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Artist Applications for the 2026 Sugar Creek Arts Festival are now available: https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=14069he 43rd Annual Sugar Creek Arts Festival will take place in Uptown Normal on Saturday, October 3rd, from 9 am to 5 pm, and Sunday, October 4th, 2026, from 9 am to 4 pm.
Sugar Creek Arts Festival is nationally recognized for its excellence and is a juried event showcasing fine art and fine crafts by local, regional, and national artists. Professional artists external to the MCAC serve as paid jurors. This outdoor festival is hosted in the beautiful streets of Uptown Normal. There is ample parking for both artists and patrons nearby.
The festival was first held in Normal. What started with sixteen artists selling from the trunks of their cars in 1983 has been ranked among the nation's top arts festivals and draws upwards of 15,000 attendees each year. Attendance does vary; last year, we had 7,500 attendees.
For more information, please visit sugarcreekartsfestival.org, email us at [email protected], or call us at 309-829-0011.
Normal, Illinois
GENERAL INFORMATION
Mediums: Ceramics, Painting, Digital Art, Fiber, Glass, Jewelry, 2D Mixed Media, 3D Mixed Media, Metal, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Wood
Artist Awards:
Best in Show: $500
The D. Bill Award for Best Artwork Using Recycled Material: $200
1st Place Fine Art: $300
2nd Place Fine Art: $200
1st Place Fine Craft: $300
2nd Place Fine Craft: $200
Plus, Juror's Choice Artists are recognized in each medium category.
Perks:
Easy set-up and teardown on level, accessible ground
Convenient free parking for artists
Affordable hotel accommodations within walking distance of the festival
Volunteers to help as needed. Engaged, caring staff.
Booth sitting
Overnight security – both Friday and Saturday
Complimentary lunches, delivered directly to your booth by volunteers BOTH days of the festival
Complimentary Coffee and pastries in the morning on BOTH days of the festival
Sales Potential of Bloomington-Normal: As the midpoint between Chicago and St. Louis on historic Route 66, Bloomington-Normal is uniquely situated at the crossroads of industry and community. Home to State Farm, Rivian, Country Companies, two robust medical systems, three colleges, a vibrant art scene, and many unique entrepreneurial ventures, this community has a hunger for art and the means to support it. Every year, upwards of 20,000 people visit the Sugar Creek Arts Festival, and our artists consistently report strong sales and an outpouring of community support.
Promotions:Our comprehensive marketing campaign includes social media, emails, TV, radio, newspaper, magazines, digital, billboards, posters, and t-shirts. Leading up to the event, we feature artist profiles on Instagram and Facebook, including artist images and website links. All participating artists receive a media kit for easy self-promotion.
Art: All work must be original art produced by the exhibiting artist(s) and must be for sale. Work from commercial molds, kits, and manufactured work will not be accepted.
Artists: Sugar Creek Arts Festival is open to all artists 18 years of age and older. Artists must be present to exhibit their work during all hours of the festival. Representatives are not permitted to substitute for the artist(s). All artists must present a photo ID at registration.
Collaborating Artists: If exhibited work is the product of collaboration, both names must appear on all applications and materials as collaborating, and both artists must contribute to creating the art pieces. The artist statement must describe the role of each artist. It should outline the specific involvement of the collaborating artist(s) in the design and/or production of the work. Only joint work may be shown and sold at the festival. All collaborating artists must be present during all hours of the festival. Representatives are not permitted to serve as a substitute for the artist(s).
RULES/REGULATIONS
Art: All work must be original art produced by the exhibiting artist(s) and must be for sale. Work from commercial molds, kits, and manufactured work will not be accepted.
Artists: Sugar Creek Arts Festival is open to all artists 18 years of age and older. Artists must be present to exhibit their work during all hours of the festival. Representatives are not permitted to substitute for the artist(s). All artists must present a photo ID at registration.
Collaborating Artists: If exhibited work is the product of collaboration, both names must appear on all applications and materials as collaborating, and both artists must contribute to creating the art pieces. The artist statement must describe the role of each artist. It should outline the specific involvement of the collaborating artist(s) in the design and/or production of the work. Only joint work may be shown and sold at the festival. All collaborating artists must be present during all hours of the festival. Representatives are not permitted to serve as a substitute for the artist(s).
Jury Process: To select the final body of artists to be showcased, a panel (new each year) of professionals with varying backgrounds in art education, history, and aesthetics is gathered to score each artist's work. Selected jurors are external to the McLean County Arts Center and are compensated for their time. The panel reviews images in a blind jury process (the artists' identities are not disclosed to jurors). Each set of five images is shown simultaneously. Each artist's statement will be visible during the viewing. Each image's materials, dimensions, and price range are also available. No other criteria are considered. Decisions of the jury panel are final. Images are viewed in a controlled setting using the photos and statements provided by the application. McLean County Arts Center staff will notify all applicants of the jury decision via their email accounts.
Jury decisions are based on the following standards:
The work is well conceived.
The work is expertly executed without technical faults.
The work is original in concept.
The booth is professional in appearance.
Images: Upload five images on Zapp. Four must represent the work you will exhibit; the fifth must show your booth display with the work visible. Please do not submit images with your name/picture in them.
Images should represent the body of work that will be exhibited.
Submit images of professional quality that are clear and sharply focused.
The booth image must represent your current work, showing overall continuity and presentation. If a booth image is unavailable, submit an image of a grouping of the work to be exhibited. Booth images should NOT indicate your name, website, or business name. Failure to omit this may result in disqualification.
An artist statement must also be included detailing your process. As this is a blind jury process, please do not include any mention of your name, website, or business. Any applicant who neglects to do this may be eliminated from the jury process.
The McLean County Arts Center reserves the right to exclude any application not fulfilling the stated rules.
Multiples: If multiple pieces of the same design are displayed (e.g. ceramics or photography), each piece must be signed.
Photography and Digital Artwork: All photographs and digital art must be signed and numbered in limited editions. Inkjet and giclee printings are only allowed in digital art and photography categories and must be high-quality limited editions produced on archival stock. Applicants in digital art must certify that a minimum of 50% of the composition is composed initially on the computer.
Printmaking category: All prints must be hand-pulled by the artist and must be signed and numbered in limited editions.
No Face Painters may apply. Artists creating ephemeral on-site works must negotiate participation through the Town of Normal and are not part of our selection process.
Reproduction Policy: If original work is copied by digital or photographic means and printed on an offset press, a serigraph press, or a computer utilizing an inkjet or electrostatic printer, this is a reproduction (includes giclee). Reproductions are limited to 40% of booth space (including calendars, postcards, etc.) and must be kept in a browsing bin. Each piece should be clearly labeled as a reproduction, not an "offset lithograph" or "print." The McLean County Arts Center reserves the right to monitor the displays of multiples and request artists who violate this provision to remove reproductions from their display.
Exhibition: The Artist may display for sale ONLY work juried and accepted in the medium applied. Artists may apply in multiple media. Artists who exhibit in two media will be limited to a single booth space. Jewelry artists selling jewelry and non-jewelry must be accepted in both categories. Your application images will be referenced during the booth verification process before the festival's opening.
Festival Venue: Exhibitors will display their work in a unique, picturesque Uptown Normal, IL setting. Booth location preference is given for accessibility first and then to returning applicants. The booth fee is due upon acceptance. "See Fees and Acceptance" for cancellation and refund information.
Artists must provide a white tent, their lights, extension cords, and sidewalls. Access to electrical is not guaranteed for all exhibitors. All booths will be on level pavement and/or concrete.
As this is an outdoor event, prepare for the elements. Please bring appropriate weight to protect your work and those around you.
Pets and/or sound equipment are not allowed.
Insurance: Artists are responsible for proper insurance. The McLean County Arts Center and the Town of Normal are not responsible for damage to work or property.
Compliance Guidelines: It is the McLean County Art Center's exclusive right and responsibility to remove work (or an entire booth) that is not in compliance with our guidelines. Repeated non-compliance will result in expulsion and ineligibility for judging, awards, and future festivals. We reserve the right to remove an artist from the festival for inappropriate behavior, misrepresentation of work, or circumstances detrimental to a public event.
BOOTH INFORMATION
On-Site Dates:
Friday, October 2nd, 2026: Set up from 2 pm to 8 pm
Saturday, October 3rd, 2026: Festival from 9 am - 5 pm (longer hours by request)
Sunday, October 4th, 2026: Festival from 9 am - 4 pm (longer hours by request)
Application/Jury Fee: $35
Booth Fee: Due to possible construction in Uptown Normal, we may slightly alter our booth map this year. Booths range in price from $300 to $450 and in size from 10 x 12 to 15 x 10 feet. However, four double booths will be available at an increased rate.
Cancellation Policy:
Booth Fee Refunds: $25 administrative fee for all cancellations before August 25th, 2026. No refunds after September 25th, 2025.
Payment: Application fees may be paid via Zapplication using PayPal, a credit card, or a check. Please mail checks to McLean County Arts Center, Attn: SCAF, 601 N. East St., Bloomington, IL 61701
We are here for you!
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about the application process or the festival itself, please don't hesitate to let us know.
McLean County Arts Center Team
309-829-0011
[email protected]
601 N. East St. Bloomington, IL 61701
Doug Johnson, Executive Director
309-829-0011 ext. 204
[email protected]
If you have issues submitting your application or need assistance with Zapplication or its features, please email [email protected].
REFUND POLICY
Booth Fee Refunds: $25 administrative fee for all cancellations before September 25th, 2026. No refunds after September 25th, 2026
JURY DETAILS
Average number of applications submitted each year:
180
Average number of artists selected from the jury to participate in the event:
100
Average number of exempt from jury artists who are invited to participate in the event:
5
How returning artists are selected:
Received an award
Vendors that are excluded/ineligible:
Buy/Sell vendors are not allowed. Face Painters and Food Vendors apply through the Town of Normal.
How images are viewed by jurors:
Computer monitor
Jurors score applications using the following scale:
1 - 10
Number of jurors scoring applications:
3
The show organizes the jurors for a:
Single jury panel that scores applications for all medium categories
Jurors score
Separately from various locations
Am I allowed to observe the jury process?
Jury process is closed
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
601 N East St, Bloomington, IL, United States, Illinois 61701
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