[Sponsored Listing] Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art (Tephra ICA) announces a call for artists for the Tephra Fine Arts Festival 2022. Now in its 31st year, the Tephra Fine Arts Festival (formerly Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival) has a long-standing reputation for showcasing high quality, hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind artwork in a dynamic outdoor setting.
Drawing upon a robust exhibitor and collector base coupled with Tephra ICA’s contemporary foundation, the Festival has become one of the region’s most anticipated events, attracting over 20,000 people annually to the unique, outdoor environment of Reston Town Center. The Festival is comprised of one-on-one experiences, performances, and special events that engage visitors with compelling artistic voices — leaving an exciting, thoughtful mark in the region.
Click here for the application / registration
Enter by: 9 Jan 2022 [Extended]
The Festival is a three-day event opening on Friday, May 20, from 11am–6pm, providing first access to the Reston Town Center workforce and attracting an audience in search of world-class artwork for their offices, homes, and as gifts. Executive teams from corporate offices and serious artwork collectors purchase works from Festival artists to add value to their living and working spaces. Outreach to affluent patrons and knowledgeable collectors who recognize quality, original artwork is at the forefront of marketing efforts.
Tephra Fine Arts Festival Artist Benefits
Tephra ICA engages in an aggressive marketing and promotion campaign to better market, recognize, and celebrate Festival artists. They negotiate for well-placed advertising in prominent magazines and newspapers, arts-focused catalogs, and online Going Out Guides. Tephra ICA has a strong outreach campaign for social media, radio, and television, which includes both paid and trade advertising. The Festival audience has been described as “affluent, enthusiastic young to middle aged couples who are not too price sensitive.”
Festival Amenities
- Prior day set-up and convenient load-in and load-out
- Free parking Thursday through Sunday in on-site garages for passenger vehicles
- Reduced hotel room rates for the Hyatt Regency Hotel on-site and Sheraton Reston off-site
- 24/7 site security
- Complimentary bottled water and portable snack options available daily
- Ample artist support with modified booth-sitting options
- Convenient and profitable selling hours for the Festival period (updated this year in response to artist feedback)
- Complimentary tickets to the Festival Cocktail Hour for artists and a guest, including hors d’oeuvres and beverages
- Electronic program with accompanying artwork images, artist booth numbers, and contact information
- Year-round artist promotion on the Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art website
- $5,000 in cash awards
Testimonials
“We love to purchase artwork from the amazing artists at the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival. These works add vibrancy and interest to our home, while helping support the arts and artists who create them. Over the years we have collected over 20 pieces of art at this event and made many connections with artists we now call “friends.” It is one of the best venues for art in the Mid-Atlantic, and also a highly anticipated event for the community and the metropolitan Washington, DC, area.” – Local collectors Bob & Bonnie
“Absolutely I will apply again. It was a great show!” – 2021 artist (Glenwood, IA)
“Been doing shows for 37 years. This is a gem!” – 2019 artist (Omaha, Nebraska)
“We had a wonderful show in Reston, VA, and hope to be part of it this May.” – 2021 artist (Mokelumne Hill, CA)
“We were thrilled with the staff, venue, and customers.” – 2021 artist (Manakin – Sabot, VA)
“Your show is amazing, brings in a good crowd. and is so easy to do!” – 2019 artist (Ontario, Canada)
About Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art
Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art is committed to promoting innovative contemporary art and thinking. Leading with curiosity and care, they are a catalyst, generator, and advocate for visual and interdisciplinary arts. The Tephra Fine Arts Festival is hosted annually by Tephra ICA as its largest fundraiser. The primary goal of the Festival is to connect artists with patrons, and to promote the sharing and selling of the artists’ work (no commission is collected by Tephra ICA from artist sales).
For more information, contact hbarco@tephraica.org.