
- Paint-by-number kits or similar works
- Licensed characters (e.g., Batman, Bart Simpson, Disney characters)
- Fan art or derivative works (art based on copyrighted properties, even if drawn originally)
- Non-original works
- Resale items or mass-produced goods
- AI-generated artwork
- Photography printed on commercial products
- Kits or pre-made bases (resin molds, paint-pour kits, diamond painting)
- Direct imports or wholesale items
About the Event
The Saco Arts Festival is an annual event organized and managed by Saco Main Street, a non-profit organization committed to making Saco a better place to live and work by enhancing the vitality of our downtown. The Saco Arts Festival Committee is dedicated to promoting art and culture in our community. Proceeds from the Saco Arts Festival are reinvested into the community.
We welcome all participating artists to consider donating a piece to our Raffle held at the Saco Main Street booth, so that we can share your incredible talents with our community and help to raise money for Saco Main Street.
Members of the Committee and all of our hard-working volunteers look forward to seeing you this year, and thank you for your participation.
Event Policies and Regulations
Display spaces will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Spaces are 10′ x 10′ and Saco Main Street does not provide any tents, tables, or other display apparatus.
- All traffic safety issues and respect for property will be strictly observed and maintained. By submitting your application, you agree to follow all Saco Main Street set-up and break-down guidelines, and to respect the instruction you may receive on the day of the event by Saco Main Street staff or volunteers.
- Tents must be weighted on all corners of the apparatus with at least 30 pounds each.
- Please remember that anything you bring into the event space must also be taken out by you. Saco Main Street reserves the right to not invite back artists who leave trash or packing materials behind.
- Exhibitors may not dismantle booths prior to 3:00PM without prior written consent of the Arts Festival Committee. Except in the case of adverse weather conditions, as notified by a Saco Main Street representative during the event.
- A hot-spot or personal wifi is highly recommended. There is no public wifi available at the event.
- Exhibitors are responsible for all State of Maine revenue requirements.
- An informational email including your booth assignment and a map will be emailed no later than Monday, June 8.
- There will be no electricity provided to booths unless absolutely necessary, and a $35 power fee will apply. Access to electricity is limited and Saco Main Street reserves the right to deny any electrical request.
- Cancellation Policy: In the event of rain or force majeure, Saco Main Street will notify participants of postponement on or before June 18th, or as reasonably possible. All show fees are refundable through May 15th, 2026. After this point, it is forfeited due to advertising and printing costs.
- Rain Date: if the event needs to be moved due to adverse weather, the scheduled rain date is Sunday, June 21 2026.
Awards and Prizes
Categories are subject to change before the festival at the discretion of the planning committee, as well as the number of booths allowed in any particular category. Fine art/craft originals only. Reproductions will not qualify for an award. Winners will be notified by 11 AM on the day of the event.
AWARDS:
- Judges’ Choice Overall – $200
- Honorable Mention – $100
- Best Watercolor – $75
- Best Oil/Acrylic – $75
- Best Other Medium – $75
- Best Photography – $75
- Best Mixed Media – $75
- Best Fine Craft – $75
- Merit Awards – $50 (three available)
- Best Booth Presentation – $50
The Saco Sidewalk Arts Festival Committee and Saco Main Street are not responsible for any damage or loss to booths, artwork, or personal items during this event.
By submitting your application, you agree that you have reviewed the event policies and agree to abide by regulations applicable to the Saco Sidewalk Arts Festival.