WHAT DOES IT COST?

Fees and Deadlines

Important Dates

Artists can sell their work at the 37th Inperson Pelham Art Festival at the Meridian Community Centre, or the Online Pelham Art Festival.
If the In-person Festival is applied for, there is no cost for the Online Festival option. Online artists' galleries of artwork remain online for a year until May 2025 with artists advertising their own work from June 1st, 2024, to May 2025.

37th Pelham Art Festival In-person Show

January 31, 2024 – Application Deadline at 11:59 PM
February 15, 2024 - Late Application Final Deadline at 11:59 PM
March 15, 2024 - Booth Payment Deadline at 11:59 PM
April 15, 2024 - Final day to cancel your participation for a refund (minus non-refundable application handling fee)
May 10-12, 2024 – 37th Pelham Art Festival at Meridian Community Centre 

Pelham Art Festival Online Show

January 31, 2024 – Application Deadline at 11:59 PM
February 15, 2024 - Late Application Final Deadline at 11:59 PM 
March 15, 2024 - Online Payment Deadline at 11:59 PM            
April 15, 2024 - Final day to cancel your participation for a refund (minus non-refundable application handling fee)
May 1 - 31, 2024 – Pelham Art Festival Online (artist advertises own work from June 1, 2024, to May 2025)

Up to 15 images - $150.00
There is a non-refundable application handling fee.

ALL ARTISTS: Please click on APPLY NOW for full information on how to complete the application online BEFORE  BEGINNING THE APPLICATION.

What does it cost to participate?

Please note, all prices are listed in Canadian dollars.
PAF accepts credit cards or prepaid credit cards. Cash will not be accepted under any circumstance. 

37th PAF In-person Booth Fees
$150.00 Single Booth
$150.00 Corner Booth
$225.00 3-Panel Booth
$300.00 Double Booth
Application Deadline: January 31, 2024, at 11:59 PM

PAF Online Festival Gallery Fee
Up to 15 images - $150.00​​​

Artists will have the choice to sell their work at the 37th In-person Pelham Art Festival at the Meridian Community Centre, or the Online Pelham Art Festival. If the In-person Festival is chosen, there is no additional cost for the Online Festival.

 

REFUNDS will not be made after April 15, 2024.

As in previous years, a 15% commission of artwork sold goes towards fundraising efforts for the Lincoln Pelham Library System, annual Pelham art scholarships and various community arts projects.

Participation in the 37th In-person Pelham Art Festival 2024 Includes:

  • Artworks displayed in local businesses to advertise festival artists in our “Art Around Town” Program.
  • Artists are provided with Pelham Art Festival label tags for artwork; Artist Name Badges; Assistant Name Badges; Artist Name and Booth Number Signage, and artists may choose to print PAF artwork label tags on business card sheets in advance by emailing [email protected]. A special tag to identify art entries for the featured Theme of the Year will also be enclosed in your Festival Package upon arrival on Friday.
  • Volunteer booth sitters for artists when lunch breaks or other breaks are needed.
  • One artwork entry for the featured Theme of the Year. Artists are invited to join in the annual theme challenge. 

Participation in PAF Online Festivals Includes:

  • Year-round PAF Artist profile and online gallery
  • 15 artworks listed at a time, for sale during the month-long Festival (as your artwork is sold, it can be replaced with another image during the festival)
  • Participation in the featured Theme of the Year. Artists are invited to submit one artwork to the annual theme challenge. 
  • Opportunity to join the Online Pelham Art Festival from anywhere in Canada and beyond. Tap into the Niagara art market to safely your artwork through the Online galleries from the comfort of your home.

 

Why do I have to pay an application fee for the Festivals?

Did you know that PAF is a not-for-profit Canadian Art Festival? Your application fee goes towards the processing and administration of your application, and to artist support like application feedback and information sessions, as well as to allowing PAF to continue its work in the Canadian arts sector.

A portion of the fees goes towards the setting up of a professional website capable of displaying your art on a secure e-commerce platform. Your fees also go towards advertising and promotion to create visibility for the Festival for you to sell your work to the public.

It is because of the careful administrative work time that PAF Committee and jurors dedicate to the Call for Artists that the $25 application-handling fee ($50 late application-handling fee) is non-refundable.

You help with efforts to support art in our community. The Festival makes annual donations to the Lincoln Pelham Public Library to continue to support the Pelham Libraries, art scholarships and community art projects.  Over the past 36 years, more than $485,000 has been donated back to the community from funds raised through the Festival.

How do I pay my application fee and my gallery/booth fee?

Payments are made through our application system online.

Once you have uploaded your images and information, you will be directed to a secure payment portal. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your payment, so please check your spam and junk folders if you have not received it. There are no service charges or taxes on the application fee. PAF does not accept cheques or cash payments for a booth or online Festival fees. 

Your gallery or booth fee is paid after your art is juried and accepted. It is important to note if you wish a booth type that is limited in availability, that you pay for your booth as quickly as possible. Booth selection is on a first-paid, first served basis. 

What if I do not have a credit card?

You can use a prepaid credit card to pay your application fee (available at Walmart, Shoppers Drug Mart etc.)

Does participating in Pelham Art Festivals Online mean I need a website or social media account? 

No, you do not need to create a website. Our platform is accessible for artists even if you do not have your own website and e-commerce platform. You will list your uploaded artworks for sale directly from your Pelham Art Festival web gallery and payment will be made through the e-commerce button. You can also link your own social media accounts, website, and email, and we hope you will help to promote your participation in Pelham Art Festival Online via your social media channels if you have them, but it is not a requirement to participate.

What if I already sell artwork via my own online website or other sales platform?

You may post a link to your own website in your contact info for potential clients to visit and see other work not available on your PAF online gallery. All sales for art pieces in your PAF Online gallery must be purchased using the PAF’s e-commerce platform.   After  May 31, 2024, you will be able to process your own payments when you sell your art and for sales made two weeks after the Festival, you will not be required to pay the 15% commission since you will be managing and promoting your own sales.  

Does my work have to be for sale, or can I show artwork that has already been sold for reference? 

Returning and new artists are welcome to apply. Your work will be juried for quality and to ensure that a wide variety of mediums will be showcased. All artwork submitted for jurying must be for sale, and all artwork submitted online must be for sale. If an artwork is sold after the show because of contact made with the buyer at the show, the Festival Committee requests the 15% commission be forwarded to the Treasurer. When the Pelham Art Festival Online show ends on May 31, 2023, you are welcome to make sales through your social media or website.

How Do I Process Customer Payments Online?

  • Individual pieces of artwork are for sale through the Online Pelham Art Festival e-commerce website. Customers will purchase one chosen artwork at a time. Each artwork has an ARTIST EMAIL LINK that will send a message directly to you if a buyer wants to connect with you about a question.
  • You will then contact your customer online or by any method that works for you as quickly as possible to facilitate the sale.
  • Make sure your client understands the artwork description before they buy. Decide if taxes/shipping/delivery is included or must be paid for separately based on your location and come to a decision about the method and expected shipping cost.
  • The ‘BUY NOW’ button beside the image, will take the client directly to a checkout link where they make payment.
  • The client will use their credit card, visa debit, or prepaid credit card to complete the purchase online.
  • When the sale is completed, you will reach out to the client to confirm shipment/delivery and the format will depend on mutual convenience and location. In some cases, professional shipment may be needed to transfer breakable products. The purchaser is to pay shipping costs directly to the artist (via e-Transfer is preferable) before the ­item is shipped or delivered.
  • Pelham Art Festival does not take responsibility for the delivery of artwork. All buyers expressly assume all risk and liability from purchasing through the Pelham Art Festival website.
  • Payment is made to the Pelham Art Festival e-commerce site and after the May Festivals, the total sales minus the 15% donation will be transferred to you. (In approximately 10 days)

 

The In-person 37th Pelham Art Festival 2024

How do I process customer In-person Payments?

Artists process their own payments by e-transfer or Square or payment device.  If you are not able to take payment yourself, the Treasurer onsite will be able to process your payment for you with a 5% charge.  The artist fills out the Invoice in triplicate.  The White copy is for the customer, the yellow is handed in at the security/wrapping table and the pink copy is for the artist.  At the end of the Show at 4:30 pm on Sunday, the artist pays a 15% commission of total sales to the Treasurer before leaving the arena.  If the Treasurer took payment for you, the Treasurer will send the total payment minus the 15% commission to you within about 10 days.

Other In-person Costs

Parking

There is no charge for weekend parking.

Out-of-Town Artists

You should budget for your hotel accommodation. Accommodation information can be found on the internet for hotels and motels in Pelham, Welland, Thorold and Beamsville, all within a 10-30 minute drive from the Meridian Community Centre.

Insurance

Artists must secure adequate insurance coverage protecting themself, visitors and all exhibit material from damage or theft during setup and for the duration of the Festival.

Cancellation Policy

If an artist wishes to cancel their application for any reason, The Pelham Art Festival requires written notification on or before April 15, 2024, so a refund can be made to you. There is a non-refundable application-handling fee.

If the request for cancellation is made less than three weeks before the show, every effort will be made to fill the space with an artist from the waitlist and a refund will be issued to you if the booth can be filled.

Where Do I Find Support?

Admin support will be available for you if you need it through [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. 
with the subject line: PAF 2024 Photographing Your Art for the Online Application + Your Name 
with the subject line: PAF 2024 Artist Gallery Setup Support + Your Name 
with the subject line: ​PAF 2024 General Support + Your Name

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Pelham Art Festivals follow the safety guidelines provided by Niagara Region Public Health.

Pelham Art Festival is a not-for-profit corporation.