APPLY NOW

To start your online account setup process, please carefully follow the instructions below.

How Do I Apply?

Individual artist applications are submitted through our online e-commerce platform. All artists create an online account. Deadline for submissions: January 31, 2025

PAF’s jurors welcome individual artists and artisans working in all mediums; painting, photography, sculpture, glass, woodturning, textiles, jewellery and more, with formal or informal training to apply. Artists are encouraged to submit original artworks created within the last three years. Established and emerging artists are welcome. 

  • Artists can sell their work at the 38th Annual In-person Pelham Art Festival at the Meridian Community Centre and/or the Online Pelham Art Festival.
     
  • If an artist applies for the In-Person Festival, the Online Festival is automatically included at no extra cost. Select and click ONLINE ONLY if not applying for the In-Person Festival.
     
  • Artists' artwork galleries remain online for a year until April 30, 2025.
     
  • Artists are responsible for advertising their own artwork on the PAF website from June 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026.
     
  • When applying, it is very important for artists and artisans to prepare a cohesive body of 5 artworks for the jury process. Choose one medium/kind of artwork only.

The Pelham Art Festival provides a welcoming place for all artists and art enthusiasts, and we are committed to equity and inclusion.

You can choose to join us for Pelham Art Festivals from anywhere in Canada and beyond. Sell artworks and tap into the exponentially expanding Southern Niagara Region art market, and participate in our Online Festivals from the comfort of your home.

All artists create an account here to bring up the Artist Application Form.

NOTE: If you have applied before, your applications have been added to your account. 

New artists:

Once on the Artist Application page:

  • Click the purple CREATE AN ACCOUNT button which takes you to a SIGN UP page. 
     
  • Fill out this form thoroughly making note of your password for future reference and sign up. Your name, address, email and phone number are required at sign up for future contact.
     
  • You will find yourself back on the Artist Application page and now can sign in to your account with your email address and password. That will open your Artist Dashboard page which you will see every time you open your Online Account going forward. 

NOTE: Open your Online Account every time by clicking the person icon on the top right-hand side of your screen on the website homepage to bring up the login form. Once you log in, you can change your password if you wish under "Your Profile". Keep your login information safe, since you will need it if you work on your application in several sessions and later, to check your jury results on your Artist Dashboard and to populate your Online Gallery if you are doing the Online Festival. 

Your Profile:

  • Fill in your name, mailing address, email contact, and biography with no name included
     
  • Skip the banner image, profile photo, and social media accounts in the profile form for now. Those are not available to the jury and only become publicly visible if your application is successful.
     
  • Please check your spam and junk folders if you have not received an email confirmation from the jury by Feb. 21, 2025.
     
  • When artists are accepted by the jury, booth or Online Gallery payment is due.
     
  • Adding your mailing information is very important if you are applying and are successful for the 38th Annual In-Person Festival for you to receive artist information by mail and to subsequently pick up an artist package when arriving at the Meridian Community Centre Accipiter Arena on the morning of May 9, 2025

Next: Proceed to the Main Exhibition Application on the right side of the Artist Dashboard. 

NOTE: Be careful not to select the Youth Art Exhibition unless you are between the ages of 14 and 19 and attend a secondary school. 

SUBMIT 5 ARTWORKS THAT RELATE TO EACH OTHER. 

If you do different kinds of artwork, such as watercolours, drawings and collages, don’t present all those media in your application. Present one strong body of consistent cohesive work to be able to be judged properly. Your name should not appear on any of your 5 images to be juried.

IMPORTANT TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION:

  • Your artwork images are important! Ensure that your images are high-quality, clear, in-focus, and well-lit so that the jury may properly assess your work. 
     
  • Ensure that you have a cohesive portfolio of 5 artworks by entering a single body of work that focuses on one style and medium. All artwork submissions should relate visually by theme, medium, similar style and sometimes colour palette.
     
  • Your artist statement/bio should give the jury context on the body of work they are looking at and should be written in the first person. The artist's name should NOT appear in either the artist statement/bio or the description as these will be read by the jury. 
     
  • Your description of the work should go into more detail about the materials, creation process and techniques used. DO NOT copy and paste - make sure you are within the character limits stated on the form.
     
  • PAF only accepts complete applications once the non-refundable application fee payment is fulfilled. We don’t forward applications with missing information to our jurors. Submissions that include machine-made or mass-produced works are automatically disqualified and are not presented to the jurors.

WHAT CATEGORY DO I APPLY IN?
You need to select a category from the list below when applying. These categories will be used in our online artist directory.

  • 3D Works -  original three-dimensional works, using additive or reductive techniques, including freestanding sculptures, reliefs, assemblages etc. created using either traditional or experimental materials. 

  • 2D Works – original two-dimensional works, created using one or more physical materials, including Drawing, Printmaking, Illustration, Collage, Mixed Media works, etc.?
     
  • Painting - works created using Oil, Acrylic, Encaustic, Watercolour, Ink, etc.
     
  • Fine Craft & Design – hand-crafted objects (functional or decorative) created using fine craft and/or industrial design practices including, Jewellery, Textile, Ceramics, Woodturning, Furniture, etc. Multi-disciplinary and/or hybrid practices are welcomed. Exclude machine-screen patterns or other forms of mass production, and factory-produced wearable items regardless of additional modification.
     
  • Photography & Digital Media - Photographic prints made from the artist's original image, and/or digitally manipulated images created from the original artist's images, and/or other sourced material. Artwork in the photography category must be of signed, numbered limited edition prints, with a series of each image limited to a total of 25 or fewer.

Limited Editions & Reproductions:

  • Once you've declared the limited edition status of an image, you are expected to follow through anywhere you show that work.
     
  • Reproductions of artist originals are welcome provided they do not exceed 20% of the total artwork on display. Please read our Reproduction Policy carefully before applying.

1. 5 digital images of your original artwork for the jury

2. Image Formatting Instructions:

  • Naming each artwork image file jpeg:  Your image file jpegs must be named as follows: YOUR NAME_TITLE_YEAR EG. Jane Yetobe_Watering Can_2023
  • Format: Valid digital Artwork Photo Image file types: .jpeg or .png.
  • Artists are encouraged to submit original artworks created within the last three years.
  • Maximum size: images should be no larger than 1024 x 1024 pixels and 4MB (max) in size. Images that exceed this size will be automatically resized to fit and may be distorted.  
  • Minimum size: no less than 500 x 500 pixels (height & width).
  • Submissions should be cropped to show only the work. No frame, watermark, signature, or background is to be included (exceptions are 3D objects such as sculptures, ceramics, woodturning objects or if a frame /mat is unique and significant to the artwork presentation…an example would be an oval opening in the mat to create a Victorian look for a portrait photograph) If the frame is an integral part of the art, it should be included. 
  • No signatures on submitted artwork. Jurying is based on the merit of the work, not on who the creator is.
  • To resize your images correctly without Photoshop, for both MAC and PC users, for instructions go to  https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-to-resize-an-image/.

3. A 500-character artist statement

4. A 200-character full description of your work method

Click the purple 'upload next image' button to load each of your 5 prepared images, one by one, for the jury process.

Important...go to the bottom of the page and click the Save button after each image is uploaded and the accompanying form has been completed. Save as you go.

If the form is not fully complete, the image upload will show, but without a checkmark to indicate the entry is complete. Once the form is complete, the white checkmark will appear on the bottom left corner of that image and you can go on to upload your next image.

Checkmark the PROMOTIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL USAGE RIGHTS located at the bottom of the Artist Application Image Upload pages.

AFTER ACCEPTANCE BY THE JURY

  • Gallery Banner: Your banner size should be 1920 pixels x 640 pixels
  • Profile Photo: 750 pixels on the longest side works well. The photo can be square (750 x 750 pixels) or a 4:5 ratio (600 pixels wide x 750 pixels tall). The minimum photo image size is 600 pixels on the longest side (portrait photo).
  • Social Media: Add your social media accounts to your Profile.


WHERE DO I FIND SUPPORT?
Admin support will be available for you if you need it at [email protected]
Please state the title of your question in the heading of your email so your question will be forwarded to the person who can help you. 
Use the subject lines: 

  • PAF 2025 Photographing Your Art for Your Online Gallery + Your Name
  • PAF 2025 Artist Gallery Setup Support + Your Name  or
  • PAF 2025 General Support + Your Name
     

PAYMENT

You should see your Artist Dashboard Page where you can pay your non-refundable application-handling fee. 

  • Once you have uploaded your images and information, you will be directed to a secure payment portal. You will not be able to make changes to your application once the non-refundable payment is submitted. 
     
  • You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your payment, so please check your spam and junk folders if you have not received it in your Inbox.
     
  • There are no service charges or taxes on the application fee. PAF does not accept cheques or cash payments for booth or Online Festival non-refundable fees. 
     
  • You can use a credit card to pay your application fee
     
  • Deadlines to Apply: Artists/Artisans must apply by January 31, 2025 by 11:59PM. There is a $30 application fee. Late applications will be accepted until February 15, 2025 at 11:59PM, and the late application fee is $60.

Thank you for applying to the Pelham Art Festival.