We Know You Have Questions.

We hope they’re all answered below:

Exhibit Booth Spaces & Map

Where is my space in the park?

  • Participating artists are emailed their space addresses
    in early May.

How are spaces assigned to exhibiting artists?

  • Festival organizers carefully lay out the park so that all spaces are well situated for each artist's work to be properly seen.

  • Spaces are assigned to ensure an even and interesting distribution of media and styles throughout the park.

  • Artists can indicate a space request when completing their online application form. AITP does not guarantee that space requests will be granted however every possible effort is made. Assigned spaces are non-negotiable.

Do you have a map of the park layout?

  • Click on the image below to enlarge the map. The new map will be available on February 1st.

Festival

When am I required to be in my space?

  • As an exhibiting artist, you are required to be in your park space between 9:30am and 5:00pm on both days of the festival.

  • We recommend bringing a friend so you can take breaks and enjoy the festival, but please remain on site and reachable during the entire event.

What time can I set up?

  • To respect the park's neighbours and our permit regulations, noise and activity in the park cannot begin before 7:00am on festival Saturday or Sunday.

  • Festival staff will be on-site to ensure that participants are set up in their correct pre-assigned spots, and are respecting the size of their space and those of their neighbours.

What time can I dismantle my display?

  • You can start packing up and dismantling your display at
    5:00pm on Festival Saturday and Sunday

How can I make loading & unloading easier? 

  • Set your belongings on the sidewalk and move your car before bringing everything to your parking space.

  • Bring a helper for festival weekend and you won't regret it!
    A friend makes loading and unloading your car twice as fast. This helps everyone get their cars in and out of the loading areas that much faster. A friend also keeps you company and allows you to take breaks so you can visit all the other amazing displays (as well as the bathroom). 

Can I drive my vehicle into the park while I load and unload?

  • Vehicles are not allowed in the park at any time.

Can I leave artwork in the park overnight?

  • At the end of the day on Saturday, all artwork must be removed from the park.

  • Booths, shelving units, and very large heavy objects can be left behind at your own risk.

  • There will be security in the park overnight. Despite this, artwork left by participants at their own risk has unfortunately been damaged in the past.

  • Art in the Park is not responsible for any items left overnight. 

  • Camping is not permitted in the park.

Do I have to clean up my space at the end of the festival?

  • All participants are responsible for leaving their display area and its surroundings AS IT WAS FOUND. This includes removing all display equipment, tents, garbage, recyclables, packing materials, and other supplies by the end of the festival.

  • All applicants agree to this stipulation in AITP’s Terms of Participation when applying to the festival.

  • Please bring a garbage bag as you are required to take your garbage home with you. Garbage cans are for the use of visitors only.

  • AITP takes pride in our low carbon footprint, which includes limiting waste. Help us keep our event green!

What happens if it rains? ​​

  • The festival will go ahead unless the weather is catastrophic.

  • Be prepared by bringing plastic sheets or tarps to protect your artwork in case it rains.

  • Booths installed at 10:00am are committed for the duration of the event and are not permitted to strike camp before 5 pm. All applicants agree to this stipulation in AITP’s Terms of Participation when applying to the festival.

  • In the event of rain (or intense sun), there will be no refunds​​.

Tents & Display Equipment

Do I need to bring my own display equipment?

  • Yes, you are responsible for supplying your own display equipment. This may include tables, plinths, display cases, easels, portable wall units, chairs, etc. 

Do I need to bring a tent?

  • A tent or large umbrella is recommended to offer protection from the elements (sun and rain) however it is not mandatory.

  • Participants must remove all display equipment, tents, garbage, recyclables, packing materials, and other supplies at the end of the festival. AITP prides itself on respecting the park that has hosted the festival for over twenty-five years.

Is it okay if my tent isn't exactly 10' x 10'? ​

  • No problem. Some wiggle room surrounds each 10'x10' and 20'x10' park space. 

  • Be a respectful and helpful neighbour by staying within the size boundaries you have chosen

Does my tent have to be secured?

  • Please weigh down your tents with sandbags or cinder blocks in case of severe winds.

Are tents waterproof?

  • Most pop-up tents are not waterproof. We recommend bringing tarps or plastic sheets to protect your artwork in case it rains.​

Onsite Facilities

Will there be washrooms?

  • Portable facilities and hand-washing stations will be available on site.

Will there be food and beverages?

  • Delicious food, drinks, and coffee from local eateries will be available for sale throughout the park.

  • A water station is located in the upper park (near Clemow). Help reduce waste by bringing your water bottle and reusable mug!

Where can I find festival staff throughout the weekend?

  • The Info Booth is located in the lower park between 40 & 41 Central Pathway. Maps and staff will be available throughout the park if you need help.​

You can receive our newsletter by sending your name and email address to: tnafreg @ gmail.com

Parking 

Where can I park?

  • AITP organizers compile a list of parking options in the neighbourhood surrounding Central Park. The list is posted approximately 2-3 weeks before the festival.

  • Participating artists are strongly encouraged to arrange to be dropped off and picked up at the park to leave more parking for visitors. If you are from Ottawa and have a friend who lives in the Glebe, see if you can borrow their driveway for the weekend.​

Will AITP pay for my parking ticket? ​

  • AITP is not responsible for city on-street parking and will not pay for any parking tickets, even those issued to artists who are exhibiting at the festival.

  • Be aware that the city sends a parking by-law officer to patrol the neighbourhood throughout the entire festival. This is due to complaints received in previous years from neighbours about parked vehicles that blocked driveways and emergency vehicles. 

  • Ticketing will continue throughout the festival for ANY car parked unlawfully at any time, including during loading and unloading of vehicles.

Does AITP have designated accessible parking?

  • The festival is located in a park in a residential neighbourhood and all parking is located on the street or in local parking lots. As such, there is no parking specifically designated as accessible.

​Selling your Work

How do I process payments?

  • You are responsible for any sales transactions that occur during the festival, including the collection of sales tax if applicable.

  • We recommend bringing petty cash for cash transactions. A list and map of banks and ATMs near the park are provided below and will also be included in your artist participation letter (emailed in May).

  • Many artists choose point-of-sale systems such as Square or Shopify for processing credit card transactions. A reminder that the festival takes place in a park and AITP does not supply electricity or Wi-Fi. 

  • AITP does not retain any percentage of artists’ sales.

Which banks and ATMs are close to Central Park?

  • RBC Royal Bank, 745 Bank St @ First Ave (5-minute walk from the park) 

  • RBC ATM in Shopper’s Drug Mart, 702 Bank St @ Glebe Ave (5-minute walk)

  • Scotiabank, 828 Bank St @ Fourth Ave (7-minute walk)

  • President’s Choice ATM in Loblaws, 64 Isabella St @ Metcalfe St (10-minute walk)

  • TD Canada Trust, 5 Pretoria Ave @ Queen Elizabeth Driveway (10-minute walk)Terms of Participation

Can I exhibit artworks that weren’t included in my application?

  • You are expected to exhibit artworks that reflect the images included in your application and adhere to AITP’s criteria and reproduction policy (see below).

  • Failure to comply is inconsistent with the nature of the festival and will result in your being ineligible to participate in the future.

  • Festival staff reserve the right to ask exhibiting artists to remove items that do not adhere to AITP’s criteria and reproduction policy.

What are the Festival’s criteria?

  • The Art in the Park Festival only accepts original, one-of-a-kind artwork.

  • Applications are juried relative to the artistic merit, originality, professionalism, integrity and craftsmanship of the art represented in the images, the artist statement and the CV/bio submitted.

  • All artwork on display at the festival must be handmade by the exhibiting artist​.

What is the reproduction policy?

  • Reproductions and mass-produced items are not permitted at AITP.

  • Exception: signed and numbered limited edition prints by printmakers & photographers, and cards. Edition size must be 100 maximum. Learn about limited editions: Limited Edition Art: What Every Artist Needs to Know on Fidelis Art Prints, ​What to Know When Buying Limited Editions on Artsy.

  • Examples of reproduced and mass-produced items: magnets, posters, t-shirts, imported items, soap & bath products, work assembled from pre-fabricated kits, commercially mass-produced goods, etc.

  • Articles of clothing can be exhibited if they are handmade, one-of-a-kind creations.

  • Failure to comply with AITP’s criteria and reproduction policy is inconsistent with the nature of the festival and will result in your being ineligible to participate in the future.

What is the cancellation policy?

  • Cancellation requests must be received in writing (by email).

  • In the event of cancellation by the artist before May 1st, registration fees will be refunded, minus a $50 administrative fee.

  • In the event of cancellation by the artist on or after May 1st, registration fees will be refunded, minus a $100 administration fee. 

  • There will be no refunds for cancellations made by the artist after June 1st.

Awards

What are the festival’s awards?

  • AITP partners with local art supporters to present several awards annually that reflect and encourage the festival’s commitment to creativity, craftsmanship and artistic excellence.

  • View the list of awards and award winners on our Awards page.

When are the awards distributed?

  • Awards will be distributed to the recipient’s booth at approximately 4:00pm on Festival Saturday.

  • Award winners’ names will be listed online and on the maps throughout the park​.

Artist Directory

What is the artist directory?

  • The artist directory is a list of exhibiting artists and where to find them in the park. It also includes their contact information, allowing visitors to connect with artists (and artists to connect) long after the festival is over.

  • This complimentary service is posted on our website approximately one week before the festival.

  • Artists provide the directory information when they apply. Contact information is not mandatory and may be left blank.

​Accommodations ​

I'm from out of town. Where can I stay?

Here are some accommodation options that we have collected from various sources. AITP does not recommend one venue over another. The festival is located in the central neighbourhood of The Glebe, Ottawa.