About the Festival

Artists from across the United States are invited to apply for spaces to showcase their work at the M&T Bank Clothesline Art Festival. This juried art festival has been one of Rochester's largest art festivals for more than 60 years, drawing thousands of shoppers from Rochester and surrounding markets.

For more information, visit the M&T Bank Clothesline Art Festival webpage.

Criteria for Eligibility

The Memorial Art Gallery requires that all participating Clothesline artists and makers submit original work, either one-of-a-kind or limited-edition. The work must be conceived and designed solely by the artist or maker and show vision, imagination, and originality.

Not allowed: work made from commercial kits, patterns, stencils, or molds; bought and sold items; personal care items; edible items; candles; plants; flowers (fresh, dried, silk); beaded jewelry made solely by restringing commercially produced or purchased beads; work that is partisan in nature.

Reproductions of the artist or maker’s own work is limited to 30% of booth display.

In keeping with the Memorial Art Gallery’s commitment to present a high standard show with quality work, all entrants are subject to Clothesline eligibility criteria. Jurors do not provide individual critiques; all decisions are final.

Application Details

Application is for both days of the festival: Saturday, September 6, and Sunday, September 7, 2025.

There are two application options to choose from: 

• single artist space: price includes the space fee and the $35 application fee
• shared artist space (one space shared by two artists): price includes the space fee, the $35 application fee for the first artist, and the $35 application fee for the second artist

Please note that the shared artist space is not available for the new Indoor booth space.

The application fee is non-refundable. July 1, 2025, is the last day to withdraw without forfeiting the space fee.

For questions or assistance, please contact the Memorial Art Gallery Events Office by email at clothesline@mag.rochester.edu or call 585.276.8949.

Application Instructions

Enter 1 for quantity next to the application option of your choice, then click register and complete the application form. Exhibitors from last year may request the same space or a new space location. We will do our best to honor space location requests based on availability.