Artist Applications Now Open for the 30th Annual Festival of the Arts Awarding More Than $12,000 in Cash Prizes

DESTIN, FLA. – The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF) is now accepting artist applications for the 30th Annual Festival of the Arts, one of the most anticipated art festivals in the Southeast. This juried fine arts show will take place October 25-26, 2025, on the Dugas Pavilion green in Destin, Florida.

Celebrating three decades of artistic excellence, the Festival of the Arts features more than 100 premier artists from across the country, offering attendees an immersive experience of fine art, live music, and interactive activities for all ages. The event includes a beer and wine garden, a live entertainment lineup, “street” performers, and engaging art activities for children—all narrated by a professional emcee.

Artists are invited to apply for this juried show, which awards more than $12,000 in cash prizes, including Best in Show, People’s Choice, Awards of Excellence, Awards of Merit, and Judge’s Recognition Awards. A variety of mediums will be showcased, including painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, digital art, sculpture, ceramics, fiber, glass, wood, jewelry, mixed media, and more.

The Festival of the Arts provides a prime opportunity for artists to showcase and sell their work to an audience of more than 6,000 art enthusiasts and collectors. Participants benefit from inclusion in the official festival guide, both in print and digital formats, with artist contact details featured in the Artist Preview. MKAF offers exceptional artist hospitality, including free admission to the kickoff party Friday (optional), complimentary breakfast each morning and a special artist award dinner on Saturday evening. Artists also enjoy easy, drive-up access for booth setup and teardown, free on-site parking, booth sitters, and overnight security.

Artists must submit four high-resolution images, including three of their work and one of their booth setup, for jury consideration. The application fee is $30 per category. Booth fees are $350 for a single space, $400 for a corner space (limited availability), and $700 for a double space (limited availability). The deadline to apply is June 30, 2025, with jury results announced in mid-July.

Proceeds fund the MKAF’s community outreach mission to provide cultural outreach programs serving K-12 students, individuals with special needs, and active-duty military and veterans in our community.

For full details on artist participation, rules, and applications, visit www.MKAF.org or contact (850) 650-2226 or info@mkaf.org.

ABOUT MATTIE KELLY ARTS FOUNDATION

Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF), a non-profit arts organization with a mission to champion arts and culture for all. Since its inception in 1995, MKAF has inspired more than 420,000 children in more than 100 schools and partner agencies. Through its community education initiative ArtsReach, dynamic programming serves K-12 students, people with special needs, and the military community along the Emerald Coast. As a presenting organization, MKAF’s Concerts in the Village series showcases the Southeast United States’ most vibrant performing artists and bands to more than 15,000 patrons each spring. More than 100 artists convene in Destin each fall for the Festival of the Arts — one the preeminent arts festivals along the Gulf coast. MKAF has long partnered with multiple regional non-profits and school districts in the communities that it serves to ensure access to the arts for all.

MATTIE KELLY ARTS FOUNDATION CALLS FOR ARTISTS FOR THE 30TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS