FAQ
Resources
Helpful links to help with your artist submission and booth
Important
Submission Tips
Arena Booth &
Zone Map
Booth Setup
Guidelines
Artist Booth
Lighting
2026 Jurors’
Checklist
Helpful links to help with your artist submission and your festival booth. Additional support available via email: [email protected]
PAF welcomes individual artists and artisans working in all mediums: painting, photography, sculpture, pottery, glass, wood, textiles, jewellery, and more, with or without formal training. Both emerging and established artists are encouraged to submit original artworks created in the last three years.
Our juried festival offers both in-person and online participation to artists across Canada and internationally.
Note for International Applicants: If applying from outside Canada, you are responsible for your travel documents, customs, and shipping. We do not issue invitation letters. We recommend using a licensed customs broker.
All applications must be submitted through our website at pelhamartfestival.com. Click Apply Now to begin. New artists must create an account, returning artists can just log in.
You’ll be asked to provide basic contact details, a biography, and upload images of your artwork. Social media handles, banners, and profile pictures are optional and not visible to the jury. These can be added once you are accepted.
Application Fee: A non-refundable $30 fee is due at the time of submission for applications received by January 31. A late fee of $60 applies to applications submitted between February 1 and February 15, also due at the time of submission.
Booth Payment: Once artists are accepted by the jury, their booth payment is due.
- All works must be hand-made by the artist. Machine-made, AI-generated, or mass-produced items are not accepted.
- You may sell additional artworks, but they must be visually cohesive and consistent with the pieces submitted to the jury.
- All pieces must be for sale.
- Artists are to submit 5 artworks that form a cohesive body of work.
- PAF requires a minimum of 80% original work, and allows up to 20% reproductions (e.g., giclée or limited-edition prints). Photography must be in editions of 25 or fewer, signed and numbered.
- Refer to our Tips for Submitting for Jurying and our Artist Guidelines and Reproduction Policy for complete details.
Your Booth Fee Includes:
- The in-person booth space
- An online gallery on our website (available at no extra cost for the entire year)
- Artist name badge and artwork label tags
- Pegboard panels (8′ W x 6′ H) for your booth:
- Single booth: 2 panels
- Double booth: 4 panels
- Corner booth: 2 panels
- 3-Panel booth: 3 panels
- Featured artist promotion on social media
- Volunteer coverage during small festival breaks
- Part of our festival advertising campaign
PAF is a not-for-profit arts organization. Your fee supports application processing, juror review, advertising, website maintenance, training, promotional campaigns, festival décor and setup as well as artist support.
Your booth fees are:
- Single Booth – $175
- Corner Booth – $175
- 3-Panel Booth – $250
- Double Booth – $350
When artists are accepted by the jury, the booth payment is due.
Cancellations must be made in writing by April 15, 2026, for a refund (minus the non-refundable fee). Cancellations made within three weeks of the Festival will only be refunded if your booth is filled by someone on the waitlist.
We provide booth walls (pegboards). You must bring:
- Hooks, lighting (LED only), small table, chair, signs, and other display tools.
- If using tape, it’s recommended bring white tape.
- All setups must be professional and within your space.
- Sculptors and ceramicists may bring their own bases or plinths.
No custom-built booths are allowed, except for standalone display cases or plinths.
Yes. All lighting must be LED. Bring a three-prong extension cord and a stepladder for setup. Extension cord should be 50’ or 100’ depending on your booth proximity to the electrical box shown on arena booth map.
Lighting is inspected on-site by the Town. Arena lighting will be dimmed during festival hours, so it is important that your lighting is bright enough to properly showcase your artwork.
Refer to our Lighting handout for more information.
Friday 9:00 am until 5:00 pm. Pick up your artist envelopes at check-in desk. Artwork is brought in through the large overhead doors on the East side of the arena. Please remove your vehicle immediately to artist parking lot after unloading to allow newly arriving artists to unload artwork in front of the overhead door.
Artists may unload near the North Loading Doors on Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. After unloading please move your vehicle promptly to the Northeast Artist Parking Lot (directly behind the back doors). This keeps closer spaces available for customers.
Volunteers will be on-site to answer questions.
Yes. Artists must be present throughout festival hours:
- Friday: 7–10 PM
- Saturday: 10 AM–5 PM
- Sunday: 10 AM–4 PM
Volunteers will provide short break relief, but please bring someone to assist you if needed.
Yes. The venue is locked overnight and security is provided. PAF and the Town of Pelham are not liable for damage or theft. Please insure your work.
You are responsible for processing your own sales. We recommend:
- A secure hotspot.
- Square, Stripe, or other payment systems.
- Petty cash for small purchases.
- Arrange with PAF Treasurer who can process sales for you through PAF VISA at Information/Treasurer table
A 15% commission on total sales (excluding tax) is payable to PAF by Sunday 4:00 PM.
You may sell additional works, artist cards, and prints, provided they align with your application and our Artist Guidelines & Reproduction Policy.
The Festival is committed to supporting individual artists as part of our Mandate. Studio applications and collectives are not accepted since we facilitate artists as entrepreneurs to give opportunities to artists and artisans. One exception to this might be a Youth Artist booth, organized by the Festival Committee.
- Connect with 2000+ in-person and 5300+ online attendees.
- Be part of a respected festival with strong community support.
- Benefit from social media promotion and online exposure.
- Access training, booth setup help, and ongoing artist support.
- Shopify for online purchases May-31
- Showcase your work year-round in our Online Gallery until April 2027.
- Enjoy a welcoming, well-organized festival with strong sales potential.
leave. Volunteers will help to process payments at tables set up to allow artists to:
- Confirm that all sold invoices have been collected and submitted throughout the
weekend. - Bring forward any final sold invoices, return unused invoices, and list of sales.
- Compare your total with our tally sheet and for you to make payment of 15%
commission - Receive payment minus 15% commission, if we processed the sale for you.
For online sales, artists will receive: - Shopify payment minus 15% for online sales made from May 1 to close of Festival.
- An e-transfer or cheque for further Shopify sales for rest of May will be sent to you in
June.
All participating artists must agree to our Code of Conduct, included in the Artist Agreement. It outlines professional and respectful participation standards.
