Between The Bridges 2026 From AVA Association for Visual Arts

PLEASE READ ALL APPLICATION GUIDELINES BEFORE STARTING!! FOR CHATTANOOGA-AREA ARTISTS ONLY!!! (We define the Chattanooga-area as those living within Chattanooga city limits, or within a 45-mile radius.) AVA is always looking for ways to support and promote Chattanooga's visual artists. What better way than our 6th annual fall festival that celebrates nothing BUT our local artists?!

AVA Members: Use code MEMBER to waive the application fee for BTB 2026! (Don't cheat! We'll check membership statuses.)

Between The Bridges is a growing juried festival targeting specifically artists from our local community. Artists working in a wide variety of media are invited to apply for this juried event. Up to 45 artists will be selected to display and sell their works on Saturday, October 24 - Sunday, October 25, 2026.

Festival Site: Coolidge Park (lawn) - between Walnut and Market Street Bridges 150 River Street Chattanooga, TN 37405
Festival Dates: Saturday, October 24, 2026 (10am-5pm) & Sunday, October 26, 2026 (12-5pm)
Application Deadline: Saturday, June 20, 2026, 11:59 PM EDT

Important Dates:
Tuesday, June 20, 2026: Deadline for artists to submit applications.
Friday, June 25, 2026: AVA emails notification of acceptance to artists.
Friday, August 28, 2026: Deadline for artists to accept invitation, pay booth fees, and submit contract.
Friday, September 25, 2026: Final date when artists can cancel their festival participation and receive refund of their booth fee minus a $50 administrative charge.

Booth Fees and Sizes:
Standard Booth Space Fee: $125 (Saturday only) or $200 (Saturday and Sunday)
Size: 10’ wide x 12’ deep.

Applicants must be 16 years or older. Applicants must live within a 45-mile radius of Chattanooga (this is an event for local artists only). Collaborative teams of no more than two artists are welcome to apply. 

Only artist applications will be accepted for this show; we do not accept applications from vendors selling non-fine art/fine craft items. 

Applicants who are NOT AVA members will need to pay a $25 application fee. The fee will be waived for AVA members. 

Application Submission Requirements: AVA only accepts applications submitted through this form. Each application must include four digital photographs that must clearly show work the artist intends on exhibiting. Because we want the jurying process to be as blind as possible, please attempt to mask obvious signatures on images of work. 

Each artist must also submit an artist statement that clearly defines their use of materials and techniques in their work. 

Jury Process: Applications will be reviewed and scored by the full AVA staff team. We will assess an application by reviewing the digital photographs and artist’s statement. The four digital photographs should be high quality images and represent the body of work the artist intends to exhibit. Reflecting on aesthetic merit, originality, technical proficiency, and marketability, jurors review and assign scores. Each application receives a numerical score from each juror, and these scores will then be totaled and weighed along with the full field of applicants. 

1.      AVA requires artists to be present and available during festival hours. AVA requires both members of a collaborating team to be present and available during festival hours.

2.      Artists must remain at the festival site until 5 pm on Sunday, October 25 (if doing the two-day show), or until 5pm on Saturday, October 24 (if doing the one day show).

3.      An exhibit must feature original, handcrafted art, created by the artist or collaborative team who applied to the festival. An artist must guarantee that the work presented is authentic and created as indicated in the artist’s application.

4.      All work must be available for sale.

5.      Artists must exhibit artwork that reflects the quality and craftsmanship of the pieces presented in their applications. Artists must exhibit artwork specific to the category indicated on their application and artwork that clearly relates to the body of work selected during the jury process. 

6.      An artist can sell reproductions of original artwork in browse bins located within his/her exhibition space. Artists are responsible for understanding and abiding by the specifics set-forth in Policy for Selling Reproductions of Original Artwork.

7.      Artists cannot exhibit or sell subcontracted work for another artist. 

8.      Artists cannot sublet their exhibition space to another artist.

9.      Artists cannot exhibit or sell work made using commercial casts/molds, kits, or patterns. 

10.   Artists should maintain high standards of professionalism. Interactions with festival guests should be courteous, and business transactions must be ethical and legal. Festival organizers reserve the right to remove an exhibitor whose conduct and/or merchandise are unacceptable and whose participation conflicts with the rules and regulations of Between the Bridges.

11.   Artists are responsible for collecting Tennessee sales tax on artwork sold during Between the Bridges. Tennessee sales tax is 9.25%.

12.   Artists participate at Between The Bridges as independent contractors and exhibit understanding the risk.

13.   Artists assume the responsibility for the protection of their property while exhibiting at Between The Bridges.

14.   Artists assume responsibility for the actions of their employees, agents, and/or representatives.

15.   Artists and their employees, agents, and/or representatives cannot possess illegal materials, weapons, and/or substances during 4BAF. 

16.   The employees, agents, and representatives associated with Association for Visual Arts (AVA) and Between The Bridges are not responsible for the following.

 Policy for Selling Reproductions of Original Artwork

AVA allows artists to sell reproductions of original 2D artwork. AVA defines a reproduction as a machine-made, duplicate image of an original work. Machine-made reproductions are images produced on an off-set press or a serigraph press and/or images produced from a computer using an ink-jet or electrostatic printer. Artists must respect and adhere to the specifics of this policy as outlined below.