Austin ArtWorks Festival 2026

The Austin ArtWorks Festival is a free two-day outdoor event in Austin, Minnesota held annually—rain or shine—each August. Organized by Austin Area Arts (a local 501(c)3 nonprofit), the ArtWorks Festival is designed to offer a broad selection of experiences in the arts—visual, performing, literary and more—in one celebratory weekend. The festival strives to make the event interactive by including family activities and demonstrations (e.g. glassblowing, wheel throwing, metalwork). The festival is a staple of summer entertainment in the area, receiving rave reviews by local publications, thousands of visitors (8,000 estimated in 2025) and community leaders.

Artists 18 years or older are welcome to apply for original and unique work in media including ceramics, drawing, glass, jewelry, metalwork, mixed media, painting, photography, textiles, wood, and other. Artwork must be original, hand-crafted, and produced by or under the direction/supervision of the artist in the last two years. Applications require five images of work and a booth shot for a total of 6 images, accompanied by a $35 non-refundable jury fee. This competitive show is chosen by a jury of highly qualified, talented, experienced artists and craftspeople in a closed process, with scoring based on a 5 point scale for quality, creativity, originality, and craftsmanship.

Artists retain all revenue from their sales with no commission collected by the festival. Awards include a Purchase Award (one piece valued up to $5,000 purchased for retail price and placed in a public space), a City Award of $500, and cash awards including the Jim Wegner Award, Best Wearable Art, Best Functional Art, and Committee's Choice. Festival artists enjoy free artist parking, name tag, festival t-shirt, artist refuge area, overnight security, artist welcome reception on Friday, August 28, and weather monitoring by festival staff and local law enforcement.