Artisphere has been successfully connecting artists and buyers for over a decade. Our festival has become a staple in the local and regional community as ‘the place to be’ for artists of all kinds. All artists go through an application and review process before final selections are made.
VISUAL ARTISTS
Applications are closed for the 2024 show.
135-150 artists will be selected to attend the festival. Each artist is given a 12’x12’ booth to showcase their artwork, with double booths available for purchase.
Requirements:
- Artwork must be original, handcrafted, and produced by the artist
- Submit an Artist Statement explaining the process and materials used
- Submit 4 images showing your range of work
- Submit 1 booth photo showing how your work will be displayed
Booth Details:
- 12’x12’ with 10’x10’ of display space
- Standard Booth: $500
- Corner Booth $600
- Double Booth: $1000
- Electricity: $40
Applications
Each artist must apply for at least one medium category. Artists can apply in multiple mediums by submitting separate applications for each.
Process:
- Submit an application with required photos through Zapplication.
- Register and create an artist profile
- Visit ZAPP Help Center for Image Preparation Tips
- A Jury Review Panel blind juries each application (learn more about our jury process)
- Final artist selections are made based on jury results
- Artists must sign and return the Artist Acceptance of Festival Participation and Booth Fees
Medium Categories:
- Ceramics
- Digital Art
- Drawing
- Fiber
- Furniture
- Glass
- Jewelry/Precious Metals
- Jewelry/Semi-Precious Metals
- Metal Works
- Mixed Media 2D
- Mixed Media 3D
- Painting: Oil/Acrylic
- Painting: Watercolors
- Photography
- Printmaking
- Sculpture
- Wood
Key Deadlines:
July 31st, 2023: Artisphere begins accepting exhibiting artist applications for the 2023 festival
October 9nd, 2023: Deadline for artists to submit application
November 4-5th, 2023: Jury Review
December 1st, 2023: Artists notified of acceptance
January 5th, 2024: Acceptance of Festival Participation and Booth Fees Due
February 23rd, 2024: Final Date for Cancellation and Receipt of Refund
May 10-12, 2024: Festival Dates
Artisphere’s Emerging Festival Artist Scholarship Program
This program is open to South Carolina artists who have developed a solid body of work, completed within the past two years, but who are not currently earning a living as a festival exhibitor.
Selected artists will participate in the Festival, attend an exhibition workshop, and receive:
- Booth space
- Use of display screens during the festival
Requirements:
Scholarship applicants undergo the same jury selection process as all visual artist applicants and submit an application with required photos through Zapplication.
- Register and create an artist profile in Zapplication
- Follow instructions to apply to Artisphere as an Emerging Festival Artist
Meet the 2024 Jury Review Panel
Each year, we carefully select a panel of Visual Arts professionals and a representative from the Artisphere Board of Directors to jury visual artist applications. All scores are combined and averaged to determine accepted and waitlisted artists by medium category. Artistic Excellence scores are based on:
- Artistic merit (vision, creativity, originality of work, cohesiveness, and consistency)
- Technical competence (strength of composition, color, design, and technical aspects)
- Booth presentation
ARTIST OF THE UPSTATE EXHIBIT
The Artists of the Upstate Exhibit is a juried exhibition that’s open to artists 18+ living in Upstate South Carolina (Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Pickens, Oconee, Greenwood, Laurens, Cherokee, Union, Abbeville counties). This exhibit recognizes the outstanding quality and diversity of work being generated by those living in the Upstate region. The accepted artists will be featured on the Artisphere website and shared on Artisphere’s social media channels. Cash prizes will be awarded to four award winners. The deadline to apply is March 27, 2023.
Kate Ledbetter serves as Executive Director of Redux Contemporary Art Center since summer 2022. A longtime community supporter of Redux’s mission and a deep love and involvement in the arts led Kate to this dynamic hub of creativity. Kate grew up on Hilton Head Island and moved to Charleston in 1998 to study Historic Preservation at the College of Charleston. Kate’s love of the built environment and the stories it relays of the history of people led Kate to Drayton Hall, a property of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, where she worked for many years and established an understanding of the important work being done in Charleston through non-profit organizations. Kate went on to work for the South Carolina Aquarium and Charleston Collegiate School, all the time deeply immersed in the local preservation, conservation, music and arts scenes.
LOCAL PERFORMING ARTS SHOWCASE
Artisphere is dedicated to celebrating the arts and the Upstate’s rich international and multicultural flair by providing space for local performing arts groups to showcase their craft.
We seek performing artists to embody our mission:
- Celebrate the arts and make them accessible to all residents and visitors
- Showcase Greenville’s local cultural offerings alongside some of the most talented visual artists from across the country
- Highlight the power of the arts to enhance quality of life and build community
- Educate, inspire, and entertain a diverse audience
- Generate tourism and stimulate economic development
Requirements:
- Complete the application
- Submit Artist/Group biographies and performance history
- Samples of your performance in video or photo format
- Must be a Local nonprofit Performing Arts Group
CULINARY ARTS APPLICATION
The Culinary Arts Cafe, located at the heart of the festival on the Main St Bridge, will house five local full-service restaurants. Artisphere aims to provide a great culinary selection highlighting Greenville’s growing and diverse culinary scene.
COLLABORATIVE ARTS EVENT
Application Deadline: March 10, 2023
Artisphere recognizes Greenville’s outstanding visual and performing art groups that put together special events in celebration of the festival weekend.
Requirements:
- Complete the application
- Samples of your performance in video or photo format
- Submit a 50-100 word description of your organization and performance (this may be used in Artisphere publicity and programming materials)
