Since 1952, Sausalito, the San Francisco Area's "Jewel by The Bay", has hosted one of the finest outdoor shows in the country. Held over Labor Day weekend on Sausalito's waterfront, the Festival attracts more than 40,000 Art Collectors to celebrate the virtuoso talents of the finest local, national, and international Artists.  The Sausalito Art Festival presents over 20,000 original works of art and features over 270 extraordinary Artists.

Highlights

• Rated Best in the West by the Harris List.
• Rated America's #1 Outdoor Fine Art Festival by ArtFair SourceBook for five years.
• Rated America's #1 Fine Art Festival by Sunshine Artist in 1998 — Named to "Top 10" for a decade.
• The Festival attracts Art Collectors from around the world.
• Cash prizes recognizing outstanding achievement.
• Highly praised Artist & VIP Hospitality facilities including complimentary continental breakfast, lunch, and snacks.
• Artist Relations, "Concierge" Services and booth sitters.
• Gourmet food, fine wines and premium beers.
• Top Name Musical Entertainment on three stages.
• Children's Theatre and hands-on Art Activities for children.
• National and Regional advertising, promotion and public relations.
• Direct Ferry service to the Festival Pier.
• Flat Booth Fee, no Commissions.
• Free Glossy Festival Programme highlighting the Artists.
• Festival Website promotes exhibiting Artists throughout the year.
• Complimentary Ticket to the Festival Gala Preview Party.
• Free Festival shuttle system and free parking.
• Beautiful waterfront setting.
• 24 Hour Security from set-up through load-out.

Awards

Up to $15,000 in prize money will be awarded where excellence is determined by the Judges, including $1,000 "Best of Show" Award.  All award winners will receive an invitation to exhibit the following year in the Sausalito Art Festival.

Application Deadline & Notification

All applications must be completed no later than March 1st. Late applications must be complete by March 21, 2008. Notification of results will be made approximately April 15th. All application fees are non-refundable. Telephone notification will not be provided under any circumstances.

Jury & Selection Process

A panel of Artists (nominated by the Artists exhibiting from previous years) select participants for the exhibition. Exhibitor selections are based on quality of workmanship, originality, and artistic conception. All applications are assigned a number and are viewed anonymously. Artists are scored on a scale of 1 (low) to 7 (high) and given a score of the combined points from each Juror. Description information from the Artist is made available to the Jurors. The number of Artists accepted into each category is based on the number of applicants for the category. The top scoring Artists are invited to participate in the Show. Selections by the Jury are final. Sausalito Artists will receive one bonus screening point in the selection process. Award Winners from previous years, Jurors, and exceptional local and national Artists, are brought to the show by invitation. A wait list is selected from the jury scores in each medium and invited as cancellations occur in that particular medium.
The competition for the Festival is very keen. There are usually over 1,200 applicants for the approximately 200 spaces, and unless images clearly illustrate the quality of the work, chances of acceptance will be reduced. Digital images are the only basis on which the Jury Panel can make a decision. The works for intended exhibit(s) must be represented by the images submitted.

Images

Five (5) images are to be submitted for each individual category entered. Four images must be representative of the body of work which will be exhibited. The fifth image must be representative of your booth set-up. Neither the Artist nor their name should be visable. If you do not have an image of your actual booth set-up, please photograph a "mock booth" against plain walls, showing a grouping of your work and interaction (in order to reflect scale). Digital images must be 1400 pixels at the longest dimension at 300 DPI in jpeg format..

Exhibitor Information

The Festival Site is located outdoors in a park, along Sausalito's beautiful waterfront. NOTE: Wind can be problematic! There will be no rain/contingency plan.

• Artists are provided with a standard booth set-up: a 10' x 10' space with a tented roof and no walls. Equipment and Pegboard Walls and white Vinyl Wall panels are available for rent from a local supplier if the Artist does not have an existing display. The basic booth fee is $1,050.00.
• Booth assignments are made at the discretion of the Festival. A limited number of double booths and corner booths are available at an extra charge.
• All Artists must be registered and set-up by 3pm on the Friday preceding the Labor Day weekend, or their booth will be forfeited.
• Photo ID is required.
• Exhibitors are responsible for establishing their own merchant accounts with Visa/Mastercard, American Express, etcetera.
• Load-in commences at 7:00am on the Thursday preceding the Show. Every Artist will have a specific appointment.
• Pre-registration (but not load-in) is available on Wednesday by appointment.

Artist Relations Services

Artists are honored guests at the black tie Gala Premiere Party and are required to exhibit Friday evening from 6pm to 9pm, Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 6pm, and Labor Day Monday from 9am to 5pm. An Artist Hospitality Tent is provided and serves complimentary continental breakfast, snacks, lunch, beverages and live entertainment. Artists will receive Hospitality Tent passes and one pass for a Booth Assistant. Parking, laminated booth signs, promotional postcards, exhibitor identification badges, booth sitters, and hotel referrals are provided. 24-hour security is provided during the Festival weekend.

Festival Eligibility & Rules

• The Festival is open to all applying Artists.
• Exhibition in previous Festivals does not guarantee acceptance.
• No work by apprentices or employees will be accepted. Commercial agents, dealers, or manufacturers are not eligible to enter. No kits, molds, tumbled stones, embellished objects, or edible art may be submitted. NOTE: All Artists must be present on site during the entire Festival.
• Exhibitors are required to display an Artist Statement in a prominent place within their booth. Materials and processes used must be disclosed in this statement.
• Only limited edition, signed, and numbered reproductions of artworks are allowed. Artist must define "limited edition" through their Artist Statement and must disclose their process to the buyer. Editions may not exceed 450. Original art must occupy more than 50% of the applicant's booth space. In the case of photographers and printmakers, this means gallery quality framed work. No postcards, books, note cards, posters, or any offset reproductions are permitted.
• Artists must comply with all safety requirements, and vehicles must be parked only in designated areas. Artists are forbidden to park in public parking operated by local charities. Noncompliance will result in elimination from consideration for any future festivals.
• Exhibitors are required by the City of Sausalito to purchase a Sausalito Business License and comply with all City regulations.
• No commission on sales is collected by the Sausalito Art Festival.
• Participating exhibitors will be responsible for collecting and paying current California sales tax on all sales made during the show. Appropriate records of transactions will be requested by State tax authorities and must be furnished upon request. Information on how to acquire a California Board of Equalization Permit will be provided.
• Due to our contract with the City of Sausalito, Artists are required to report their sales totals to the Festival. If the Festival has not received your California State Seller's Permit by July 1, the invitation to exhibit will be rescinded; a form will be provided. Artists who do not comply will not be issued a Sausalito Business License for future shows.

Application Fees

There are two Application Fee classifications:

1.) Standard — $50 per category
Completed by March 1, 2008

2.) Late — $100 per category
If received by March 21, 2008

The non-refundable application fee must be submitted by March 1st for each category application submitted. No applications will be accepted after the March 21st deadline.

Exhibition Fees

Upon notification of acceptance, you will be mailed a contract with all necessary forms. In order to secure a space, your signed contract, booth fees, $65.00 Sausalito Business License fee, and photocopy of your ID (valid driver license or passport), must be returned no later than May 18th.

Festival 2008 Booth Fees

Booth Type Fee:
Single $1,050
Corner $1,750
Double with 10' opening $2,200
Double Aisle to Aisle $2,400
Double Side to Side $2,600
Double with One Corner $2,800

Festival 2008 Artist Timeline

March 1 Regular Application Deadline - $50 Fee
March 21 Late Application Deadline - $100 Fee
March 29 & March 30 Jury Panel Meeting
April 15 Artists Notifications
May 18 Returned Postmarked- Signed Contract, Forms, & All Exhibition Fees Due
July 1 Final Withdrawal Date without forfeiture of Booth Fees
July 15 Information Packets sent
August 27 Pre-Registration by Appointment only
August 28 & 29 Artists Check-In and Set-up by Appointment Only
August 29 Gala Premiere 6pm-Midnight
August 30 Festival 9am-6pm
August 31 Festival 9am-6pm
September 1 Festival 9am-5pm

Festival Exhibitors

Virtual Gallery

Advice for Artists new to Digital Application

"Call For Artists" Online Application