Summary of event:

3rd Annual SUMMER ART FEST 

Where: Quackenbush Square & Clinton Market Collective, Downtown Albany

When: Saturday, July 18, 2026 from Noon - 5 p.m. 

Why: To celebrate the arts and artists as a community

Summer Art Fest is free and open to the public. This immersive ALL AGES outdoor art festival has a kid’s art corner, interactive activities, live art-making, pop-up gallery, and much more on Saturday, July 18! NEW this year, there will ALSO be a curated Vendor Market featuring the work and creations of various local artists, artisans, and makers - that could be you!

Last year, this event drew a large crowd of over 1,000 attendees from all across the Capital Region. With our expansion into the Clinton Market Collective this year, we will have more space activated for guests to enjoy an artful Downtown Albany!

Please read carefully for the guidelines for the Pop-up Gallery and Artist Vendors. There are SEPARATE GUIDELINES. 

If you would like to submit to both the Pop-up Gallery AND to be considered as an Artist Vendor, you MUST submit TWICE (1 submission for the Pop-up Gallery and 1 submission for the Artist Vendor).     _______________________________________________________________________________________

POP-UP GALLERY GUIDELINES:

This is a curated selection of artwork by ACG installed on several temporary walls during the event where attendees can view and enjoy; festival goers have the option to purchase, if the artist chooses. ACG handles art sales, installation, labeling, etc, on site.

• Submit up to three pieces of artwork for consideration, along with the title, medium, dimensions, year (if known) and price of each work.
• Maximum artwork size is 36”x36” including frame or matting due to space constraints. Artists who submit multiple smaller works have a higher likelihood of showcasing more than one. If the work or frame/matting is larger than 36”, we cannot accept or hang the work.
• All two-dimensional artwork is welcome. Work must not need an outlet and be ready to hang.
• If you have three-dimensional or sculptural work and are interested in applying, please email Emily at operations@albanycentergallery.org
• Images must be saved as .jpg, 150 dpi or larger, color.
• Save images as “Lastname_Firstname_Title.jpg” 
• Back of work must be labeled with artist name, email, phone number, and title.

Pop-up Gallery Submission:

• Submission for consideration is FREE. Deadline: Wednesday, June 10, 2026 @ 11:59 P.M.
• We will notify you by June 17, 2026. If your work is selected for this pop-up, artists must confirm participation by June 20, 2026.
• If your work is selected there is no fee for members of Albany Center Gallery, and a $15 fee for non-ACG members. This is per person, not per piece. Join/Renew your ACG membership here 
• For accepted artwork of non-ACG members: payment must be received online or checks delivered at the latest by Saturday, June 20 to confirm participation. Missing or late payment will potentially forfeit your spot in the Pop-Up Gallery.
• All submissions must be sent through Submittable.com. It is free to sign up. No emailed submissions will be accepted.

Pop-up Gallery Commission: ACG will take a 25% commission on sold artwork. Please adjust your pricing accordingly.

Artwork Drop-Off: Drop-off date is Saturday, July 11 between 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Albany Center Gallery (48 N Pearl St, Albany, NY 12207). The Saturday PRIOR to Summer Art Fest. All artwork must be suitably framed, wired and ready to hang. If it is not able to hang safely, ACG will not install the piece. Please note that this is an outdoor event and there may be wind, and ACG will not take any chances in hanging work safely that is not properly prepared. Albany Center Gallery is unable to store or mail artwork back. 

Feel free to bring your business cards and socialize, if you hang out with us at the event.

To become a Member or learn more, visit www.albanycentergallery.org/donate#membership 

Artwork Pick-Up: Plan to pick up your work between 5:00 - 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 18 at the Summer Art Fest location - Quackenbush Square, Downtown Albany. We will call you if your work is sold. If this time does not work for you, please confirm alternate arrangements to pick up your work at the time of drop off or upon acceptance.

Please Note: If work is left behind, there will be a $5/day fee for transportation & storage. ACG is not responsible for any damage for the duration of drop off, during the event, or until pickup. This event is rain or shine. ACG’s Pop-up Gallery will be under a tent and/or overhead covering.

Albany Center Gallery is not responsible in the event of any damages occurring to any artwork once dropped off and during the event. 

Please contact Emily at operations@albanycentergallery.org with any questions regarding the application process.

For more information about Summer Art Fest, visit http://albanycentergallery.org/SummerArtFest2026

_______________________________________________________________________________________  

VENDOR GUIDELINES:

A curated selection of artists, artisans, and makers promoting or selling products & services in a 10 x 10 foot booth space. If selected, vendors are required to handle all loading in/out, set up, etc independently. 

Equipment requirements:

• Table & table coverings
• Up to 2 chairs, optional but strongly recommended
• Tent and weights, if using
  • Pop-up canopy tents are strongly advised, but not required. The event is rain or shine, and it is the responsibility of the vendor to ensure you, your staff, and your products are protected from rain or other possible weather conditions.
• Signage displaying your business, artist’s name, etc.

Setup

Location: Clinton Market Collective and Quackenbush Square, Albany, NY 12207. Exact location and details will be confirmed if accepted into the event. 

LOAD-IN: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. | Vendors should be fully set up and ready to vend by 11:30 a.m.

EVENT: Noon - 5:00 p.m. | Vendors must remain open and operational for the duration of the event. By participating as a vendor, you agree not to leave the event early.

Breakdown/cleanup

Vendors are responsible for clean-up at the end of the event by removing all equipment, supplies & trash, and leaving the public space in the same or better condition as initially presented. Vendors must bring their own trash receptacles, trash bags, and be responsible for disposing of their own trash. The public should be directed to use the event trash containers located throughout the footprint.

Terms & conditions

1.        Vendors are expected to conduct business in accordance with accepted standards of professional ethics and to comply with all applicable municipal, state, and federal laws, regulations, and code requirements. Vendors who do not adhere to event policies may be deemed ineligible to participate in future Albany Center Gallery (ACG) events. Final determinations regarding vendor eligibility are made by ACG.

2.        Albany Center Gallery will provide vendors with written notice of the designated load-in and load-out times prior to the event. Vendors must arrive, load in, park their vehicles, and return to their booths within the assigned timeframe. Failure to arrive on time may result in forfeiture of the vendor’s space. Vendors are responsible for supplying all equipment necessary to safely and effectively operate their booths and must arrange for the transport of all products, materials, and equipment to and from the event. Event staff are not available to assist with vendor setup, transport, or storage.

3.        Vendors must staff their booths at all times during official event hours and may not open or close outside of those hours without prior approval from Albany Center Gallery. Each booth space may be operated by only one business or organization and may not be shared, reassigned, or sublet. Vendors may only display or sell products associated with the business listed on their application and must remain within the boundaries of their assigned space. Vendor placement and any adjustments to booth sizes or layouts are determined solely by Albany Center Gallery.

4.        Vendors are responsible for maintaining clean, professional, and visually appealing booths. Boxes, carts, and other non-display materials should be kept out of sight. Vendors must manage and properly dispose of all waste generated by their operations and comply with the New York State Source Separation Law for recycling and waste disposal.

5.        All sales, promotions, and distribution of materials must take place within your assigned booth space. Please avoid soliciting or advertising outside of your designated area. Music or activities that could disrupt neighboring vendors or guests are not permitted. Albany Center Gallery reserves the right to address and resolve any situations that may impact the experience of others at the event.

6.        Vendors must follow all event parking and safety regulations. Vehicles may not be driven on sidewalks or parked near vendor spaces unless specifically authorized. At the conclusion of the event, vendors must dismantle their booths promptly and wait for authorization from event staff before bringing vehicles into the event footprint for load-out.

7.        Albany Center Gallery reserves the right to modify event locations, dates, hours, or cancel the event if necessary. Reasonable efforts will be made to notify vendors in advance of any changes. Weather conditions do not automatically result in cancellation; official notices will be provided by Albany Center Gallery staff if adjustments are required.

8.        Animals are not permitted within the event area or vendor booths, except for service animals as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Vendors and their staff are expected to conduct themselves professionally at all times. Vendors displaying merchandise containing discriminatory messaging, hate speech, profanity, or other objectionable content may be required to remove such items or leave the event.

Certificates, Licenses, & Insurance

**** If you have any questions regarding insurance for this event, please email Andrew at info@albanycentergallery.org

A.      Vendors are responsible for the safety and security of their own equipment and property and should maintain appropriate insurance coverage for loss or damage. Albany Center Gallery is not responsible for theft, vandalism, damage, or other losses.

B.       Vendors agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Albany Center Gallery, Capitalize Albany Corporation, Albany Parking Authority, the City of Albany, and their respective employees and agents from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses arising from the acts or omissions of the vendor or its employees or agents.

C.        Albany Center Gallery may use photographs or information obtained before or during the event for promotional purposes.

Vendor Application

Deadlines | Vendors must submit applications by Wednesday, June 10 at 11:59 p.m. or sooner to be considered. All submissions will be notified by Tuesday, June 17, and if they are accepted, must confirm participation by June 20 with payment (online or with check). You MUST PAY to confirm your attendance or we may reach out to additional vendors from the waitlist, forfeiting your vendor booth spot.

Artist/artisan/maker vendor fee for a 10' x 10' booth: $50

For questions about pricing, please email Andrew at info@albanycentergallery.org

PAYMENTS: Payments do not need to be completed until your application has been accepted. We will send you an online checkout link with your confirmation email, or you can mail a check to Albany Center Gallery. You MUST PAY to confirm your attendance (payments must be received online or checks delivered latest by June 20), or we may reach out to additional vendors from the waitlist, forfeiting your vendor booth spot.

IN SEARCH OF: DJs, solo musicians, photographers, etc.
Albany Center Gallery is looking for more artists who have experience/expertise with music, DJing, photography, videography, and like-mediums. ACG is expanding its Artists’ Receptions to offer additional artist opportunities, foster community atmosphere, and increase celebratory energy of receptions.
ACG’s receptions will usually be Fridays from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m., typically on the first Friday of the month. ACG hosts 7-9 exhibitions a year. Here is a photo album of a recent Artists' Reception for context.


Photographers are expected to:

• Take pictures to document the exhibition as well as candid shots of attendees in and outside of Albany Center Gallery
• Take pictures of award recipients, if applicable
• Ensure photos are taken of artists featured in exhibitions, if attended
• Return 3-5 digital photos to ACG within 24 hours
• Return full digital albums (20-30 photos) to ACG within 1 week of exhibition
• Bonus: if you take artsy, unique shots
• Usually only shoot 6:00-7:00 p.m. during the reception, unless otherwise established

Full list of expectations given after acceptance.


DJs/Musicians are expected to:

• Provide atmospheric, ambient entertainment for the entirety of the reception, usually 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
• Set-up and provide speakers and technology necessary for reception by 4:30 p.m. (and awards ceremony, if applicable)
• Play music related to theme of exhibition, if applicable

Full list of expectations given after acceptance.


**We may reach out about additional opportunities. This could include a pop-up exhibition or event, or to document or enhance a program.
We will review these submissions as they are received. This call is on-going, but please submit sooner rather than later. We are looking for artists to begin this initiative ASAP! It is free to submit. Please fill out the submittable form and upload the required documentation. Estimated time to complete application: 5-10mins (if you have your artist samples ready).


If selected: You will be compensated! Rate will be $250 per gig/reception.


We look forward to receiving your submission and the chance to work with you to benefit our regional community! If you have any questions, please email Emily at operations@albanycentergallery.org


This project is made possible in part by the Albany for All funding program and the President's American Rescue Plan (ARPA).

Call for Artist Mentors
Thank you for your interest in being an artist mentor for ACG’s Youth Art Programming. You can take a look at our past programs here: albanycentergallery.org/youth-art-series-look We are continually looking to collaborate with a diverse range of talented and passionate artists in and around the Capital Region.

We host monthly youth art workshops (coined Art. Work. Space.) in partnership with The RED Bookshelf. The programs are led by local artist mentors on the 2nd Saturday of each month throughout the year. The themes of the workshops will depend on what the youth want and the medium(s) of each artist. We have had workshops in screen printing, comic book making, collaging, art with nature, acting & performance, weaving & fiber art, and more!
Additionally, local organizations frequently reach out to ACG about offering youth or community art programs in their spaces. Some of these may be week-long, multiple days, or multi-week programs. The applications from this Submittable will be used for those artist opportunities as well.

This call is open year round for submissions. It is free to submit. You must be 18+ years old. Please fill out the submittable form and upload the required documentation.

We look forward to receiving your submission and the chance to work with you to benefit our local community! If you have any questions about the program or with submitting, please email Emily at operations@albanycentergallery.org

Some additional details to consider, if selected to be a mentor with ACG:
 

• You will be compensated! This is a paid gig. The exact amount will be determined based on your artist’s rate and the budget for the specific project. Cost of supplies will be a separate expense that the artist is NOT responsible for.
• We host monthly youth art workshops (coined Art. Work. Space.) in partnership with The RED Bookshelf. The programs are led by local artist mentors on the 2nd Saturday of each month throughout the year. The themes of the workshops will depend on what the youth want and the medium(s) of each artist. We hope to have workshops in writing, mural painting, screen printing, comic book making, collaging, clothing design, graphic design, watercolor painting, music, poetry, literacy, movement, sound, and more!

Thank you for your interest in the #CapitalWalls Mural Program. We are continually looking for a diverse range of talented and passionate artists for mural painting and teaching opportunities in and around the Capital Region. We work to inspire our community with uplifting, educational, or thought-provoking works of public art.
The first step to becoming a muralist with #CapitalWalls is to submit your relevant experience and samples of your artwork. We will review these submissions as they are received, as this call is open year round. However, to ensure your application will be reviewed for the 2024 mural season, please submit by April 20, 2024. Strong applicants will be placed in a pool to be considered for future mural commissions and public art projects. It is free to submit. You must be 18+ years old due to necessary insurance.
If you are interested in designing and completing public art projects, or if you are an artist that would like to assist in bringing these murals to life, please submit the following:
 

• Complete the form below
• Upload a resume/CV/portfolio (optional)
• Upload up to 10 digital image samples of your artwork
• The following naming conventions should be used for your digital images: your last name, first initial of your first name, number 01 through 10, and then the .jpg extension (ex. smithj-0l.jpg)
• Submit a range that you feel best showcases your abilities

We look forward to receiving your submission and the chance to work with you to benefit our local community! If you have any questions about the program or with submitting, please email development@albanycentergallery.org

Visit albanycentergallery.org/capitalwalls to read more about the #CapitalWalls and see the murals in the program.
Some additional details to consider, if selected for the program:
 

• You will be compensated! This is a paid gig. The exact amount will be determined based on your artist’s rate and the budget for the specific project. Cost of supplies will be a separate expense that the artist is NOT responsible for.
• Depending which wall you are paired with, you may have to operate a lift, and be up in the air on a moving lift while painting. If you are uncomfortable with heights, please be honest. You need to be able to create!
• Please keep in mind that painting a mural can be very physically demanding due to size, outdoor elements, and surface textures.

Annual Call for Art is OPEN and ACCEPTING submissions. Please read below for more information!  

Albany Center Gallery is accepting submissions for future exhibitions and is inviting local and regional artists who live within 100 miles radius of Albany, NY to submit their work for consideration. This call is free and open to the public.

All mediums are welcome; artists at all stages in their art career are invited to submit. Submissions are considered for solo and group exhibitions. Albany Center Gallery accepts proposals throughout the year. 

Eligibility: Anyone living within 100 miles of Albany, NY can submit a proposal. Artists should keep in mind the need for a consistent and strong body of work when submitting. Artists may submit multiple bodies of work in up to 3 separate submissions. Selected artists must exhibit work consistent with the images and proposals shown in their application. 

Media/Genre, etc: Open to all traditional and non-traditional genres and media.

Jury and Curation: ACG’s selection process involves a two-part system. Most exhibits are juried by ACG’s Exhibit Committee, which is a 6-10 member panel of professional, academic advisors and artists with a broad range of expertise. The Exhibit Committee then passes along their recommendations to the ACG's curatorial staff who will make the final selections from the feedback received. Solo proposals are handled in a similar way. While artists may provide a specific goal for an exhibit, the final selection and layout of works will be determined by ACG.

Commission: Works that sell while on exhibit at ACG are subject to a 25% commission, artist retains 75%. Please take this into consideration when assigning artwork prices.

Application Guidelines:

• All media is welcome (painting, photography, sculpture, installations, etc.)
• Submit up to 12 images that accurately represent your body of work.
• Do not exceed 30 seconds for Quicktime video clips.
• Images should be no smaller than 72 dpi or bigger than 300 dpi and should not exceed 10 MB per file.
• Save all files as Lastname_Firstname_Title_Dimensions. If the submission file of artwork isn't saved as requested, the work will not be considered.

Additional required documents:

• Exhibition list outlining each artwork submitted with title, medium, size, year, and price (including 25% commission)
• Resume or CV
• Artist statement (100 words)
• Artist biography (100 words)

Submission:

• All submissions must be sent through Submittable.com. You will need to create an account with Submittable in order to submit.
• No email submissions will be accepted.

Only complete proposals that adhere to the ACG’s submission guidelines will be considered. 

If you have questions, please email Andrew at info@albanycentergallery.org

Amsterdam, NY Call for Art

In partnership with the City of Amsterdam NY, the Amsterdam NY Public Arts Committee, and Albany Center Gallery, we are accepting submissions for future outdoor projects and are inviting local and regional artists who live within 100 miles radius of Amsterdam, NY to submit their work for consideration.
 

All mediums welcome; artists at all stages in their art career are invited to submit. Albany Center Gallery accepts submissions throughout the year. The deadline for submissions to be considered for 2025 projects is December 1, 2024. ACG will continue to accept submissions after December 1 for 2026.
 

Eligibility: Anyone living within 100 miles of Amsterdam, NY can submit work samples/ portfolio for review. Artists should bear in mind the need for a consistent and strong body of work when submitting.
 

Media/Genre, etc: Open to all traditional and non-traditional genre and media. However, we are specifically looking for murals, sculptures, mosaics, paintings, and digital designs.
 

Jury and Curation: ACG’s selection process involves a two-part system. The submissions will be juried by ACG and Amsterdam NY’s Public Arts Committee. They will pass along their recommendations to the Curator and Executive Director of ACG, who will make the final selections based on feedback received.
 

Commission/compensation: Stipends will vary depending on the scope of the project if selected.

Application Guidelines:

• All mediums are welcome (painting, photography, sculpture, digital, etc.)
• Submit up to 12 images that accurately represent your body of work.
• Do not exceed 30 seconds for Quicktime video clips.
• Images should be no smaller than 72 dpi or bigger than 300 dpi and should not exceed 10 MB per file.
• Save all files as Lastname_Firstname_Title_Dimensions. If the submission file of artwork isn't saved as requested, the work will not be considered.

Additional required documents:

• Resume or CV (optional)
• Artist statement
• Artist biography

Submission:

• All submissions must be sent through Submittable.com. You will need to create an account with Submittable in order to submit.
• No email submissions will be accepted.
• At this time, we are accepting submissions on an ongoing basis. 
• Submission(s) does not guarantee that you have been selected
• Based on the date of your submission, you can expect to hear from us in the month following the review of submissions. We appreciate your patience as we carefully and diligently consider each artist's submission.
• Artists should not begin creating artwork for any particular project within this Call for Art until you have been selected and have received a contract from Albany Center Gallery.

Only complete proposals that adhere to the ACG’s submission guidelines will be considered.