ARTIST REGISTRATION & VENUE APPLICATION
JOIN US IN 2026!
Are you an artist looking to showcase your work at Scotland's largest community arts festival? The Pittenweem Arts Festival offers a platform to connect with art enthusiasts and fellow creators in a unique picturesque coastal village setting.
We attract over 20,0000 visitors annually, offering an unparalleled opportunity to:
- Exhibit your artwork directly to an engaged audience.
- Build your professional network within the arts community.
- Gain exposure through our festival marketing and brochure.
Registration is open to artists of all disciplines, including painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, textiles, and more.
Whether you’re an emerging talent or an established artist, we welcome you to apply. 2026 registration is now open, and we also have an option to apply for festival venues if you haven’t been able to secure your own space.
The sections below include:
- How to register
- Applying for a venue
- Frequently Asked Questions
1. HOW TO REGISTER
Apply using our online form. Once submitted you will receive a confirmation email.
Important: please read the following information in full to ensure that you understand the process before filling in the online form.
Please note that we have a separate registration process for Community Groups and Artist Collectives. Please contact us to find out more.
GUIDANCE FOR REGISTERING AS AN ARTIST
1. Registration fee
The registration fee is £365. Invoices will be sent once applications close, after which full payment must be made by 30th April 2026.
2. Late applications will be rejected
The deadline to register is 14 March 2026. Please ensure that you leave sufficient time to fully understand the registration process and to resubmit, should your application be rejected due to missing information. Due to printing deadlines, we are unable to accept registrations after this date.
3. Appropriate images must be included
Applications that are missing images, or any other required information in the requested format, will be rejected. Please see our FAQs below for more information.
4. Images cannot be changed once submitted
The images you upload with your application are the images that will be used in the brochure and on the website. Due to administrative resource constraints, we are unable to accept requests from artists to change images after the registration deadline.
5. Format of images
Your images must be uploaded with your application, we cannot accept them separately. Please ensure that images meet the following criteria:
- Format - must be .jpg
- Resolution - 300 DPI
- Size - 100mm x 100mm
- Your images must be square to align with our templates
6. Artist's statement
For consistency, all artist’s statements must be written in the 3rd person and within a 30-word limit. For style and consistency we may, on occasions, amend a statement.
7. Venue location
Additional information is now required to improve map accuracy. You will be required to use www.what3words.com to show the location of your venue. If you are not familiar with what3words, please see additional information in the FAQs below.
8. Proofing of artist listings
Once your web page has been built, we will send you a link to your listing. Please ensure that you check this thoroughly as this is how it will appear on the website and in the brochure. This will be the final opportunity to make changes to your listing.
9. Festival Membership
By registering, you automatically become a member of the Pittenweem Arts Festival. There is no work involved; membership gives you a voice in the future direction of the Festival, access to helpful information sessions and optional attendance at our annual AGM.
10. Registration terms and conditions
Please make sure that you have fully read the terms and conditions and our artist Code of Conduct before completing your application.
For additional information on the registration process, see our FAQs below.
2. APPLYING FOR A VENUE - IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY SECURED ONE
At the Pittenweem Arts Festival, we transform our charming village into a dynamic canvas for creativity. Exhibiting artists are encouraged to secure their own venue, but for those in need of assistance, we offer a limited number of festival-leased spaces.
Available Festival-Leased Venues
We’re excited to announce the release of a number of festival-managed spaces for 2026. Applications should be completed by 12 February. If you are applying for a venue, you must do this before registering – we cannot accept registered artists that have not secured their exhibition space.
Spaces:
Lesser Hall - Location: Church Hall, James St, Pittenweem, KY10 2QN
A central venue located at the back of the Church Hall, ideal for showcasing your work. Suitable for a range of display options, including wall hanging and table displays.
Pittenweem Primary School - Location: James St, Pittenweem, KY10 2QN
A spacious venue offering excellent footfall and accessibility. This venue is better suited to table displays as there is no wall hanging available.
Key Information
- The venues are shared spaces with other exhibiting artists.
- There is a flat fee of £400 per space for eight days, from 31st July (set-up) to the 8th August.
- The floor space of each exhibiting area is approximately 36-40 square feet (around 2 x 2 metres).
- The rental price covers the space only. Artists must supply their own display materials (stands, hanging tools, etc.). If you are using tables, they must be no more than 1.75 wide to allow sufficient gap between exhibitors.
- Application Process – we operate a ballot system to allocate festival-managed spaces, ensuring fairness and a balanced mix of artistic media in each venue. Priority will be given to artists who pay the full registration fee.
HOW TO APPLY
- Complete the venue application form. Note that this is an additional form to the registration form.
- Ballot Selection: Venues will be allocated randomly by ballot. The venue application will close on 12 February 2026. If you’re unsuccessful, the application form allows for you to opt-in for your details to be retained for potential subsequent releases.
- In addition, local residents sometimes offer private spaces to artists via the Festival. If such opportunities arise, and if you have opted in to your details being shared, we’ll facilitate introductions to venue owners. Logistical/contractual arrangements will remain between the artist and the property owner.
- Timelines: Successful applicants will be contacted directly with the venue offer. Confirmation and 50% deposit (£200) for the venue must be provided within 7 days of receiving our venue offer. Final payment of the balance will be due by 30th April 2026.
- Priority will be given to artists who pay the full registration fee.
- All applicants must read and agree to the festival terms and conditions.
IMPORTANT: EXHIBITOR EXPECTATIONS
To maintain the Festival’s high standards, we require all participating artists that rent our venues to exhibit new work, ensuring fresh and inspiring exhibits for visitors. We ask that all artists understand our terms and conditions and follow our Code of Conduct.
3. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
These are some questions you may have about our registration and venue application process. Please read, along with our terms and conditions.
Artists' Registration
Q. Am I eligible to apply?
A: Yes, the Pittenweem Arts Festival welcomes applications from artists working in all disciplines, including painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, textiles, and more. Whether you’re an emerging talent or an established artist, you are encouraged to apply. The only requirement is that your work aligns with the Festival’s standards of originality and quality.
Q. How will I know that my registration is successful?
A. Once registration is complete, you will receive a confirmation email and a copy of the information you have submitted. Once applications have closed, you will receive an invoice for the registration fee. The fee must be paid by the 30th April, or the registration will be rejected.
Q: What are the requirements around artist images?
A: We have templates for our website and brochure that ensures our information is consistent and accessible on multiple devices. The published work has to be in a square format. If your work is not square, you can upload an image of whatever you like, e.g. a piece of jewellery or a landscape shaped painting on a background of your choosing, provided the overall external shape of the image is square. Think about how best to present your work – for example, if a painting is very large and you need to stand far back to capture it, the result will be a small image surrounded with a lot of empty space. It is therefore sometimes better and more interesting to crop a square section out of the painting to give a flavour of your work.
Q: What are the requirements around the artist statement?
A: Artist statements must be clearly expressed in the third (not first) person. We are committed to ensuring that our content is consistent and accessible. The statement should be descriptive enough to allow a ‘taste’ of the work on display.
An example would be:
"Through vibrant forms and an enduring passion for colour, Alex crafts immersive landscapes that echo nature’s rhythm and humanity’s shared connection to the earth."
Q. What does my artist registration fee cover?
A: The Pittenweem Arts Festival is committed to providing a high-quality experience for artists, visitors, and the community. In recent years, the costs of organising the Festival have risen sharply, however we strive to ensure that the registration fee maintains the event’s sustainability. This year (2026) has brought the requirement to be VAT registered, however we have incorporated the VAT into the fees to ensure we maintain affordability for our artists.
Key areas that our fee covers:
Logistics Costs: Coordinating an event of this scale involves complex logistical planning, including transportation, setup, and the management of festival infrastructure.
Insurance: As a public event, the festival is required to hold comprehensive liability insurance.
- Temporary Staff Costs: Temporary staffing expenses, essential for managing the festival week effectively, have increased by 50% since 2019. This reflects not only rising wages but also additional compliance requirements to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all.
Our Board members are all volunteers and provide their time for free. All proceeds from registration are reinvested directly into running the festival, a registered charity, or to the community, to enhance the event and support its long-term sustainability.
Q: Why do I have to use www.what3words.com to provide my venue location, rather than an address?
A: We have had feedback about the accuracy of the map with regards to some venues. What3words is a widely used, easy and very accurate tool, which should help us iron out many of the quirks involved in holding a festival of this nature in a village like Pittenweem. If you aren’t familiar with what3words, this link can show you how it works.
Q: We are an Artists' Collective/Community group. How might we register with the Pittenweem Arts Festival?
A: We have a separate application process and pricing structure for Collectives and Community Groups that reflect their unique circumstances. Please contact us to find out more.
Q: I am struggling with the form and the application process, where can I get help?
A: We are committed to ensuring the application process is inclusive. While we encourage all applicants to use our online form, we understand that some individuals may face challenges with digital access. If you require a manual form as an exception, please contact us (details are at the foot of this page) to discuss your needs.
Venue Rental
Q: How do the festival-managed venues work?
A: We offer a small number of spaces for artists who cannot secure their own venues. These are venues that we secure in the village and lease back to the artists. To ensure transparency, fairness, and a mix of exhibited art, and in alignment with our charitable purpose, we allocate these venues through a ballot system. This year, we have around 13 spaces available.
Q: How much does it cost to rent a festival-managed venue?
A: The rental fee is £400 per space, which covers approximately 36-40 square feet (or approximately 2m x 2m) of floor space.
Q: What does the rental fee include?
A: The fee covers the space only. Artists must provide their own stands, hanging materials, and other display items.
Q: What happens if I’m unsuccessful in the ballot?
A: If you prefer, your details can be retained for inclusion in subsequent ballots if more spaces become available. There is an option to do this in the application form.
Q: Are there any special conditions for exhibiting?
A: Yes, all exhibiting artists must agree to the venue rental terms and conditions and the artists code of conduct and they must apply for registration. They must also be exhibiting new work - this is directly related to the outcomes of our visitor research.
Q: How will I know if my application is successful?
A: Successful applicants will receive an email notification with the venue offer. You’ll have one week to confirm your acceptance and pay 50% non-refundable deposit to secure your venue space. Full payment is due by 30th April 2026.
Q: What if I subsequently secure another space in the village?
A: You may lose your deposit. However, please let us know as soon as possible if you secure alternative space and we will cancel your space and try to re-allocate it. It is important that you let us know quickly - due to registration restrictions, any changes will not be possible after the 14 March 2026.
Q: Will there be any additional spaces available?
A: There may be more festival-managed venue spaces in the coming weeks. If you have opted in to be retained on our list, we will include you in the process. In addition, Pittenweem residents often contact the Festival with space availability, allowing us to link artists and venue owners. In these cases the Festival is not responsible for contractual and logistical arrangements.
Q: Who can I contact for more information?
A: Please email our team at info@pittenweemartsfestival.co.uk for assistance.
