Culver Arts Festival 2026

Saturday, October 10, 2026 · 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Downtown Culver City Arts District · Free to attend

Apply as an artist

All Culver Arts events

15,000+

Visitors expected

Oct 10

Saturday, all day

11–6

Hours of programming

Artist booth grants

21 days left to apply

Call for artists

Show your work to 15,000 people

Two ways to take part as an artist. Applications close on September 24, 2026 at 11:59 PM PT, and every application is reviewed through the Foundation’s juried selection process.

Program 01

Artist Booth Grant Program

A fully covered booth in the middle of the festival, so you can show and sell your work without paying for the pitch.

Full 10′ × 10′ booth rental coverage — tent, 1 table, 2 chairs
$100 artist stipend
Prime high-traffic location
Marketing support in festival materials
Up to 10 grants awarded — artists retain 100% of sales

Selection criteria: Artistic Merit 35% · Community Impact 25% · Financial Need 15% · Professional Readiness 15% · Diversity & Inclusion 10%

Apply for a booth grant

Program 02

Live Mural Demonstration

Paint in public, in real time, in front of a festival-day audience — one of the most watched things that happens all day.

This year’s theme is “Culver City Connections” — community, diversity, creativity, and the interconnected nature of urban life in Culver City.

$5,000 artist grant
Marketing and promotional support
Professional photo and video documentation
Live demonstration 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM, artist talk 5:00 – 5:30 PM
Permits and insurance provided by the organizers

Selection criteria: Artistic Merit 45% · Theme Interpretation 35% · Technical Feasibility 20%

Apply to paint live

How it works

The juried selection process

Apply by September 24Submit the form below with images of your work. Applications close at 11:59 PM PT.
Juried reviewEvery application is reviewed by the Foundation’s jury panel against published criteria.
Notification by emailSelected artists are contacted directly with booth or mural details.
Festival daySaturday, October 10, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM in the Downtown Culver City Arts District.

Culver City’s streets become the gallery.

Artist application

Choose your program and the form adapts to it. Both tracks ask for your background, an artist statement and a portfolio; the jury panel takes it from there.

Name
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Which program are you applying for?*
- Artist Booth Grant Program — booth rental + $100 stipend
- Live Mural Demonstration — $5,000 artist grant
The rest of the form changes to match your choice.
Artist name*
Email*
Phone
City / neighborhood
Website

Include http:// or https://
Instagram
Brief artistic background*
A few sentences on your training, practice history, and exhibition or public-art experience.
Festival participation goals
What do you hope to gain from participating in the Culver City Arts Festival?
Artist statement*
Your artistic vision and practice · why this opportunity matters to your career · how you plan to engage festival visitors. 300 words maximum.
Artist statement*
Your interpretation of the theme “Culver City Connections” · approach to live demonstration · community engagement philosophy. 500 words maximum.
Portfolio images*
Drop files here or

Accepted file types: jpg, jpeg, png, webp, Max. file size: 10 MB, Max. files: 8.
Upload 5–8 images of recent work representative of what you plan to display or your booth activity. Include title, medium and dimensions for each. JPG recommended, 10 MB per image.
Portfolio images*
Drop files here or

Accepted file types: jpg, jpeg, png, webp, Max. file size: 10 MB, Max. files: 10.
Upload 5–10 images of previous mural work — at least 3 large-scale outdoor pieces. Include dimensions and completion date for each. JPG recommended, 10 MB per image.
Financial need statement*
How would this grant support your participation? Briefly describe your current career stage and circumstances. 200 words maximum.
Proposed design concept*
A brief description of your approach to the “Culver City Connections” theme — imagery, palette and composition direction.
Planned booth setup*
Describe your display: layout, fixtures, demonstration or activity, and how visitors will engage.
Demonstration timeline*
Break down your event-day plan across the 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM live demonstration window, including any pre-event setup needs.
Materials list & preparation needs*
Weather-resistant, archival-quality materials required.
Priority consideration
- First-time festival participant
- Artist from an underrepresented community
- Emerging artist (under 5 years professional practice)
- Student or recent graduate of an accredited art program
Check any that apply — these factors receive priority consideration in selection.
Confirmation*
I confirm all submitted work is original and created by me; I commit to full festival-day participation on Saturday, October 10, 2026; and I understand my application will be reviewed by the Culver City Arts Foundation jury panel, and that the Foundation may use submitted images for promotional purposes with attribution.

Free, outdoors, and all day long

No ticket, no entry fee — just a Saturday in the Arts District with 15,000 other people who came to look at art.

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