Artist Resource Guide

Celebrating Our 19th Year of Fine Art & Fine Craft

Artists must be present with their work for the entire three days of The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival. Representatives may not attend in place of the artist. The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival requires photo identification at check-in to ensure compliance.

80% of the work displayed in your tent must be original. Any giclees or prints should clearly state that they are reproductions.

Media Press Kit & YOUR Private Page

Our common goal is to bring people to the show. We ask that you please utilize the press kit linked below to invite your collectors and audience!!
https://www.thewoodlandsartscouncil.org/p/about/th...

Please take a moment to share YOUR information with our audience on your very own private page on the website. We have uploaded your Zapp images to your private page, but you can add a bio, description, or any text you would like. It is blank until you fill it in. You can see the page now by clicking your name in the artist directory:

https://www.thewoodlandsartscouncil.org/businesses

2024 Festival Location & Time

2099 Lake Robbins Drive
The Woodlands, Texas 77380
Town Green Park and along The Woodlands Waterway

FESTIVAL HOURS
Friday, April 12: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday, April 13: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday, April 14: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Artists Check-In Location

2200 Lake Woodlands Dr, The Woodlands Texas 77380
(Methodist Church parking lot- West side)

SIGNS WILL BE POSTED.

Check-in and Load-In Information

Check In

Wednesday, April 10 and Thursday, April 11, 2024

8 AM–5 PM
Overnight check-in is NOT AVAILABLE due to increased costs.
No vehicles on site allowed after Thursday.

NOTE:
Exhibiting Artists will receive a Booth Number Sign at Check-In. This sign is to be clearly displayed in highly visible location within your booth. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE EFFORTS.

Please be mindful of your neighbors when setting up in your reserved space.

Check-in location
The Woodlands Methodist Church (2200 Lake Woodlands Dr—WEST parking lot). Traveling west on Lake Woodlands, turn right at the second entrance to the church after Grogan’s Mill Road. The map above shows which driveway you should use to enter the parking lot.

Our check-in location will be open from 8am to 5pm on Wednesday, April 10th & Thursday, April 11th. The check-in tent will be set up in the southwest corner of the church parking lot. THERE IS NO OVERNIGHT CHECK-IN. Please plan accordingly.

You will need the following at check-in:

YOUR driver's license or another form of photo ID—We require that the artist be present at check-in and during the entire show. Credentials will only be given to the artist.
For our VIP artists, please turn in your donation when you check-in. We will have someone available to receive it and ensure it gets to the location where the art dash is being held. If that is not possible, we will work with you to get your donation where it’s supposed to go.

You will be provided a Welcome Bag with snacks and water at check-in.

Load In

You will be taken from the church parking lot out onto Lake Front Circle, across Lake Woodlands Dr, and along the trolley path through Gate 1 and to your respective load in area.

We can no longer use the gate adjacent to the library for any reason. The bridge you must travel under at Grogan’s Mill is low (11 ft max) so if your vehicle is taller than that, Glen will take you on an alternate route. We will measure any vehicles which we think may be a problem to get under the bridge at check-in.

Volunteers will be on hand to help you with your Load In if needed.

BEST time to arrive for Load-In:
All Day Wednesday ~~~ Before NOON on THURSDAY
THURSDAY AFTERNOON is VERY BUSY!

Artists are sequenced by booth number in line up.
The pathway is 22 feet wide with a maximum height of 10 feet-6 inches.
Clearance in front of the booths is narrow.
No large RVs, oversized box trucks or large trailers are allowed on the pathway.
Awnings allowed ONLY during festival hours (9AM - 6PM).
If your vehicle is 10.5 feet or taller you will need to check in between 9AM - 5PM Wednesday & Thursday.

WEDNESDAY Artists loading in on Wednesday will have more time to unload their Booths and remove their vehicle from the pathway.

THURSDAY
Artists loading in on THURSDAY will have NO MORE THAN 45 MINUTES to unload their Booths and remove their vehicles from the pathway. You are allowed multiple line ups if necessary.

Artist Parking 2001 Timberloch Place 77380

General Information

NO DRIVING ON THE GRASS — NO STAKING!!

Booths are to be secured with WEIGHTS ONLY!

Booth awnings REMAIN DOWN when festival is closed to the public to facilitate traffic flow.

The Festival takes no responsibility for damage to booths or artwork should an awning be left up and become damaged. The Festival also reserves the right to lower awnings.

PARKING OPTIONS – Signs will direct you- See map above for BLUE LOT parking for artists only.

The Festival has obtained permission for you to use the Blue Lot for parking beginning at 10 AM on Wednesday and going thru Sunday. You may leave your vehicle overnight in that parking lot. YOU ARE PROHIBITED TO SLEEP OVERNIGHT IN THIS LOT!! If you do, you will jeopardize our future opportunities to utilize the lot. Thank you for your consideration.

Any Day - Town Center Garage - $10/day

For Guests of the Waterway Marriott, parking is FREE in the Town Center Garage on the 4th LEVEL and UP. The Marriott also has limited RV parking for artists staying at the hotel. Please contact the Marriott directly to find out more.

VEHICLES ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE PATHWAYS

FROM 9:00 AM Friday until 6 PM SUNDAY – NO EXCEPTIONS!

GOLF CART USAGE: Contact Artists Relations during the day on Sunday BEFORE the CLOSE of the festival to reserve a golf cart for use during Load Out. Driver's License left at Artists Relations until the cart is returned. Do not loan to other artists. You are limited on time. Other artists are scheduled to use the carts. All carts must be returned by 7:30 PM.

Dogs must be on a leash at all times. The pet owner is liable for damaged property or art.

Festival Program and website show locations of gates, stages, and restrooms. https://www.thewoodlandsartscouncil.org/p/festival

Artist Relations: Located on the Upper Sidewalk - Between Area 3 and Area 4 Booths.

Restrooms are Available in Town Green Park, the South Pavilion, and in Port-a-Potty’s during Load-In Thursday and Friday and throughout the Festival.

Breakfast & Coffee: Breakfast and coffee will be available at the Palette Cafe (near the main stage) on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 8AM to 9AM.

Best of Show awards: Awards will be announced Saturday late afternoon and will be posted on our website. More info below.

Sales Tax: All Artists are responsible for collecting and paying State of Texas sales tax. The Woodlands Township's current sales and use tax rate is 8.25 percent. The State of Texas receives 6.25 percent, 1.0 percent is dedicated to The Woodlands Township, and 1.0 percent to The Woodlands Township Economic Development Zone. https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/sales/

Booth Sitters: Call Artist Relations for restroom/lunch breaks.
Booth sitters are NOT permitted to do financial transactions!

Patron Pick-up: Patron Art Pick-up is located at GATE 4 - behind the Pavilion - Town Center Parking Garage.

Complete and attach PATRON PICK UP form to the art.
Artists may deliver the item OR call Artist Relations for pick up if the item weighs no more than 50 lbs.
Patrons drive up to pick up secured art. ID required.
The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival is not responsible for any damage.

Firearms and weapons are not allowed in the Festival site.

Smoking is not permitted inside any structure or in any seating area on the Festival site.

24-hour security is provided beginning at Load In and through Complete Load Out.

VIP Art Dash Party APRIL 12

If you are a VIP Artist, THANK YOU FOR DONATING!

LOCATION: The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel in the Waterway Ballroom. VIP artists are permitted to bring one guest to the party.

SCHEDULE:

6:30 PM - 9:30 PM Check-in & Party

Proceeds benefit The Woodlands Arts Council Student Art Scholarship Program!

Becasue of our successful party in 2023, we were able to provide 17 students art scholarships totalling $49,800 this year!

ARTIST AWARDS - Best of Show

On Saturday of the festival, a team of judges selected based on their specific interests, professional knowledge, and/or background with our festival, representing The Woodlands Arts Council, will walk the venue to choose the 2025 Featured Artist (Celebrating our 20th anniversary!) and our six Best of Show Artists. Judges will score the artwork's quality and the top-scoring artists' booth presentation from the zapplication jury held in November.

The 2025 Featured Artist will receive a complimentary 3-night stay at a selected Woodlands hotel, a free double 4-booth for the 2025 Festival, and their art featured on all promotional materials for 2025.

The Best of Show Artists receive a free single booth space the following year with priority booth placement and an enhanced presence on our website.

ALL AWARD WINNERS will be jury exempt for two years: no jury fee--no jury process.

Criteria

Our judges are local gallery owners, art educators, artists and business owners. Scores will be given on a scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being the best. Judging takes place Saturday 10 AM to 2 PM. Judges will only view each category's top 6 scoring artists from the original jury.

One Featured Artist is chosen, and SIX Best of Show ribbons are awarded.

Artistic Merit Judging Parameters

Quality of design/composition
Skill/technique
Overall execution

Booth Presentation Judging Parameters

Is the work presented well?
Is the booth inviting?
Does the setup complement the work?
Is there appropriate lighting?
80% original works?

Winners will be announced Sunday morning on The Woodlands Arts Council's website.

Benefits

Featured Artist

2 years Jury Exempt status and NO Jury Fee

Featured Artist year:

Free double 4 (corner/corner) booth in Featured Artist space (includes Electric)
THREE complimentary nights at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott or hotel of comparable value
Art featured on our festival program, t-shirt, print ads, "Featured Artist" static website banner with click-thru to your profile (August of award year through the following May), periodic posts on social media and in newsletter

Second Year: Free single booth space (upgrades can be purchased)

Best of Show Artist

2 years Jury Exempt status and NO jury fee
1st Year: Free single booth space with priority placement (upgrades can be purchased)
Your art in the "Artist Spotlight" static website banner with click-thru to your profile (August of award year through November), periodic posts on social media and in newsletters
Your art included on our website for one year

2024 Festival Map

LOAD OUT INSTRUCTIONS

FAST DEPARTURE - Sunday Night

PLEASE REVIEW. This is a NEW procedure – changed from previous years.

5:00 PM – 9:00 PM:

Break down the booth in place with everything ready to load into the vehicle.

Bring your VEHICLE to the Check-In parking lot at The Woodlands Methodist Church (the same one you loaded -in from) for staging into the festival.
The first group will be led onto the site to load-out at 7:00PM.

Once led inside the grounds, you have 30 MINUTES TO LOAD your vehicle.

IF YOU ARE NOT LOADED AND ARE BLOCKING THE ROADWAY, YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO PULL AROUND AND GET IN LINE AGAIN. Caravans are expected to leave the Check-In parking lot for the festival grounds approximately every 30 minutes.

LEISURELY DEPARTURE - Sunday Night or Monday Morning

9:30 PM Sunday - 12:00 NOON Monday:

LOWER YOUR AWNING, close your tent and go relax.

Around 9:00 PM, return to the Check-In parking lot at The Woodlands Methodist Church
You will be staged into the festival, if necessary.

Normally, the last caravan leaves the lot at 9:00 PM. By then, there is room to park beside tents with no time limits on loading out.

After 10:00 PM you can enter the site unescorted from the Library parking lot. Your credentials are required for entry.

The area is accessible thru the night until NOON on Monday. Security is provided all night.

Artists who break down displays or depart before closing time on any day of the Festival will not be allowed to return the following day or to future shows unless proof of an emergency is presented.

ARTIST SURVEY

Shortly after the completion of the festival, we will send you an email requesting your participation in an Artist Survey. This is your opportunity to be heard. Please help us by completing our brief online survey after the festival.

THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF
THE WOODLANDS WATERWAY ARTS FESTIVAL 2024!