New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell - Congo Square African Marketplace 2027

Juried outdoor marketplace at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival for artists creating original handcrafted work reflecting the African Diaspora and vendors presenting traditional handmade African Diaspora arts and crafts. Approximately 52 artists and vendors are accepted each weekend. The festival runs April 22–25 and April 29–May 2, 2027, at Fair Grounds Race Course; exhibitors participate for only one weekend. Eligible forms include mixed media, painting, photography, digital art, sculpture, millinery, wearable art and jewelry. Four awards are presented each weekend: Best of Show, Most Unique Work, Best Display and Best Vendor.

Culture and heritage of the African Diaspora, including Africa, the Caribbean and the Americas.

Applicants must be at least 18. Both artist and non-artist vendor applications are accepted, but the application does not accept emerging artists. Only individual artists/vendors may apply; galleries, cooperatives and groups are excluded. Joint artist applicants must both contribute to creating the work and be listed on the application. Artists must create original, handmade, original-design, one-of-a-kind and/or limited-edition work reflecting the African Diaspora. Artists selling imported crafts must submit a separate vendor application. Vendors must offer authentic handmade African Diaspora crafts, with no commercial or mass production, and may display at most six media categories. Vendor image information must identify items sold and country of origin.

Submit five digital images: four of artwork and one of the booth display, all 1920 pixels horizontal by 1920 pixels vertical. Images must not show identifiable signatures, signage or the applicant; identifying information results in jury-score deductions. The booth image must show a full display filled with work similar to the four artwork images; if unavailable, a grouping of representative works may substitute. Production and one-of-a-kind work must be represented proportionally in both artwork and booth images. Production work not represented to the jury is prohibited. Only the body of work represented in the four artwork images is accepted, not additional work appearing solely in the booth image. Vendor artwork images must show clear close-ups covering no more than six media categories. Complete the Cultural Relevance Statement explaining how the work/items represent the African Diaspora, plus artist/vendor information and image process, materials and dimensions for jury review.

A separate application is required for each medium/category and each crafts area, with a separate set of five images for each area. Maximum three applications per crafts area; duplicate applications for the same body of work confer no advantage. Artists accepted in multiple crafts areas must choose one area for the annual event. Jewelry and hats require applications in the jewelry and millinery categories respectively; clothing and handbags require the wearable-art category. The coordinator may reclassify an artist's submission.

Mixed media must unite two or more media categories. Painting prints must be disclosed with printmaking processes in the artist statement. Photography must use the applicant's original images and be printed by the applicant or under their direct supervision; disclose printing processes. Digital art must be wall-mounted original work executed or manipulated by the artist using a computer; traditional digital photographs belong in photography. Painting, photography and digital prints must be limited editions of 500 or fewer, signed and numbered on archival-quality materials. No prints on canvas or stretched fabric; painting and photography prohibit photocopies and offset poster prints. Sculpture includes freestanding three-dimensional work in clay, paper, stone, wood, metal and other media. Jewelry must consist predominantly of handmade components, with manufactured parts subordinate; no strung beads or assembled work. All-cast jewelry must be poured in the artist's studio, with casting processes disclosed in the artist statement.

No AI-generated or AI-assisted work, 3D-printed work, upcycled/recycled work, or embellishment/modification of commercially manufactured products. Wearable art cannot be factory-produced, even if modified. Prohibited items include commercial kits, T-shirts, night lights, magnets, edibles/consumables such as candles, incense, oils, lotions, henna, soap and bath salts, CDs/DVDs/audio-video tapes, books, catalogs, poster graphics, postcards/note cards, mass-distributed or manufactured goods, factory-sewn work, strung beads/assembled work, commercially cast plaster/clay objects and commercially made clothing. Artists cannot buy/sell goods. Vendors additionally cannot offer trinkets, costume jewelry, butters or Indonesian wraps. Festival trademarks or imitations cannot be used on merchandise or advertising without the Foundation's license.

The nonrefundable application fee is $35 per application, payable through ZAPP by Visa or Mastercard; checks and money orders are not accepted. Booth rental is additional. For either weekend: Artist Corner $1,790; Artist Shared Corner $1,045 per person; Artist Demo Corner $1,305; Vendor Corner $2,020; Vendor Shared Corner $1,160 per person. The second weekend also lists Artist Pioneer $3,370 and Vendor Pioneer $3,830. Only two artists/vendors may share a booth; demonstrators may not share. Rent for only one weekend; preferred weekend and booth type are not guaranteed. Booth fees include product liability insurance and amenities. Signed agreement, booth fee and automobile insurance are due March 9, 2027. Selection is preliminary and may be rejected at the Foundation's discretion; no contractual obligation exists until payment and full execution/countersignature of the Crafts Agreement. Booth fees are payable by Visa or Mastercard through ZAPP. Refunds are available until March 16, 2027, but not for later cancellation, rain or events beyond the producer's reasonable control.

Setup is April 21 for the first weekend and April 28 for the second. Official event hours are 11 AM–7 PM daily, with no substitute rain dates. The contracted artist/vendor must personally attend check-in/setup and remain in the assigned booth throughout official hours; representatives cannot substitute. Booths cannot be transferred, shared or reassigned outside the stated shared-booth option. Spaces are approximately 10 by 10 feet within 20 by 20-foot tents, with an approximately eight-foot-high front opening. Exhibitors provide back and side walls; tables, chairs and electricity are not provided, though tables and chairs may be rented through ZAPP. Displays must be professional, creative and ADA-compliant, with no signage or decor outside the booth.

Artists must display an artist statement and describe, and sometimes demonstrate, their craft process to the public. Vendors must prominently display materials and import countries of origin. Exhibitors must obtain required tax permits/licenses, comply with Louisiana and New Orleans tax requirements and all applicable laws, and submit daily sales totals on the last event day; failure to report sales causes ineligibility the next year or application. Vehicles entering the site require valid automobile insurance. Onsite evaluation checks work against application images and rules; violations may lead to removal of work, booth closure, forfeiture of fees or consequences for future applications. Previous participation does not guarantee acceptance.