ELIGIBILITY:
- Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
- Only artists who have resided in Orange County for at least one year prior to the 2026 deadline date – October 30, 2025.
- At the time of acceptance, proof of residency will be required such as a copy of property tax bill or rental/lease agreement. Note: Studio or Gallery location does not qualify as residence.
- No reproductions – only original artwork is accepted and exhibited.
- All work must be of original design and solely the work of the artist. The work exhibited must match the quality and style of work as represented in the submitted images. Only original artwork is accepted, no reproductions.
JURY PROCESS
- The jurying process is in two phases. During the first phase, jurors will review the five digital images per media submitted by applicants. The images will be scored on a Yes-No System. Additional media would require a separate submission. The second phase requires artists to bring in three pieces of artwork for physical jurying.
- The jurors will score the submitted artwork, based on creativity and originality, excellence of craftmanship; excellence in the use of design elements (color, line, shape, form, texture, space); and professional presentation.
- Jurying fees are $50 per medium submitted.
2026 EXHIBIT JURORS
- Lia Halloran: Interdisciplinary Artist and Professor of Art at Chapman University
- John Kosta: Award-Winning Fine Art Painter
- Julie Perlin Lee: Executive Director of Laguna Art Museum
- Jennifer Monroe: Metal Artist and Associate Professor of Metals & Jewelry
- Jonde Northcutt: Printmaker, Painter, and Co-Founder of Bluestone Editions
Click here to learn more about the jurors.
September 2, 2025
2026 Exhibit Applications Available
2026 Exhibit Applications Available
September 7, 2025 at 10am
Free Artist Seminar
Orange County Center for Contemporary Art (OCCCA)
117 N Sycamore Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701
October 30, 2025 at 4pm. No exceptions.
Application Deadline
July 6 – September 4, 2026
2026 Festival of Arts Summer Exhibit
May I drop off my application?
- All applicants must apply through the digital form on the website.
Why do you require an email?
- All communication regarding acceptance/non-acceptance, dates, etc. is done by email. This saves both time and resources and gets the information to you in the most efficient and timely manner.
What is the application fee?
- A non-refundable jury fee of $50 per medium is required with each submission.
Do you accept cash payment for the application fee?
- All payments must be made via debit or credit card on the website.
What if I don’t see my medium in the dropdown?
- Please click here for a list of mediums and definitions.
What if I want to submit more than one medium?
- Each medium requires its own, separate application. Each also requires a separate application fee. You may enter in as many mediums as you like. Please note: Photography is one medium. Color photography, black and white photography, landscape photography, etc., is all considered one medium: photography. This also applies to painting (oil, acrylic, etc). Please review the list of mediums.
If I applied last year, may I submit the same images this year?
- Yes, you can. Every year a new independent jury is chosen, so last year’s images will be new to this year’s jury. Always submit your best work.
Who are the jurors?
- Jurors change every year. Our jury is always made up of independent jurors, who are not current artists or affiliated with the Festival. Our juror pool ranges from museum presidents and curators to working renowned artists, university-level arts professors to respected fine arts experts. You can learn about this year’s jurors here.
What do the jurors look for?
- The jurors will score the submitted artwork, based on creativity and originality, excellence of craftmanship; excellence in the use of design elements (color, line, shape, form, texture, space); and professional presentation. They choose based on what they consider are the best artworks submitted.
How many spaces are available?
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Each season, we open up 40% of the spaces (48 out of 120) through our jury process.
Do you have a specific number of photographers or painters or sculptors accepted each year?
- No, we do not have any quotas.
If I am accepted to the physical jurying, do I have to bring the exact items that were in my digital submission?
- No, but it is preferred as the jury selected that work for a reason. You may bring other artworks, but they must be of the same quality/type as what was originally submitted. All artwork submitted at physical jurying should be framed and ready as if to present in exhibit.
If I am accepted into the Festival, what expenses will I have to be responsible for?
- There is an $800 booth fee. In addition, you are responsible to provide a current City of Laguna Beach business license (requires a fee payment) and a current State of California Board of Equalization Seller’s Permit. You are also responsible for construction of your booth and for the lights/lighting. The cost of booth construction will depend on who constructs and what is constructed. In addition, every exhibitor is required to provide 10 hours of volunteer time.
Is there an advantage to submitting my application early?
- Submissions are shown to the jury in the order they are received.
If I am accepted into the Festival, what is my time commitment?
- The more time you spend at your booth in the summer, the better your experience will be. Patrons love to meet the artists, and most artists report better interactions (and sales) when they are present most evenings. We do not require you to be in your booth at all times, though each artist is required to complete 10 hours of volunteer time at the Festival over the summer.
What percentage of my sale does the Festival take?
- The Festival of Arts does not take any percentage of any artists’ sale.
Is there a way to sell my work if I am not there?
- Yes, if you choose you may sign up with the the Fine Art Sales Booth. If you sign up, your work will be sold on your behalf for a service charge of 20%. Another method would be to have an employee, family member or someone familiar with your work “booth sit” when you cannot be here. This person(s) would have your authority to sell your work on your behalf in your absence. No commission is paid to the Festival. All “booth sitters” must be registered with the Security office and have proper identification.
Selma Holo received her doctorate at UC Santa Barbara in Spanish Art, MA at Hunter College, CUNY, NY also in Spanish Art, and BA at Northwestern University in Spanish language and literature. She taught art history at Art Center College of Design for three years before assuming the post of Curator of Acquisitions at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena. After her stint there, she became Director of the USC Fisher Museum of Art and then Executive Director of USC Museum. She was also a full Professor there, leading their prestigious Museum Studies program and training curators and directors of museums. Holo created and ran the International Museum Institute and built special relationships with major museums in Mexico. She is currently Special Advisor to Art Division in Los Angeles where underserved youth receive art education. Her books include, Beyond the Prado; Beyond the Turnstile; Oaxaca at the Crossroads; and Re-Mix: Changing Conversations in Museums of the Americas.
Internationally renowned museum educator, scholar and collaborative arts producer Kim Kanatani joined the University of California, Irvine as the inaugural museum director of the UCI Institute and Museum for California Art (IMCA) in September 2019. She spearheads the development of this new university and community asset that exhibits and collects an inclusive historic arc of modern and contemporary California art. Offering unparalleled arts and cross-curricular experiences for the campus, the region and beyond, IMCA fosters appreciation of, access to, and engagement with the distinct visual artistry of the Golden State.
As Founder and Director of the Venice Institute of Contemporary Art (ViCA) since 2011, Juri Koll curates and presents exhibits at museums, galleries and fairs in the U.S. and abroad, such as the Chabot Museum in Rotterdam, Netherlands and the Wilhelm Morgner Haus Museum in Germany, and the Long Beach Museum of Art Annex, the Torrance Art Museum, and the Museum of Art and History, and OCCCA, Photo LA, Art Palm Springs, the LA Art Show, Gallery 825, TAG, and Muzeumm Gallery. ViCA’s gallery is located in downtown Los Angeles.
Gerard, who grew up in Los Angeles, California is a self-taught artist who has acquired knowledge and experience from his travels and life experiences. He draws on all aspects of his life in order to create unique and meaningful pieces. His artistic beginnings started when he was young; drawing was part of his everyday recreation. From a very early age he knew that he wanted to be an artist. As an adult he worked in many creative, artistic fields such as set design, costume design and building functional art. This only partly satisfied his artistic desires, so he began to create fine art sculptures that became his full-time passion. In the last few years Gerard has specifically worked on creating fine art in bronze. It is in this medium that he has found the truest form of art that flows from his heart, head and soul. He draws on all aspects of his life in order to create unique and meaningful pieces. Gerard has exhibited his work at the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach, California, and has had great success in forming a clientele that recognizes the beauty and strength in his work. His sculptures are included in many significant collections both public and private. Gerard lives in Laguna Beach and works full time as an artist.