36th Prairie Arts Festival

36th PRAIRIE ARTS FESTIVAL
FINE ART & FINE CRAFT EXHIBITION AND SALE
Sponsored by the Village of Schaumburg
Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25, 2025
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. each day on the Municipal Center grounds
A maximum of 120 artists, 6 food trucks, 4 food vendors, 3 areas of entertainment, and 5-10,000 patrons attend.

IMPORTANT: MODIFICATIONS TO ART SHOW LAYOUT

Please note that the Art Show layout has been modified due to the Municipal Center construction project beginning in May 2025 and continuing through 2026. Spaces 1-49 from last year's 2024 layout have been moved to the parking lots south and east of the Prairie Center building and the show has been renumbered. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility.

The Village of Schaumburg cordially invites you to display your fine work at our 36th annual Prairie Arts Festival Memorial Day weekend, May 24 and 25. It’s a juried art fair, both for entry and prizes. The site is beautiful, with clusters of display areas bordering a picturesque pond guarded by a pair of graceful mute swans named Louis and Serena. And possibly a knot of newly hatched cygnets. This is an electronic agreement and by selecting the booths, you are validating and approving this agreement electronically.

Also featuring live entertainment, food truck vendors, and children’s activities on the grounds of the Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center adjacent to the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg.

ATTENDANCE

The Memorial Day weekend celebration historically draws 5-10,000 patrons with most festival attendees from Schaumburg and the surrounding communities. Our Memorial Day weekend celebration is rooted in strong support and patronage from residents of Schaumburg and the surrounding suburbs. We're delighted to also welcome attendees from across the greater Chicagoland area and beyond state lines, making the Prairie Arts Festival the destination to be for Memorial Day weekend.

IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES

• Application Deadline: Sunday, March 2, 2025
  
  
• Notification of Acceptance: Friday, March 7, 2025 
  Booth fee charged upon acceptance; your booth space will not be reserved without payment.
  
  
• Set-up Information Emailed to Paid Participants: Friday, May 9, 2025

ENTRY FEE

• $130 for the two-day event for a 15’ x 10’ space
• $235 for the two-day event for a 30' x 10' space

There is no jury fee and no commission will be charged for work sold. Payment charged upon acceptance. Your booth space will not be reserved without payment by the deadline. There will be no refunds for cancellations. However, refunds would be made in the event of the Prairie Arts Festival completely being cancelled the entire weekend. 

AWARDS

A panel of judges will award the following cash prizes: 

• First Place: $500
• Second Place: $300
• Third Place: $200
• Eight Merit Awards: $100 each
• John F. Latko Award of Excellence: $250

AMENITIES

A complimentary continental breakfast with invited art patrons will be available to all artists both mornings in the Prairie Center lobby and convenient parking.

MEDIA CATEGORIES

Clay/Pottery: Original clay and porcelain work, functional or sculptural.

Digital: Digital art refers to art made using software, computers, or other electronic devices.

Drawing: A picture or diagram made with a pencil, pen, or crayon rather than paint.

Fiber: Includes wearable and non-wearable. No machine-tooled, machine-screen printing, or other forms of mass production are accepted.

Furniture: Handmade objects such as tables, chairs, chests, and desks used in a home or business.

Glass: Functional and sculptural work is accepted. Kiln forming, blowing, molding, or casting, as well as all cold working processes are permitted.

Jewelry: Only those artists accepted in the jewelry category may display or sell jewelry. 

Leather: Sculptural or decorative work made from leather.

Metal: Sculptural or decorative work made from metal.

Mixed Media: Work which combines materials from two or more mediums in one piece (e.g. drawing, painting, digital works, etc.).

Musical Instruments: Handmade instruments.

Natural Materials: This includes basket weaving, chair caning, brooms, gourds, and other works made from materials found in nature.

Painting: Including acrylic, gouache, oil, pastel, and watercolor.

Paper: Sculptural or decorative work made from paper.

Photography: Includes traditional film photography, hand-colored images, emulsion transfers, and digital photography. Only artist’s original source material is acceptable.

Printmaking: Hand-pulled original prints. Prints should be in limited editions, signed, and numbered.

Sculpture: Three-dimensional work using additive or subtractive processes in a single medium.

Wood: Original works that are hand tooled, machine-worked, turned or carved.

Please note edible packaged food/beverage items are not allowed in this fine art show.

36th PRAIRIE ARTS FESTIVAL

FINE ART & FINE CRAFT EXHIBITION AND SALE
Sponsored by the Village of Schaumburg
Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25, 2025
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. each day on the Municipal Center grounds
A maximum of 120 artists, 6 food trucks, 4 food vendors, 3 areas of entertainment, and 5-10,000 patrons attend.

IMPORTANT: MODIFICATIONS TO ART SHOW LAYOUT

Please note that the Art Show layout has been modified due to the Municipal Center construction project beginning in May 2025 and continuing through 2026. Food vendors from last year's 2024 layout have been moved to the parking lot east of the Prairie Center building. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility. 

Also featuring artists, live entertainment, and children’s activities on the grounds of the Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center adjacent to the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg.

ATTENDANCE

The Memorial Day weekend celebration historically draws 5-10,000 patrons with most festival attendees from Schaumburg and the surrounding communities. Our Memorial Day weekend celebration is rooted in strong support and patronage from residents of Schaumburg and the surrounding suburbs. We're delighted to also welcome attendees from across the greater Chicagoland area and beyond state lines, making the Prairie Arts Festival the destination to be for Memorial Day weekend.

IMPORTANT DATES & DEADLINES

• Application Deadline: Sunday, March 2, 2025
  
  
• Notification of Acceptance: Friday, March 14, 2025 
  Booth fee charged upon acceptance; your booth space will not be reserved without payment.
  
  
• Set-up Information Emailed to Paid Participants: Friday, May 9, 2025