Welcome to the ZAPP Blog! Explore resources for artists and administrators, learn about recent site updates, and discover what is happening in the art fair and festival industry.
The Columbus Arts Festival’s Emerging Festival Artist program is a game-changer for local artists. Learn how this unique initiative provides essential training and mentorship, helping new exhibitors successfully launch their work into the vibrant world of art festivals.
Ever wondered what it’s like to jury a major art festival? We spoke with Nathalia Toledo Barcia and James Pearce, artists who recently juried the 2025 Cherry Creek Arts Festival. They share expert insights on applying to juried art shows, crafting strong artist statements, and improving booth presentation.
The Columbus Arts Festival’s Emerging Festival Artist program is a game-changer for local artists. Learn how this unique initiative provides essential training and mentorship, helping new exhibitors successfully launch their work into the vibrant world of art festivals.
Breaking into the art festival scene can be overwhelming, especially if you’re new to selling your work. That’s why we’ve introduced a new Emerging Artist filter on ZAPP—to help you easily find events designed for artists just starting out in the industry!
Ever wondered what it’s like to jury a major art festival? We spoke with Nathalia Toledo Barcia and James Pearce, artists who recently juried the 2025 Cherry Creek Arts Festival. They share expert insights on applying to juried art shows, crafting strong artist statements, and improving booth presentation.
As we look to further our support of art festivals, fairs, artists, and vendors in the year ahead, we invite you to look back on our review of 2024.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of ZAPP and the 50th anniversary of its parent organization, Creative West (formerly WESTAF). Launched in 2004 to replace slide projectors with a digital platform, ZAPP transformed the art festival industry and now serves nearly 1,000 festivals nationwide. As Creative West celebrates 50 years of advancing the arts, ZAPP remains a shining example of its commitment to innovation, connecting artists and festivals while empowering creative communities.
In 2004, Bruce Reinfeld was the very first artist to sign up for a ZAPP account. In this video, find
2024 ZAPP™ Software, LLC
Creative West (formerly WESTAF)
