New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell - Louisiana Marketplace 2027

Juried Louisiana Marketplace at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at Fair Grounds Race Course. Twelve different Louisiana artists each weekend exhibit and sell original handmade work reflecting Louisiana's culture, heritage or landscape. The festival runs April 22–25 and April 29–May 2, 2027, from 11 AM to 7 PM daily; each artist participates for only one weekend. One Best of Show award is presented each weekend.

Louisiana's unique culture, heritage and/or landscape

Applicants must be at least 18 and full-time Louisiana residents living there at least nine months annually. Only individual artists may apply; no galleries, cooperatives, groups, vendors or buy/sell. The application does not accept emerging artists. Joint applicants must both create the work and be listed. Work must be original handmade, one-of-a-kind and/or limited edition, and reflect Louisiana's culture, heritage or landscape. Complete a Cultural Relevance Statement and Artist Information Statement; include process, materials and dimensions. Submit five digital images: four artwork images and one full, artwork-filled booth-display image (a representative grouping may substitute if no booth image is available). All images must be 1920 x 1920 pixels and contain no identifiable signatures, signage or artist photos; identifying information causes a jury-score deduction. Production and one-of-a-kind work must appear proportionally in the artwork images and booth image. Only the body of work represented in the four artwork images is accepted for display and sale; unrelated work in the booth image is not accepted by its presence there.

A separate application is required per medium/category, with a maximum of three applications per crafts area. Applying to another crafts area requires a separate application and five-image set; artists accepted in multiple areas must choose one section for the annual festival. Multiple applications for the same body of work provide no advantage. Each application costs $35, non-refundable, paid through ZAPP with Visa or Mastercard; checks and money orders are not accepted. Applications failing the criteria will not be juried. Previous participation does not guarantee acceptance; selection considers cultural relevance, creativity, uniqueness, concept, craftsmanship and balance of media.

Eligible media described include mixed media, graphics/printmaking, painting, photography, digital art, fiber, jewelry, glass and wood. Mixed media must unite two or more media categories; distinguish wall-mounted 2D from freestanding 3D. No prints on canvas or stretched fabric in mixed media, photography or digital art. Printmaking must be hand-pulled from artist-manipulated screens, plates or stones, in signed and numbered editions of 250 or fewer on archival materials; no commercial/mechanical reproductions, photocopies, giclee or offset prints. Disclose the printmaking process in the artist statement. Paintings must be original; reproductions are prohibited. Painters selling prints must separately apply in graphics/printmaking and meet its criteria. Photographs must use the applicant's original images, with printing performed or directly supervised by the artist; editions must be signed and numbered, 250 or fewer, on archival materials. No photocopies or offset prints; disclose printing process. Digital art must be original wall-mounted computer-created or manipulated work, with signed and numbered archival editions of 250 or fewer; digital photographs belong in photography. No AI-generated or AI-assisted work. Fiber excludes factory-produced wearables even if modified, and upcycled/recycled work; framed wall-mounted fiber belongs in Fiber 2D. Jewelry requires separate application and selection in jewelry; no strung beads or assembled work. Most components must be handmade, commercial parts subordinate, and all-cast jewelry poured in the artist's own studio; disclose casting process. Glass must be handblown, cast or lampworked, not decorated manufactured glass. Wood includes original freestanding hand-tooled, machine-worked, turned or carved work; wall-mounted wood must be represented in the four artwork images or have a separate wood application. The Crafts Manager may reclassify submissions.

No embellishment/modification of manufactured products, upcycled/recycled work, 3D-printed or AI-related work. Prohibited items include commercial kits, t-shirts, night lights, magnets, edibles/consumables (including candles, incense, oils, lotions, henna, soap and bath salts), CDs, DVDs, audio/video tapes, books, catalogs, poster graphics, postcards/note cards, imports, mass-distributed/manufactured goods, buy/sell, factory-sewn work, strung beads/assembled work, commercially cast plaster/clay objects and premade/commercial clothing. Festival names and logos are registered trademarks and require a license for merchandise or advertising.

Artists must personally check in/set up and attend their assigned booth throughout all festival hours; representatives cannot substitute. Set-up is April 21 for the first weekend or April 28 for the second. No substitute rain dates. Booths may not be transferred, shared or reassigned except the explicitly offered two-artist corner arrangement. Rent for one weekend only: standard one-artist booth $1,390; corner one-artist booth $1,505; shared corner booth $870 per artist, maximum two artists. Weekend and booth preferences are not guaranteed; shared-space requests receive corner priority. Fees include product liability insurance and amenities. Signed/initialed Crafts Agreement, booth payment and auto insurance are due March 9, 2027. Acceptance is preliminary; the Foundation may reject a selected applicant and has no contractual obligation until full payment and execution/countersignature of the agreement. Vehicles entering the site need valid auto insurance.

Booths are approximately 10 x 10 feet within 20 x 30-foot tents, with approximately eight-foot-high front openings. Artists supply back and side walls; corners must remain open on two sides and have only two walls. No signage/decor outside booths. Tables, chairs and electricity are not provided. Displays must be professional and ADA-compliant, with an Artist's Statement prominently displayed. Artists must describe and sometimes demonstrate their process. Obtain required tax permits/licenses and comply with Louisiana and New Orleans taxes and all applicable laws. Submit daily sales totals on the final Sunday or become ineligible for the next event/application. Onsite review checks work against submitted images; violations may cause removal of work, booth closure, forfeiture of fees or affect future applications. Booth-fee refunds are available through March 16, 2027, not for later cancellations, rain or events beyond the producer's reasonable control. One Best of Show award is presented each weekend; the two previous Best of Show winners are invited back exempt from jury.