June 16 & 17
San Rafael, California
By the Lagoon
At the Marin Center Fairgrounds
10am-6pm
250 exhibitors
Deadline: April 1
The Marin Art Festival is our county's lawn party for the arts and "one of the most beautiful out door art festivals in the nation." The event now in its 16th year features work from over 250 artists from across the globe. The festival will host an artist preview and silent auction as well as continue it's popular hourly raffle for "art 
bucks", $100 towards the purchase of art with participating artists.
The festival is full of color and surprise and offers a unique line up of entertainment including hands-on art projects for children, and live music featuring some of the best Bay Area bands. As is tradition, Taiko drumming starts off the festival each morning. This year's Master Artist is landscape painter Kathleen Lipinski.
Noteworthy:
- "The Most Beautiful Art Festival in America" Event takes place by the lake in the Marin Civic Center Complex designed by Frank Lloyd-gorgeous vistas in every direction.
- The event is promoted to Marin residents who have taste and means.
- Extensive print, radio, TV and social media promotional campaign.
- Attendance is up towards 15,000.
- Major food experience with sit-down dining and student waiters. Includes the Great Marin Oyster Fest.
- Limited to 250 juried artists. From as far away as New York, Louisiana, Texas, Norway and Niger, Africa.
- Space Fee includes the white tent canopy, artists spaces are 10x10 and are grouped four to a tent and every space is a corner.
- Exhibitors are requested to spill out 3-4 feet outside their space to create a bazaar-like environment.
- Exhibitors can rent panels, umbrella tables & chairs and they will be in your space when you arrive.
- Music and dance stages are low-key and do not hinder artists to customer sales talk.
- Jury/Booth Fees: $25/$700
For more information and to apply: www.marinartfestival.com
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Looking for more art fairs for your art fair season? Visit www.CallsforArtists.com
Comments
I attended the Marin Art Festival this year- 2013 as a vendor. It was my first and last time. It was disasterous for the artists on the whole. Seems the coordinator shot the show in the foot by advertising for monies needed to make it a go this year. The web site about the show leads one to believe that its the best show in the WORLD> Because of suppliers changing their way of doing business they needed $35,000up front in order to do the 17th annual show. the coordinator threatened to not have a show next year if they couldnt reach their goal...hahahaha. Attendence wasnt even in the 2500 range...and those customersthat showed up were sight seers, not buying art.
The Bucks outhouses were full Sat afternoon and there was no cleanout Saturday night. Sunday they were disgusting.
For $500. booth fee there were no vendor amenities. Free water if you could find the delivery kids.
The three redeeming qualities of the show were the location, the weather and the music...the music was totally terrific...and thank goodness for that or there might have been more vendors that packed up and left on Saturday afternoon.
The coordinator should retire, and stop fleecing hard working artists with a sham of a show.