Orange Co. Arts Commission

Promoting and strengthening the artistic and cultural development of Orange County, North Carolina

Hillsborough Holiday Bazaar: Call for Artists


ArtsOrange presents Hillsborough Holiday Bazaar Saturday, November 21, 10am-4pm on the Historic Courthouse Lawn in Downtown Hillsborough.
 

Important Dates

  • Application Deadline: Sunday, September 13, 2026 11:59PM EST
  • Notifications emailed: No later than Monday, September 28
  • Fees due: Monday, November 3submit

Event Summary

Artists, crafters and artisans of all types are invited to apply to the 4th Annual Hillsborough Holiday Bazaar happening Saturday, November 21, from 10am-4pm on the Historic Courthouse Lawn in Downtown Hillsborough.
This year’s Bazaar will again be held outdoors. Vendors will have the option to have space under a large tent (heated if temps are below 50°) or bring their own tent and set up.
 

General Information

This event will be a juried showcase of high-quality fine art and crafts. All artists must submit an online application with images to be considered. If accepted, a booth fee will be required. No commission of sales will be collected. Artists residing in Orange County will be given preference, but artists within the Triangle and surrounding communities are encouraged to apply.
The event will be promoted Triangle-wide through local media outlets and through partners including Orange County, the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau, and WCHL. As a participating artist, you will be featured on the Orange County Arts Commission website (artsorange.org), and Orange County Arts Commission social media pages.
 

Venue Information

  • Location: Orange County Historic Courthouse Lawn – 104 E. King St., Hillsborough, NC 27278.
  • Public Admission: Free
  • Parking: Ample parking for both vendors and the public is available around the Courthouse. View a Google Map of Downtown Hillsborough Parking Options here. On-street parking surrounding the Courthouse will be reserved for vendors during load-in.
  • Electricity: Not available. Generators are allowed for food vendors.
  • Load In: Load –in will begin at 7am on Saturday, November 21. All vendors must be fully set-up by 9:45am.

Fees

>>> INDIVIDUAL ARTIST/ARTISIAN SPACES For individuals selling their art and handmade goods.

 

>>> BUSINESS RETAIL SPACES For arts-related businesses such as galleries, jewelers, fine crafts/gifts.

 

Allowed Mediums

  • Clay: All original clay and porcelain art objects other than jewelry, whether functional or decorative, are accepted in this category. Work must be made by hand-shaping and then firing. No work that uses commercial casts or molds, is machine-made or mass produced is permitted, unless as part of a Business Retailer Space. If multiple pieces of the same design are displayed, each piece must be signed.
  • Consumables: Artesian food, lotions, soaps and candles must be handmade by the seller and will require a certificate of liability insurance naming Orange County and the Eno Mill as additional insured. Allergen awareness signage will be required. All food items must be prepared in a health department-approved facility.
  • Digital Art: This category includes any original work for which the original image, or the manipulation of other source material, was executed by the artist using a computer. Work must be in limited editions, signed and numbered on archival quality materials. Traditional photographs taken through a digital media should apply in the photography category.
  • Drawing: Original works created using dry media, including chalk, charcoal, pastels, pencil, wax crayon, etc., or from the fluid media of inks and washes applied by pen or brush are to be entered in this category.
  • Fiber/Leather: Original work crafted from fibers, including basketry, batik, embroidery, leatherwork, painted fabric, papermaking, quilting, soft sculpture, tapestry, and weaving. This category includes both wearable and decorative art. No machine tooling, machine-screened patterns or other forms of mass production are permitted. No factory produced items, regardless of additional modification or enhancement by the artist, may be exhibited, unless as part of a Business Retailer Space.
  • Furniture: Original, hand-made, decorative or functional furniture of any material. No reproductions or kits permitted. This category excludes ready-made furniture which has been decorated or altered, unless as part of a Business Retailer Space.
  • Glass: Original design, functional or decorative glass works that are kiln-formed or have been crafted by glass blowing, molding or casting may be entered. No forms of mass production are permitted, unless as part of a Business Retailer Space.
  • Jewelry: All jewelry, whether produced from metal, glass, clay, fiber, paper, plastic or other materials, must be both designed and hand-made by the artist. Commercial bead weaving kits are not permitted. No commercial casts, molds or mass production work is permitted unless as part of a Business Retailer Space.
  • Mixed Media (2D & 3D): Two or three dimensional works that incorporate more than one type of physical material to produce a single, original work of art. Garden art, folk art and floral artists may apply to this category.
  • Painting: Original creations using wet media, including watercolor, acrylic and oil paints, applied on a flat surface, such as a canvas or board. Excludes henna art and face painting.
  • Photography: Photographic prints made from the artist’s original image, which have been processed by the artist, or under his or her direct supervision. Photographers are required to disclose both their creative and printing processes. Work in this category must be in limited editions, signed and numbered by the artist, unless as part of a Business Retailer Space.
  • Printmaking: Prints hand-pulled by artists using traditional methods, including etching, engraving, silkscreen, stone and plate lithography, linoleum block or woodcut, produced in signed and numbered limited editions of no more than 250 from an original image created by the artist. All photogravure, photocopy and/or offset reproductions will be rejected. Printmakers are required to disclose both their creative and printmaking processes. Prints must be matted and displayed in a suitable portfolio or stand.
  • Sculpture: Original three-dimensional work of any material.
  • Wood: Original works in wood, excluding furniture and sculpture, that are hand-tooled, machine-worked, turned or carved are accepted. Wooden toys and puzzles should be submitted under this category.

Application Process

  • All artists who wish to participate must submit an online application with images by Sunday, September 14, at 11:59PM.
  • Accepted artists will be notified no later than Monday, September 28.
  • Accepted artists will be required to pay a nonrefundable booth fee (except for cancellation due to inclement weather; see below). Electronic payment is preferable (a payment link will be provided with acceptance notification); however, if the applicant elects to pay by check, checks should be made out to the Orange County Arts Alliance and mailed to 437 Dimmocks Mill Rd, Box 27, Hillsborough NC 27278.
  • Artists working in more than one medium are welcome to submit an application for multiple bodies of work. Artists are limited to a maximum of three mediums. For each medium, artists are required to submit four images of their work.

Selection Criteria

Applicants will be judged by a panel of jurors and scored by media category. Artists with the highest scores within each media category will be admitted, keeping in mind that the show must remain balanced among various mediums. The OCAC and OCAA are committed to a policy of non-discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, gender preference, marital status, or political affiliation in all programming and employment. We are committed to providing equal access for all visitors and participants. Those unable to comply with the application requirements listed above because of a disability should contact ArtsOrange at 919-245-2129.

 

Inclement Weather

This is a “rain or shine” event. In the case of hazardous weather, the OCAC will consider the needs of participants and the public in making any decision about cancellation or delayed opening. Refunds will be provided if the event is cancelled; however, no refunds will be made due to delayed opening or an artist’s decision not to participate for any reason. Should an artist choose to leave before the end of the event, future involvement in OCAC events will be jeopardized.
 

Security

Artists are required to have representation at their booth at all times. Orange County nor ArtsOrange are responsible for any artwork, supplies, or other items left unattended in your booth or on festival grounds.
 

Booth Information

  • Booth displays may not include “sale” signs, signage that extends beyond the footprint of the booth, or signage that is otherwise obtrusive to surrounding artists. All signage must be professional in appearance. Handwritten signs are permitted as long as they meet these standards.
  • All accepted artists are required to display an Artist Statement in their booth as an educational tool for festival visitors. This should be no longer than 250 words and should include an explanation of the process(es) used to create the applicant’s art.
  • Participating artists are required to stay throughout the entire event. Early break-down is not allowed.
  • Tent weights are required. Tents without weights will not be permitted.
  • All vendors must be set up by 9:45am. Vendors arriving after this time will not be allowed to set up and refunds will not be issued.submit