Information for Artists

Everything You Need to Know: Setup Details, Daily Events, Contacts, and More

ARTfest On Main is just around the corner, and we’re eagerly looking forward to your participation. Below, you’ll find your check-in info along with essential information for a smooth experience. Please ensure to bring this with you when you check in. Note that a check-in password will be required to access your booth area, and the password will be provided below.

Booth Setup Process – Please Read Carefully!

We need everyone to follow these steps for safety and fast setup.

Before You Arrive

Review all show rules on your Zapp account.
Your tent must be white and securely weighted.

Setup Times

6:30 AM: Odd-numbered booths may enter.
7:00 AM: Even-numbered booths may enter.
Note: The state will not close the street to traffic until 6:30–7:00 AM. This is beyond our control.

Load-In Instructions

Follow the arrows on the map below.
You will need this password to enter the street in the morning: Artfest rocks!
Unload completely at your booth, then immediately park on a nearby side street.
- No setup until your vehicle is out of the Artfest area. Strictly enforced.
Helpers cannot drive a vehicle in. They must park elsewhere and walk in. One vehicle per booth permitted at all times during load in and load out.

Setup Deadline

All vehicles must be off the street by 8:45 am, all exit points will be closed.
Booth must be fully set up by 9:30 AM — judging begins right on time!
Judging: 80% art quality, 20% booth presentation. The way your booth looks can make the difference between first place and 5th place. Last year top 5 scoring booths were less than a 1/2 point apart.

Booth Sign

A volunteer will deliver your booth sign (name, city, booth number, People’s Choice Award QR code) around 9:30 AM. No need to find us. We will find you.
Place it in the upper left corner of your booth — we’ll give you zip ties.
Always keep it visible — it’s important for judges and customers and for those who want to vote for you in the People’s Choice Award.

A load-out map is provided below. Follow this map exactly for everyone’s safety and efficiency.

Tear-Down & Load-Out

A load-out map is provided below.
Follow this map exactly for everyone’s safety and efficiency.
You must completely tear your booth down and have it in the grass (not on the street) before you will be permitted to bring your vehicle in the event area. Once your booth is completely torn down, a street captain will give you a pass card so you can bring your vehicle into the event area.

Information Booth:

Find us at Rotary Park, 330 S. Main Street

Traffic Direction Map

As previously noted, please go directly to your assigned booth, following the details in the traffic direction map below. (Click to enlarge.) Or click here to download the map.

Load In Map

Load Out Map

Awards

Best of Show (First Place): $500.00
2nd Place: $250.00
Honorable Mention: Ribbon

Your booth and artwork will be judged based on artistic talent and presentation of the booth display. The way you present your art can significantly impact your sales and award score. All scores will be tabulated independently by Zapp Onsite software. Best of Show and 2nd Place will be awarded to artists who comply with show rules and regulations.

People’s Choice Award: Trophy

Customers vote via QR code on your booth sign — keep it visible!

This is the link to People’s Choice Voting: https://pollunit.com/polls/artfest2026

Please begin sharing the link or QR code with your friends and family.

Feel free to copy and paste these instructions:

Instructions:

Visit this link: https://pollunit.com/polls/artfest2026
Find your favorite artist and click the check mark next to their name.
Enter your email address when prompted.
Check your inbox for an email from PollUnit.
Click the link in the email to confirm your vote.
Once confirmed, your vote is officially counted!

Hospitality

Champagne Breakfast

Location: 505 South Main, 8:00 AM to 9:45 PM
Note: Breakfast cannot be delivered by volunteers to your booth this year — please plan to visit in person. You may take breakfast back to your booth.

Lunch Delivery

Lunch will be delivered between 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM to your booth.

Bathroom Breaks

If you need a bathroom break, put the provided purple flag up on your booth.
A volunteer will come to watch your booth while you are away.

Wi-Fi

The Wi-Fi password will be provided on the day of the show. Please note that public Wi-Fi can be unreliable, and technical support will not be available. If reliable internet access is essential, please bring your own hotspot or another backup option.

Bottom line: Arrive at your assigned time, unload fast, move your vehicle off street, enjoy breakfast at 505 South Main, finish setup by 9:30, eat lunch between 11:30–1:30, use the purple flag for bathroom breaks, keep your booth sign visible, and follow the load-out map at the end of the show. Remember all exits for vehicles are closed at 8:45am

Silent Auction

Would You Consider Donating a Piece to the ARTfest Silent Auction?

As we prepare for ARTfest on Main, we would be grateful if you would consider donating one piece of your artwork to our silent auction.

The Springboro Arts Council is a nonprofit organization, and proceeds from the auction help us promote, organize, and operate ARTfest. Your donation goes a long way toward helping us grow the show, attract visitors, and create a successful event for our artists and community.

If you would like to donate an item, please email the following information as soon as possible to kellyannphotos@mac.com:

A clear photo of the donated artwork
The value of the artwork
The name of the artist or business making the donation
Your logo, if you have one
Your website address
Your social media pages or handles.

Your artwork and information will be added to our online silent auction. Including your logo, website, and social media information will help us promote you and your art to auction guests.

A volunteer will pick up your donated piece from your booth on the morning of the show.

Thank you for considering this request—and, most importantly, thank you for being part of ARTfest on Main. We truly appreciate your support and look forward to a wonderful event!

ARTFest on Main Map & Artist List

Meet our Adjudicators

A panel of experienced professionals helping recognize the incredible talent featured at ARTFest on Main.

Peter Berwald

Peter A. Berwald was born into a teaching family in Laconia, NH, in 1962. He lived in Massachusetts for 20 years, except for a 3-year period in Columbus, Ohio. Berwald earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art from UMASS in 1985, followed by a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education in 1988 and a Master’s in Illustration from Syracuse University in 2001. He has taught in Vermont, Virginia, Arkansas, and Ohio. Over the years, Berwald has participated in several art shows and has received various awards for his teaching and artistic accomplishments. He has been teaching art at Springboro High School since 2002.

Kimmie Pledger

Kimmie Truesdell is an artist who grew up in Springboro, Ohio. Her art involves a mundane, relatable object, transforming how the object is worn. Influenced by the tactile feeling, this is also what inspires and motivates her. Her work dances between the lines of concept and being a formalist. This alone creates a conversation about material and process.

She earned a BFA in Metals from Kent State University, an MFA in Metals from Bowling Green University. She has been in art exhibitions and adjuncting art shows since 2016. While getting her MFA, Truesdell instructed the introduction to 3D. After school, she continued as a metals instructor to children in Sebago, Maine, and Ann Arbor, Michigan. She then returned to Ohio and became a bench jeweler/custom designer. Truesdell now stays home with her two daughters while continuing to make jewelry.

Emilee Ambrose

Emilee is a passionate advocate for the arts and community engagement in the Dayton region. She currently serves as President of the Junior League of Dayton, is an Associate Board Member of the Dayton Art Institute, and is an active leader with the Springboro Arts Council, where she helps foster creative opportunities and cultural growth.

Beyond her work in the arts, Emilee is also the Logistics Chief for the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) C-130 New Production Branch in the Mobility Directorate at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Her servant-leadership style is reflected in both her community and professional life—combining creativity, collaboration, and innovative problem-solving to strengthen organizations and deliver lasting impact. Her background includes experience in Acquisition Life Cycle Logistics, Foreign Military Sales, operations, project management, and supervision. Whether coordinating complex logistics or cultivating vibrant cultural initiatives, Emilee is
committed to building strong communities through service, leadership, and the arts.

Gemma Dickinson

Gemma Dickinson is a student artist and board member of the Indianapolis Art Center. She joined the board as a longtime admirer and collector of art, and it was there that she began taking classes herself, eventually developing a practice of her own in portraiture across drawing, oil, acrylic, and watercolor. She has won prizes at the Art Center’s Student Art Show and was invited back earlier this year to mount a solo exhibition of her work.

By day, Gemma is Vice President of PK/PD and Pharmacometrics at Eli Lilly & Company, where she leads a global team of scientists working at the intersection of mathematics and medicine. She describes herself as still very much learning as an artist, and is delighted to serve as a judge at this year’s Springboro ArtFest.

Kathryn Streiff

Kathryn has a Master’s of Social Work degree from UC. Her favorite learning experiences in clay include hand building classes with Ruth Easterbrook through the Harvard Clay Program, ceramics with Adriana DePalma at the Middletown Arts Center, and wheel throwing lessons with Ben Clark at Queen City Clay.

She’s participated in the Dayton Second Street Market, Easton Farm Market, and the Christmas in Springboro Festival. She’s also worked as an instructor of ceramics and wheel throwing for the Middletown Arts Center. Throwing is her favorite mindful activity by a narrow margin, as she loves hand building as well. Kathryn is very happy to be able to spread her love of pottery in a relaxed welcoming space.