Local Artist Competition: Art On The Square 2026

Art on the Square is introducing a new Local Artist Competition for the 2026 festival, designed to highlight and elevate artists living in the Metro East region. Art on the Square is one of the nation's top juried fine arts festivals presenting approximately 100 artists on the Public Square in Belleville, IL in the greater St. Louis metropolitan area. The show has been in the top 1% of art fairs since its inception in 2002 and features strong average attendance of over 60,000 visitors, regional advertising worth more than $100,000, and a reputation for great hospitality.

The Local Artist Competition application review process is held separately from the main show but runs in conjunction with it on the same dates. The competition proceeds through three stages: Stage 1 (Application) requires submission of up to three images of work created within the last three years, a $20 non-refundable application fee, and selection of a media category by the March 14, 2026 deadline. Stage 2 (Pre-Jury) occurs March 15-18, 2026, with 15-20 artists selected to advance. Stage 3 (In-Person Jury) requires selected artists to deliver one original piece of artwork to Belleville City Hall between April 6-8, 2026 for display at the Poster Preview Party in early to mid-April.

Three artists will be selected as Local Artist Competition winners. Each winning artist will be featured for one day in the Local Artist Tent and exhibit their work for the remaining two days in a downtown Belleville gallery or participating business. Non-winning applicants who advance to the in-person jury may be considered for future opportunities at the discretion of Art on the Square. Notification of acceptance to the in-person jury is March 19, 2026, with final notification of acceptance to the main event by April 13, 2026. The festival takes place May 15-17, 2026.