36th Annual Tephra ICA Arts Festival

The 36th Annual Tephra ICA Arts Festival is a competitive, juried outdoor art festival held May 15-16, 2027 at Reston Town Center in Reston, VA. The festival is consistently rated as one of the best outdoor art festivals in the country for both the quality of artwork presented and exceptional artist hospitality. It is produced by Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art, a 501c3 non-profit with a 50-year history promoting innovative contemporary art. Funds generated support the institution's year-round exhibitions and educational programs, which are free and open to the public.

The festival attracts 40,000+ art-educated patrons from the Washington, DC metropolitan region and beyond. Artist benefits include convenient load-in/load-out on Friday, May 14 (9am-3:30pm), free parking in onsite garages (height restrictions: 6'8" or 8'2"), free parking for oversized vehicles and trailers offsite, reduced hotel rates at the Hyatt Regency, daily water and snacks, booth sitters, $5,500 in cash awards (winners are jury-exempt the next year), complimentary Festival Award Breakfast tickets, 24-hour security, extensive marketing and PR, and year-round promotion on the Tephra ICA website. Tent rentals (10'x7' or 10'x9' with 10'x20' sidewalls) are available on a first-come, first-served basis. EZ-up or lightweight pop-up tents are not permitted due to wind concerns.

Artist excellence in original work is the sole selection criterion. A blind jury process reviews digital images submitted by artists (4 images of art plus 1 booth image) evaluated by three art professionals. Artists are assigned numbers and judged only on images, with identity undisclosed to jurors. Application fee: $55 until January 3, 2027; $65 from January 4-17, 2027. Preferred application deadline is January 3, 2027. Booth fee deadline is March 8, 2027. Jury notification is February 8, 2027. Booth fees range from $575-$1,875 depending on size and location category (Premium, Standard, or Value). Certificate of Insurance naming Tephra ICA as additionally insured is required 45 days before the show. Multiple applications are permitted for different media categories. Contact: Robin Markowitz, Festival Director, [email protected], 703-471-9242 or 202-251-0637.