Art in the Park heralds the start of summer in Columbia, MO - an arts-focused college town, home to the University of Missouri and the recipient of the Missouri Arts Council's first ever Creative Community Award. The festival is open to the public and admission is free.

The Columbia Art League, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, has organized Art in the Park since its inception in the 1950's.  Each year the festival welcomes approximately 110 artists from across the country and attracts 22,000 visitors over the two-day event. Set amidst the parkland and lakeside of the picturesque Stephens Lake Park, 2025 marks the 66th anniversary of Art in the Park. 

Columbia is easily accessible from Interstate 70 (east-west) and State Highway 63 (north-south). The festival grounds are just to the east of the downtown area with ample visitor parking provided courtesy of the nearby Boone Hospital. Visitor shuttle buses are provided from the Boone Hospital lots.

In addition to the main event - the Fine Arts & Crafts Fair - Art in the Park will includes entertainment for children, acoustic music from local musicians, a children's art area, an Rising Artist Pavilion showing work by local high school students, a Veterans’ Art Pavilion featuring art by local, veteran artists, a Young Collector's Tent, art installations and rounded out with several Food Trucks serving up delicious fare.

ELIGIBILITY & RULES

• Artists must be present and must personally staff their booth during the entire event. Only artists displaying their own original work may participate. No stand-in or proxy exhibitors are allowed to represent the artist(s). If two artists collaborate, it is considered a joint entry and they should exhibit a single body of work. If accepted, they may exhibit only that work, which is collaborative. Collaborative signatures must appear on all materials exhibited.
• Your name must not be visible in any of your submitted images for the jury - including your booth shot.
• A booth shot is required - the quality of your booth design and setup is considered during the selection process. A good booth shot will show your entire booth, NOT include your name, represent the artwork you're applying with, and be in focus. We do not consider booth images created, manipulated, enhanced, or otherwise affected by a computer program.
• All work must be designed and executed by the accepted artist(s). Commercially cast jewelry, molds, imported or commercially-made products (including fiber/wearables), and/or screen printed fiber products are not allowed at the festival.
• Work done in classes or workshops, “Buy-sell” and/or imports, work from kits, commercial designs, and derivative work is prohibited. Artists selling work that is not their own will be expelled from the Festival.
• Studios involved in volume production are not permitted to exhibit.
• The Executive Director reserves the right to ask that any work that is inconsistent with the juried subject or artist who is in violation of these rules be removed.
• Artists in the 2D categories are allowed to sell reproductions of their original work in limited, signed and numbered editions, but reproductions cannot represent the majority of work in the booth.
• Artists may only exhibit work in the media categories in which they have been accepted. The work exhibited must match the quality and style of work represented by the artist in his or her application.
• Artists may apply to exhibit in more than one category but must a submit a second online application and remit a second jury fee.
• All jewelry must be designed and executed by the exhibiting jeweler. Beaded work, where the artist has purchased the beads rather than working the beads/stones/gems his or herself, may not comprise more than 10% of the work displayed. Artists will be asked to remove work not conforming with this rule.
• Only artists accepted in the jewelry categories may display and sell jewelry.
• Each applicant is required to submit four quality jpg images representative of the work to be exhibited. A fifth jpg image must show their display booth with work visible and the set-up representative of the booth display at Art in the Park. The artist's name should not be visible in the booth image.
• Artists must be aged 18 years or older.
• Artists are responsible for their own sales tax.
• Art in the Park is an outdoor show and exhibitors will be at Stephens Lake Park, rain or shine. Artists should come prepared for all weather!
• Artists are provided a 12' x 12' ground space. Artists must bring their own white 10' x 10' tent, which should be sturdy enough to withstand the elements - 40lb weights are required for each corner in order to pass the fire dept. inspection. [Due to wind concerns, light-weight, accordion-style, pop-up tents are strongly discouraged]. Set-up is on grass, please bring stakes for your tent (also required for fire code).
• Please note that there is no electricity provided for artists. Generators may only be used under extenuating circumstances and must be pre-arranged with the festival organizer. Any accepted generators must be muffled and not infringe upon any other exhibitors space nor pose a hazard to festival goers.

JURY FEE: 

• $35 - payable via Zapplication, non-refundable.
• If you pay by check, please make checks payable to: Columbia Art League

BOOTH FEES:

• Mid-row (opens on one side)
  • $230 - 12' x 12' Columbia Art League member
  • $280 - 12' x 12' non-member

• Corner (opens on two sides)
  • $260 - 12' x 12' Columbia Art League member
  • $310 - 12' x 12' non-member

• Double
  • $470 - 24' x 12' Columbia Art League member
  • $570 - 24' x 12' non-member

NOTE: We have a limited number of double booths. Artists with paid fees and completed agreements will be given priority.

Some quick tips about your booth shot: 

• The booth image shows the jury your body of work and provides dimension and scale.
• It also provides a sense of artistic and creative presentation, shows the current style and overall body of work, and reflects how your booth will look at the festival. 
• The image should be of your outdoor booth set-up.

COLUMBIA ART LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP 

We welcome new members at the Columbia Art League and have no geographical membership restrictions. Membership information and payments can be made directly via CAL's website at www.ColumbiaArtLeague.org. Membership starts at $50 per year and allows artists to display work in the gallery's boutique.

SET UP INFORMATION

The festival is open for artists to set up from 8am-6pm on Friday, June 6 from 8am-6pm.

Parking is available in the Western Parking lot, accessible from Old Hwy 63 opposite the Boone Hospital entrance.  Come to the Information Tent  to check-in once you arrive.  Unloading assistance is provided on a first-come, first-served basis.  

Your artist check-in packet includes:

• Parking tag for your vehicle
• Booth number identification sign
• Artist name tag
• Festival t-shirt
• Award breakfast information