Since 1952, the Sausalito Art Festival has been a world-renowned outdoor art festival held in the San Francisco Bay town of Sausalito. Sausalito is known for its vibrant artistic community, which began in 1937 with the establishment of a houseboat colony of artists near the newly opened Golden Gate Bridge. Every Labor Day weekend, the Festival features over 20,000 works of art by over 270 artists.
Paintings, sculptures, photography, woodwork, jewelry, art glass, fiber arts, and pottery are examples of traditional and contemporary art. Local, national, and international artists are among the participants. Each year, the Sausalito Art Festival awards monetary prizes to a select group of artists. The Best of Show prize is typically at least $1,000 US Dollars (USD), with smaller cash prizes awarded in each category. It is possible for an artist to win multiple awards.
The Sausalito Art Festival charges artists a fee of $950 USD or more for display booths, but they do not pay commission on any works they sell there. Security is provided, as well as a free shuttle, parking, breakfast, lunch, and snacks, as well as a mention of the artist on the Festival’s website.
The Sausalito Art Festival attracts art collectors from all over the world, and it runs for four days over Labor Day weekend. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the artists and possibly arrange for custom artwork to be created. The Sausalito Art Festival celebrates more than just the visual arts, with three stages for performance art, a culinary arts exhibit, and a Children’s Theater.
Interactive art activities for children may be included in the Children’s Theater, as well as performances such as musical theater and magic shows. Culinary arts offerings frequently include fine wines, beer, and champagne, as well as gourmet foods. The three stages of the Sausalito Art Festival are likely to feature a diverse range of music, including jazz, Cajun, pop, rock, and bluegrass.
During other times of the year, the Sausalito Art Festival is known to award scholarships to art students. On a one-week cruise ship trip, the Sausalito Art Festival at Sea includes some of the artists as well as festival organizers. The sea version of the Festival usually includes cocktail parties, an art auction, and a shipboard art gallery where artists can show their work to cruise ship passengers.