Brookside Art Annual 2026

EVENT INFORMATION

The Brookside Art Annual is celebrating its 40th year. Located in a vibrant neighborhood in the center of Kansas City, Brookside is just minutes from downtown, the Plaza and the southern suburbs. As the first art show of the year Brookside becomes the center of the midwest art community each May! The focus of the show is on ART and this community loves art shows, and is consistently ranked in the top 25 shows according to Art Source. Art Source quote "This is a very pleasant, national caliber event attracting an affluent, enthusiastic and knowledgeable clientele.”

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Brookside Art Annual is produced by the Brookside Community Improvement District, an organization of merchants working to promote and market this wonderful community in the heart of Kansas City. Brookside is dominated by quaint neighborhoods and draws more than 70,000 people from the entire region. The Brookside Art Annual is known for its festive atmosphere, hospitality, convenience, and has become a must-attend event for artists and art seekers alike.

SHOW HOURS:

Friday. 5 p.m.-9 p.m.

Sat. 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

AWARDS:

Awards will be given in Best of Show, 2-D & 3-D and all the media categories. All winners are invited to next year’s show.

Artist Amenities:

Art Show Not a Festival!

24 Hour Security

Booth Sitters

Saturday Breakfast

Saturday Night: Dinner with wine delivered to your booth

T-shirts

Incentives for Patrons to purchase art

Artist set-up starts on Thursday afternoon

Parking next to show!!!

Advertised to entire metropolitan area; i.e., radio, e blasts, television coverage, newspapers and direct mail

Volunteers that want to make your happy!

Special hotel rates

Set-UP

Set-up starts on Thursday afternoon and judging begins by 4 pm on Friday. Set-up begins at 3 pm Thursday. Weather can affect set-up time. 

Artists are not permitted to use light-weight accordion style pop-up tents and each tent must be weighted properly to ensure the highest degree of safety to themselves as well as their neighbor and guests. We realize that EZ Up makes some heavy duty tents and these can be used. Please call to discuss tent if concerned. Umbrella type tents because of potential spring storms have caused problems by blowing into other booths.

Racks, bins or other display elements may not be placed outside of the artist's space so as to restrict or impede pedestrian traffic.

Artist

MEDIA CATEGORIES:

Clay - Art objects, either functional or decorative of earthenware, porcelain, or tile, made by shaping and then firing. No machine-made or mass produced work is permitted.

Digital - Pictures made with the assistance of computers. Computer graphics are often made with software called drawing, painting, illustrating and photographic programs or applications.Traditional photographs taken through a digital media should apply in the photography category.

Drawing/Pastels - Drawings are works on paper using pencil, crayon, ink, charcoal, pastels and a variety of other marking media.

Fiber - Includes artwork from fibers such a basketry, embroidery, weaving, leatherwork, tapestry and papermaking. No machine-tooled, machine-screened patterns or miscellaneous forms of mass production are permitted.

Glass - Glass works that are functional or decorative by design and are kiln formed or crafter by glass blowing, molding or casting. Works may be etched or engraved.

Jewelry - Creating artwork through the forging, twisting and fabricating of various metals. All jewelry, produced from metal, glass, clay, fiber, paper, plastic or other materials should apply in this category. No commercial casts, molds or production studio work is permitted.

Metal - Creating artwork through the forging, twisting and fabricating of various metals.

Two-Dimensional Mixed Media - Works that incorporate more than one type of physical material in their production. Works should include more than one of the following: Paint, pencil, watercolor, photography, printmaking or drawing.

Three-Dimensional Mixed Media - Works that incorporate more than one type of physical material in their production. Works should include more than one of the following: clay work, fiber, glass, metal, wood, or any other 3-D objects.

Painting: -Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor: Creation of a still life, portrait, landscape, abstract or other image on a flat surface, with oil and or acrylic paint or stick.

Photography - Process of capturing images of objects by the action of light, then printing the images, by chemical or digital means, onto a flat surface. Negatives must be the artist’s original and processed either by the artist or under his/her direct supervision.

Printmaking/Graphics - Printmaking is a transfer process of producing original art, usually in multiples. It involves creating a drawing or other composition on a surface other than paper, from transfer to paper through the use of a press or through impressions made by hand.

Sculpture - three dimensional works done in any medium.

Wood - Art objects, either functional or decorative hand tooled or machine worked, turned or carved.

RULES/REGULATIONS

ARTISTS REGULATIONS:

1. All work in every category must be original work produced by the exhibiting artist.

2. Work which has been produced with commercial kits, molds, patterns, plans, prefabricated forms or other commercial methods is not permitted.

3. Signed and numbered limited edition off set prints are allowed and can be displayed in a portfolio, but may not be hung and must be marked “reproductions” Reproductions in bins must be matted.

4. Photographic and Reproduction Policies: Photographic and Digital Art Prints must be made from the artist's original negative or digital file under the artist's supervision. A reproduction is defined as any existing work of art(such as a painting, watercolor, drawing, photograph, etc) that is copied by digital or photographic means printed on an offset press, serigraph press, or through a computer by means of an ink jet or electrostatic printer. This definition includes giclees and reproductions with additional enhancement by the artist.

6. Artists may only exhibit and sell work in media category for which they are accepted.

7. Mass-Production Policies: Ready-made or factory-produced objects(i.e. clothing or furniture which have been embellished, Painted, decorated, dyed or batiked will not be accepted regardless of additional modification or enhancement by the artist.This includes, but is not limited to, cards, postcards, note crds, photocopies, posters, mouse pads, t-shirts, calendars, etc.

8. All jewelry must have been juried in the jewelry category.

9. Artists must be present to exhibit. No spouses or other representatives will be permitted in place of artists.

10. A picture ID is required at artist check-in.

11. The jury committee reserves the right to refuse exhibition of work that is not consistent with submitted slides and the rules listed above. Failure to comply will result in immediate removal from fair with no refund.

12. Collaborative Work: Collaborating artists are defined as two (2) or more artists who work together on any one piece of art. Collaborative work is regarded as one entry and should be submitted as a joint application. If accepted, collaborating artists may only exhibit work that is collaborative. All collaborating artists must personally attend entire show. Atists wishing an exemption from this policy should contact Director in writing a month before show with an explanation as to why there is an attendance issue. Only the Director may grant an exception to this policy.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Aura Event Design