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Opening Night Friday, January 31, 2025

Saturday and Sunday,
February 1-2, 2025
Opening Night Friday,
January 31, 2025

What Makes An Art Festival Right for You?

July 31, 2023 by Leave a Comment

Preparing for your upcoming year: 9 key questions to guide your festival selection

What Makes A Festival Great for You ArtFest Fort Myers

As you plan for the upcoming year and select the right festivals for your art, it's essential to consider various factors to ensure a successful and rewarding experience. While there's no one-size-fits-all formula, here are nine key questions to help you narrow down your choices:

  1. Community size and artist participation: Does the festival's community size align with the number of participating artists? A balanced ratio ensures a better chance of attracting a substantial art-buying crowd.
  2. Art-buyer focus: Is the festival dedicated to attracting an art-buyer audience? Events that prioritize art buyers can significantly boost your chances of successful sales.
  3. Community support for the Arts: Does the community consistently support the arts, visual and performing, throughout the year? A vibrant arts community often attracts enthusiastic patrons.
  4. Comprehensive marketing plan: Does the event have a well-rounded marketing plan covering various media channels, such as print, radio, TV, website, and social platforms? Widespread marketing reaches a diverse range of potential buyers.
  5. Artist advertising program: Is there an option for artists to participate in the event's advertising program to promote their work? Leveraging collective advertising efforts can increase exposure.
  6. Scheduling and travel: Can you create a comfortable festival circuit with several weekend events aligning with your travel plans and preferences?
  7. Artist gallery and medium balance: If available, check out the festival's "Artist Gallery" page. Assess whether there's a good balance of mediums among invited artists and if previous artists' work aligns with your style.
  8. Artist amenities: Do the festival's artist amenities, such as layout, set-up arrangements, hotel rates, reserved parking, and hospitality, meet your specific needs?
  9. Seek recommendations: Have you contacted your fellow artist friends for recommendations? First-hand experiences and insights from other artists can be invaluable in deciding.

While finding the perfect festival may take some trial and error, considering these crucial questions will help you make informed choices and increase your chances of finding the best venues to showcase your art.

Happy planning, and may the upcoming year be filled with successful and fulfilling artistic endeavors!

ArtFest Fort Myers 2015 – pARTicipate in ART

September 24, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Contact: Sharon McAllister

239-768-3602
Sharon.McAllister@ArtFestFortMyers.com
ArtFestFortMyers.com

WHAT: Southwest Florida’s premier art festival featuring 200 national artists, high school art competition, sidewalk chalk competition, children’s crafts, fine food and entertainment
WHEN: February 7 & 8, 2015, Saturday & Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm
February 6, 2015, Friday Night Opening 6 pm – 9 pm
WHERE: Downtown Fort Myers River District on Edwards Drive
COST: FREE admission
PARKING: Adjacent parking lots, street parking and City Garages are open. Look for our bright directional signs. Trolleys also available.

Get ready for the fabulous 15th anniversary of a one of a kind art experience at ArtFest Fort Myers on February 7 & 8, 2015, with an Opening Night Party on Friday, February 6th. Long considered the premier Southwest Florida art festival for its level of quality and variety, this community based event showcases artists from across the country in the Fort Myers River District. Join your neighbors, friends and business leaders, to enjoy a perfect blend of fine art, family activities, delectable food and unique performances.

ArtFest Fort Myers’ artists represent the best of the best, carefully juried and accepted to exhibit based on their incredible talent, from among over 850 applying artists from across the country and around the world. You won’t see more exciting and diverse artwork anywhere in Southwest Florida this season! Beautiful jewelry, amazing sculpture, unique paintings, and decorative ceramics are just a sampling of the kinds of art you will see all weekend long at ArtFest Fort Myers. This is your opportunity to meet the artists. Price ranges vary, so every patron can find something extra special that fits their taste and budget. This free-flowing, family-friendly celebration connects art and artists together with our community in a way that is just plain fun – this is an arts experience that delights every sense!

New this season, the Publix Run to the Arts, an exciting 5 K race, will be held on Sunday morning, February 8th in the heart of ArtFest Fort Myers.  Committ now to join us as we run/walk through scenic downtown, over the Edison Bridge and back.  Enjoy an artful experience, vie for great prizes and get healthy with friends and family over festival weekend – check our web site for race details – RunToTheArts.com

Bring the entire family to this fun free outdoor art festival. Take time to enjoy our talented high school artists’ work at the “Art Under 20” Exhibit and Competition and prepare to be amazed as the students create large street paintings in the Chalk Block. Always a crowd pleaser, the Publix Art Yard and Youth Stage are full of opportunities for children of all ages to create a masterpiece of their very own, while enjoying a variety of great performances. And be sure to visit the art festival’s Dining Galleries, where delicious culinary fare from around the world is the norm.

Join the VIP Experience for reserved parking, admission to the Friday Night Opening Party VIP tent with delicious food and specialty drinks, plus unlimited access to the VIP Terrace with lunch & beverages all weekend long. A complimentary commemorative poster is our special VIP gift for you. The elite VIP Experience is $75 per person and your support contributes to the year round art education outreach programs of ArtFest Fort Myers.

For more information visit ArtFestFortMyers.com – Like Us on Facebook  – Connect with us on Linkedin   #artfestfm

Best of Show 2013

May 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment

ArtFest Fort MyersCarolina Cleere, Best of Show winner at ArtFest Fort Myers 2013, is a native Floridian who began her career as an editorial illustrator, with camera in hand.  Her unique process of blending images through photography and painting, combined with her vast collection of vintage doll heads translates into a unique style that “Wow’d” our judges!

The VIP Experience at ArtFest Fort Myers

December 10, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Press Release

Contact: Sharon McAllister
239-768-3602
Sharon.McAllister@ArtFestFortMyers.com
ArtFestFortMyers.com

REALLY, isn’t it about time that you were treated in VIP style? Ron Bucher, Vice President of Investments at Raymond James, will be welcoming ArtFest Fort Myers’ guests to the VIP Experience for his 10th year at the art festival. Your VIP Experience at ArtFest Fort Myers includes all things artfully pampered.

Begin Friday evening, February 1, 2013, with special reserved parking, as you make your way to our VIP Tent on Opening Night. Delectable food from some of our area’s finest restaurants and great wine are just the beginning, as the evening also includes an extraordinary sampling of 60 festival artists and surprise performances.

Over festival weekend, your VIP Experience includes a reserved parking space just for you adjacent to the festival site, exclusive access to our VIP Terrace with complimentary mid-day lunch, all-day beverages and the special gift of a commemorative festival poster. “I am so proud to be a sponsor of this wonderful event,” explains Ron Bucher. “The arts have helped to define our community and add to our quality of life.”

The VIP Experience is $75 per person and your support contributes to the year-round ArtFest Fort Myers’ art education outreach programs. To enjoy the ArtFest Fort Myers VIP Experience and the 200 artists as a Very Important Patron, visit Upgrade To VIP at ArtFestFortMyers.com or call 239-768-3602.

ArtFest Fort Myers, the annual juried fine art festival, takes place February 1, 2  & 3, 2013 in the Fort Myers River District. Join the experience with 200 professional artists from across the county and around the world; the largest high school art exhibit and competition in South Florida and free interactive art experiences for children of all ages.

For more information visit ArtFestFortMyers.com or contact us at 239-768-3602.

Volunteers Make a Difference at ArtFest Fort Myers

November 26, 2012 by

Press Release

Contact: Sharon McAllister
239-768-3602
Sharon.McAllister@ArtFestFortMyers.com
ArtFestFortMyers.com

ArtFest Fort Myers, southwest Florida’s premier fine art festival, is looking for volunteers to help make our lucky 13th year the very best ever. “Three hundred volunteers are the backbone of our art festival,” says Ethel Willis, Volunteer Coordinator. “We could not put on a world class fine art festival without the help of every volunteer and Lee County Electric Cooperative, our Volunteer Sponsor!”

The core of the ArtFest Fort Myers volunteer spirit is centered around the teamwork of 40 fabulous volunteer Steering Committee Members, who have been with the art festival for many years and oversee every aspect of this nationally recognized art experience. “Our dedicated Committee Members come from all walks of life and work together all weekend to make sure that the professional artists, our sponsors and VIP’s, our volunteers and our visitors have a great time at ArtFest Fort Myers,” explains Willis. “Many of these great people began as four-hour volunteers years ago and embraced additional responsibilities to make ArtFest Fort Myers on of the finest art festivals in the country!”

Volunteer perks include reserved parking, a complimentary artistic ArtFest Fort Myers Volunteer T-shirt in your size, water, snacks and a chance to meet other great volunteers from our community!

Signing up to volunteer with ArtFest Fort Myers on February 1st, 2nd or 3rd is as simple as visiting ArtFestFortMyers.com and choosing the available volunteer job that interests you! Your 4-hour volunteer shift truly makes a difference to the community and there is no experience required! The deadline for Volunteer Registration is coming soon, so sign up today!

Plan now to join ArtFest Fort Myers in the downtown Fort Myers River District as we make art come to life on February 1, 2 & 3, 2013. Enjoy the experience with 200 artists from across the county and around the world; the largest high school art exhibit and competition in South Florida and free interactive art experiences for children of all ages.

For more information visit ArtFestFortMyers.com or contact us at 239-768-3602.

Artists Announced for ArtFest Fort Myers 2013!

November 22, 2012 by Leave a Comment

ArtFest Fort Myers is excited to announce the 200 artists for the fine art festival February 1, 2  & 3, 2013. Over 800 artists from across the country and around the world apply and only the best-of-the-best were chosen.

Get a sneak peek at the artwork at ArtFestFortMyers.com/gallery. You can even click through to the artist’s website and make your art shopping plans.

Certain to delight all attendees are sculpture, painting, ceramics, photography, printmaking, drawing, digital, mixed media, ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, wearable fiber and wood. Be sure to take advantage of this unique opportunity to come to ArtFest Fort Myers and talk to individual artists and buy Made-by the-Artist artwork. They love to share the stories of how their work is created and what inspires them.

To select the 200 artists who will show their work at ArtFest Fort Myers 2013, a panel of five art professionals looked at 3200 images representing the 815 artists who applied to part of the fine art festival.  The jury process takes an entire day and critical decisions regarding which artwork will be a part of the festival come down to averaging the five jury scores.  Artists with the highest scores, in each medium, are invited to attend ArtFest Fort Myers.

“We provide our jury panel, all artists in their own right, with a basic set of criteria”, explains Sharon McAllister, ArtFest Fort Myers Executive Director.  “They are reminded to consider artistic merit, technical competence and presentation, as they score each artists’ work. They always look for that unique combination of craftsmanship and inventiveness that is clearly original. Of course, our jury members bring their own individual criteria to determine excellence in art.  This impartial system insures that the best-of-the-best will be represented at our fine art festival each year. And, we are fortunate to be able to use state-of-the-art equipment at Edison State College to host our jury panel.”

Artists Announced for ArtFest Fort Myers 2013

November 22, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Press Release

Contact: Sharon McAllister
239-768-3602
Sharon.McAllister@ArtFestFortMyers.com
ArtFestFortMyers.com

ArtFest Fort Myers is excited to announce the 200 artists for the fine art festival February 1, 2  & 3, 2013. Over 800 artists from across the country and around the world apply and only the best-of-the-best were chosen.

Get a sneak peek at the artwork at ArtFestFortMyers.com/gallery. You can even click through to the artist’s website and make your art shopping plans.

Certain to delight all attendees are sculpture, painting, ceramics, photography, printmaking, drawing, digital, mixed media, ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, wearable fiber and wood. Be sure to take advantage of this unique opportunity to come to ArtFest Fort Myers and talk to individual artists and buy Made-by the-Artist artwork. They love to share the stories of how their work is created and what inspires them.

To select the 200 artists who will show their work at ArtFest Fort Myers 2013, a panel of five art professionals looked at 3200 images representing the 815 artists who applied to part of the fine art festival.  The jury process takes an entire day and critical decisions regarding which artwork will be a part of the festival come down to averaging the five jury scores.  Artists with the highest scores, in each medium, are invited to attend ArtFest Fort Myers.

“We provide our jury panel, all artists in their own right, with a basic set of criteria”, explains Sharon McAllister, ArtFest Fort Myers Executive Director.  “They are reminded to consider artistic merit, technical competence and presentation, as they score each artists’ work. They always look for that unique combination of craftsmanship and inventiveness that is clearly original. Of course, our jury members bring their own individual criteria to determine excellence in art.  This impartial system insures that the best-of-the-best will be represented at our fine art festival each year. And, we are fortunate to be able to use state-of-the-art equipment at Edison State College to host our jury panel.”

 
ArtFest Fort Myers, the annual juried fine art festival, takes place February 1, 2  & 3, 2013 in the Fort Myers River District. Join the experience with 200 artists from across the county and around the world; the largest high school art exhibit and competition in South Florida and free interactive art experiences for children of all ages. The art festival is FREE to everyone but you can enjoy VIP perks as well. For more information visit ArtFestFortMyers.com and Like Us on Facebook.

ArtFest Fort Myers High School Art Competition – Art Under 20

November 12, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Press Release

Contact: Sharon McAllister
239-768-3602
Sharon.McAllister@ArtFestFortMyers.com
ArtFestFortMyers.com

Art Under 20 is a visual art exhibit and competition for Lee County high school students, who exhibit their work at ArtFest Fort Myers as they compete for $7,000 in cash awards. Awards are given to the best student artists in six categories: Digital, Drawing, Painting, Photography, 3-D and Mixed Media.

Edison State College is the Presenting Sponsor of Art Under 20 as part of their mission to “ . . . create an innovative education system which provides accessible educational pathways that prepare students to be enlightened and productive citizens.”

ArtFest Fort Myers created this exhibit and competition 13 years ago to encourage students in their pursuit of art and to encourage community support of art programs in our schools. Kristin Woolam, Art Under 20 Chairman explains “Each year hundreds of students exhibit their artwork in a gallery style tent to thousands of family members, teachers, friends and 70,000 admiring art festival attendees.”

All Lee County high school students (public, private and home-schooled) are invited to participate in Art Under 20 showcasing artwork created exclusively by them. Entries will be accepted in 6 categories: Digital, Drawing, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, and 3-Dimensional.

Entry forms and more information are available through all Lee County high school art departments or at ArtFestFortMyers.com. Application deadline for the 2013 exhibit & competition is December 7, 2012.

ArtFest Fort Myers, the annual juried fine art festival, takes place February 1, 2  & 3, 2013 in the Fort Myers River District. The art festival’s mission is to provide the community with an exceptional art experience, nurture the understanding of diverse art forms and support arts in education. Join the experience with 200 artists from across the county and around the world; the largest high school art exhibit and competition in South Florida and free interactive art experiences for children of all ages.

For more information about supporting the ArtFest Fort Myers art education outreach program visit ArtFestFortMyers.com or contact us at 239-768-3602 or info@ArtFestFortMyers.com.

After-School Art Clubs Inspire Students

November 6, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Press Release

Contact: Sharon McAllister
239-768-3602
Sharon.McAllister@ArtFestFortMyers.com
ArtFestFortMyers.com

Adding an exciting art experience to our elementary after-school programs is the focus of the ArtFest Fort Myers Art Clubs.  This collaborative effort of southwest Florida’s premier art festival and Edison State College provides young students with an opportunity to get creative and have fun. Student teachers from Edison State College head up these clubs, while ArtFest Fort Myers provides the art supplies and facilitates a mentoring program between Karen Flanders, art teacher at Edison Park Creative & Expressive Arts School, and the Edison State College teacher candidates.

This Fall, the Art Club after-school art experiences take place at Orangewood Elementary, Colonial Elementary and Orange River Elementary. A broad variety of projects, include weaving, watercolor, sculpture, collage and more will give hands-on art experience to elementary students and real world teaching experience to Edison State teacher candidates. What an exciting opportunity for everyone to explore the arts!

ArtFest Fort Myers, the annual juried fine art festival, takes place February 1, 2  & 3, 2013 in the Fort Myers River District. Join the experience with 200 professional artists from across the county and around the world; the largest high school art exhibit and competition in South Florida and free interactive art experiences for children of all ages.  For more information about supporting the ArtFest Fort Myers art education outreach program visit ArtFestFortMyers.com or contact us at 239-768-3602 or info@ArtFestFortMyers.com.

Art Clubs at Boys & Girls Club

November 6, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Press Release

Contact: Sharon McAllister
239-768-3602
Sharon.McAllister@ArtFestFortMyers.com
ArtFestFortMyers.com

The Shady Oaks Boys & Girls Club is where coloring outside the lines is not only fun but encouraged! The Art Club provides children with the opportunity to create great art projects under the direction of a dedicated art teacher and is made possible with the support of ArtFest Fort Myers and IBERIABANK. “Providing kids with a creative outlet for them to experience art at this young age helps to instill an appreciation and love of art that will last a lifetime,” said Bill Valenti, Market President for IBERIABANK. “Art brings joy, and we are proud to be a part of this program at Shady Oaks”.

Teri Aldred, a well-known mosaic artist and educator, is partnering with ArtFest Fort Myers to provide fun weekly art projects for Shady Oaks children.  Creating clay creatures, working with watercolor and pastels to make wonderful collages, fabric painting, and crafting wonderful jewelry are a sampling of the art projects in store. “The arts provide every student with a means for learning,” explains Teri, “and it is invaluable to have the support of IBERIABANK, who is committed to extending a helping hand in our community.”

ArtFest Fort Myers, the annual juried fine art festival, takes place February 1, 2  & 3, 2013 in the Fort Myers River District. The art festival’s mission is to provide the community with an exceptional art experience, nurture the understanding of diverse art forms and support arts in education. Join the experience with 200 artists from across the county and around the world; the largest high school art exhibit and competition in South Florida and free interactive art experiences for children of all ages.

For more information about supporting the ArtFest Fort Myers art education outreach program visit ArtFestFortMyers.com or contact us at 239-768-3602 or info@ArtFestFortMyers.com.

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SAVE THE DATE FOR 2025!

Saturday and Sunday, February 1-2, 2025

Opening Night Friday, January 31

On the waterfront in historic downtown Fort Myers

Phone: 239-768-3602

Email: info@artfestfortmyers.com

Love ArtFest Fort Myers? Don't miss the Babcock Ranch Art Show!

Boutique Show • 60 Fine Artists
Great Food & Beverages
Youth Art Activities

March 9 & 10, 2024
10am to 4pm
Babcock Ranch

We're delighted to have helped Babcock Ranch launch this show with artists of the quality you enjoy every year at ArtFest Fort Myers.

LEARN MORE