The “Watu-Sakoni” People’s Marketplace is the heart of an African village. You can enter a place decked with colorful merchandise, handmade crafts, and aromas. Whether you are looking to adorn the body with beautiful and unique clothing, exotic jewelry, fabrics, headgear, beadwork or natural balms and oils. You will also find hand weaved African baskets, home décor, and African artifacts. There is much to see, buy, and to enjoy.
Marketplace
37th Annual Colorado Black Arts Festival
A Celebration of African American Arts and Culture
“Celebrating Our Roots”
July 7-9, 2023
Denver City Park West
IMPORTANT DATES
- June 9, 2023 (11:59pm)– Application Deadline. The application will close on this date. There will be NO onsite registration.
- July 7, 8, & 9 2023– 37th Annual Colorado Black Arts Festival, Denver City Park West
FESTIVAL HOURS
1:00 pm – 8:00 pm Friday, July 7, 2023
11:00 am – 8:00 pm Saturday, July 8, 2023
11:00 am – 7:00 pm Sunday, July 9, 2023
VENDOR APPLICATION
As a valued vendor of the Colorado Black Arts Festival, we would like to extend an invitation for you to be a part of this incredible celebration! This is the single largest vendor opportunity to target African-American consumers and supporters of the African diaspora arts and culture of the year! You or your organization could certainly be a part of this highly anticipated 3-day community event. We encourage vendors to offer unique products, art and services relevant to the African diaspora to promote the cultural experience of and presentation to the Colorado community. Below please find registration information.
To be considered for a vendor space, please complete the application along with payment of your non-refundable $25 vendor application fee. Vendor booth assignments are based on a first come-first serve basis with full payment and a completed application form. Partial payments are not accepted and any incomplete application forms will not be considered for vendor booth space. The Colorado Black Arts Festival will only accept credit cards, an organizational check, a certified cashier’s check, or money orders as payment. Personal checks are not accepted and will be returned.
***New for 2023- CBAF is not accepting new vendors exclusively selling sunglasses, sports team jerseys or tennis shoes. Returning vendors selling these items will be accepted on a very limited basis.
PAYMENT OF VENDOR FEES
All accepted vendors will receive an email confirmation of their acceptance with directions on payment of their vendor fee(s). Payment of vendor fees can be completed online or mailed to:
Colorado Celebration of African American Arts and Culture
Attn: Vendor Committee
P.O. Box 300577
Denver, Colorado 80203
Food Court Vendor • 10×20 $1250- Includes clean-up fee.
This category is for special event vendors and retail establishments that sell food to the public. Food must be prepared according to City and County of Denver Environmental Health guidelines. No water or beverage sales are allowed. A detailed description of menu items must be included with your application and will be reviewed by the CBAF staff prior to the approval of your application. Vendors with larger footprints will incur additional fees and must be approved before applying. Email vendors@colbafweb.org
Food Truck • 10×20 $1250- Includes clean-up fee.
Larger food trucks will incur an additional fee.
Food Vendor-Novelty • 10×10 $750
This category is for food vendors that sell snack-type items such as popcorn, roasted nuts, pickles, cotton candy, etc. If you are sampling items from your business for people to take home (e.g. BBQ sauce, hot sauce, jams/jellies, etc.), please complete the Special Exhibitor category.
Marketplace Vendor • 10×10 $550 • 10×20 $900
Applicants who fall into this vendor category include those selling the following: Any quality made manufactured items, clothing, headgear, fabric, handbags, hair care products, personal care items, unique toys, musical instruments, quality imported goods and wares, home décor, or any other items not personally handmade by the exhibitor. Copyrighted or pirated goods will not be allowed to be sold. A detailed description of items to be sold with a picture of items must be included with your application and will be reviewed by the CBAF staff for appropriateness. CBAF reserves the right to limit the number of vendors selling the same or similar items.
Civic and Social Organizations • 10X10 $350
This category is for organizations engaged in promoting the civic and social interests of their members. This category includes alumni associations, automobile clubs, travel clubs, booster clubs, ethnic associations, fraternal lodges, parent-teacher associations, scouting organizations, social clubs, youth groups, community clubs, K-12 education organizations, social advocacy organizations, health education, unions, veterans’ organizations, and religious organizations (including churches).
Only 501(c)3 and 501(c)4 non-profit organizations and community groups are eligible in this category. Participants in this category are for information only and are not allowed to sell or collect money/donations on festival grounds for their group or organization. Proof of non-profit status may be required IRS 501(3)3 and 501(c)4 determination/status letter). We encourage your organization to include an activity to engage the public.
Arts and Crafts Vendor • 10×10 $400 • 10×20 $650
Vendors in this category can only sell personally handcrafted items exclusively made by the exhibitor. Items include jewelry, novelty items, home décor, soaps, scents and oils, candles, etc. as long as they are not commercially produced products. Vendors who sell non-handcrafted items and products are considered Marketplace Vendors. Vendors who sell both hand-crafted items and manufactured products are considered Marketplace Vendors. A detailed description of items to be sold with a picture of items must be included with your application and will be reviewed by the CBAF staff for appropriateness as an arts and crafts vendor.
Visual Artists • 10×10 $275 • 10×20 $475
This category features professional and emerging African American artists who are selected based on their artistic talents. Artist’s work must be original and entirely produced by the exhibiting artist in the mediums of painting, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, fiber, wood carving, drawing, photography, glass, fabric, chalk, etc. Reproductions or prints of original work should not be more than half of the total work on display. Artists shall not sell work that is produced by others, produced by a machine or in a factory. A detailed description of items with a picture of items must be included with your application and will be reviewed by the CBAF staff for the appropriateness of artwork to be sold. Art dealers are not considered in this category.
Literary Artists • 10×10 $275
Artists’ work must be original and entirely written by the artist in the mediums of poetry, novels, essays, etc. Work should be of the imagination, experiences, or the written work on a particular culture or people and shall be characterized by the excellence of style and expression. Artists shall not sell work written by others. A detailed description of the artist’s work must be included with your application for review by CBAF staff for appropriateness of work to be sold. Publishers, book stores, book clubs, or dealers are not considered in this category.
Art Dealers • 10×10 $575 • 10×20 $1000
This category includes any person or business that sells or displays artwork, not of their own craftsmanship. This includes galleries, home-based businesses and studios.
Corporate/Special Exhibitor • 10×10 $1250 • 10×20 $1600
This category is for businesses or corporations wishing to promote and/or sell their products or services. This category includes franchised businesses, home improvement businesses, hospitals and health services organizations (for-profit and non-profit), insurance companies, independently owned/operated community businesses or independent consultants, employee organizations handing out company products or promoting the company, college and universities (for-profit and non-profit). Please note the above was not meant to be an exhaustive list of businesses or corporations that fall into this vendor category. We encourage you to include an activity to engage the public.
For those businesses that wish to do a sampling of food-based products there is an additional sampling fee and sampling size requirement – contact the vendor coordinator at vendors@colbafweb.org.
Political Organizations • 10X10 $700
Political Organizations: Establishments primarily engaged in promoting the interests of national, state, or local political parties or candidates. Included in this category are campaign organizations, political organizations, political action committees, political campaign organizations, political clubs or organizations, and political parties (includes voter registration activities). We encourage your organization to include an activity to engage the public.
It is understood that exhibitors in this category are only allowed to disseminate information written or verbal within their exhibition space. Canvassing is not allowed. CBAF is an arts and cultural organization and does not endorse any political party or issue, current or prospective candidate’s platforms, but merely provides a venue for campaigning regardless of political affiliation as long as there is no conflict with the mission and goals of the CBAF. Your application will be reviewed by the CBAF staff for appropriateness.
Optional:
Electricity: $150 for first 120V drop, $250 for two 120V drops
You must request electricity with your initial application. On-site requests for power will not be considered due to strategic layout of all vendors PRIOR to the festival.
VENDOR GUIDELINES
VENDOR APPLICATION
All prospective vendors will be required to apply online by going to our website at www.colbaf.org. There will be a non-refundable $25 application fee for ALL vendors. If you checked the Civic and Social Organizations category, your application fee will be waived at check-out.
Please note, the non-refundable application fee will not be applied to your vendor fee. The application fee is to offset administrative costs associated with processing your application. Only credit card payments will be accepted for the application fee.
If you are unable to apply through the online application process, please contact the vendor committee at vendors@colbafweb.org for application options.
VENDOR ACCEPTANCE AND DENIAL
To be considered for a vendor space, please complete the application along with payment of your non-refundable $25 vendor application fee. The vendor committee will review all submitted applications. Incomplete application forms or those without payment of the $25 non-refundable application fee will not be considered for a vendor booth space. Vendor notification of acceptance or denial will be sent to the email address on the application. For accepted applicants, vendor packets will be emailed no later than one week prior to the Festival. The vendor packets will contain booth space assignments as well as other pertinent information and guidelines regarding the event.
Each food vendor shall only sell pre-approved food as specified on the vendor application. Vendors may expect limited similarity in offerings; however, the Colorado Black Arts Festival reserves the right to limit the number of food vendors selling the same menu item(s) when designing the food court(s).
The Colorado Black Arts Festival reserves the right to deny or cancel vendor applications and refund all fees if an exhibitor is duplicating products or services already provided, or if the exhibitor does not fit our vision and mission to develop, promote and celebrate African and African American arts and culture in Colorado.
PAYMENT OF VENDOR FEES
If your application is accepted, you will receive instructions to your registered email address on how to complete the application process including payment of your vendor fee. You are not fully registered to participate as a vendor until your completed application, application fee payment, and vendor fee payment are complete. Fees are non-negotiable and vendor booth assignments are based on a first paid-first serve basis with full payment and a completed application form. Partial payments are not accepted and any incomplete application forms will not be considered for a vendor booth space. The Colorado Black Arts Festival will only accept credit cards, an organizational check, a certified cashier’s check, or money orders as payment. Personal checks are not accepted and will be returned.
Payment of vendor fees can be completed online or mailed to:
Colorado Celebration of African American Arts and Culture
Attn: Vendor Committee
P.O. Box 300577
Denver, Colorado 80203
PROHIBITED AND EXCLUSIVE SALES
NO VENDOR including food vendors are allowed to sell beverages including water or alcohol. Vendors are also not allowed to sell or exhibit products dealing with drug paraphernalia, reference to illegal drugs, weapons, or toys that depict weapons at the Colorado Black Arts Festival. No items will be accepted if they are in direct competition with Colorado Black Arts Festival sponsors with exclusivity rights.
INSURANCE AND LOSS
All vendors/exhibitors are required to have their own liability insurance. Proof of liability insurance will be requested at the time of check-in. The Colorado Black Arts Festival is not responsible for any loss, damage or injury. Overnight security will be provided by the Festival; however, this in no way implies responsibility on the part of the Festival for lost/stolen items.
There is no rain date, and no refunds will be given for weather-related issues. All vendors are encouraged to prepare for possible inclement weather (proper weights, tent sidewalls, etc.)
SALES TAX AND LICENSES
All vendors selling goods are responsible for obtaining a Colorado and Denver special events sales license and for collecting the appropriate Colorado and Denver sales taxes. Each vendor must be in compliance with the Denver Special Events tax license requirements. It is expressly agreed and understood that the Festival will not permit any vendor to participate in the event that has not paid their taxes in full to the Denver Manager of Finance. Any vendor who is not current with their Denver and/or Colorado tax return, including not in compliance from the 2021 festival will be denied to participate until any tax obligation is resolved with the taxation division. The CBAF receives an annual report on the taxation status from the revenue departments of all merchant vendors.
Please visit the Colorado Department of Revenue Taxation Division for Colorado Special Event Tax License and City of Denver Treasury Division for Denver Special Event Tax License (scroll down to the blue box that says “Special Event Sales Tax” to download the Special Event Packet) or get Denver Special Event Tax Application and Tax Form here. The fees are nominal and representatives from these agencies may be on-site to assure all vendors are in compliance with obtaining their sales tax licenses.
All food vendors must obtain a Temporary Retail Food Establishment License
from the City and County of Denver and shall have a valid Fire Permit from the Denver Fire Department to do any type of cooking. Licensed mobile retail food establishment may be exempt from obtaining a Temporary Retail Food Establishment License.
VENDOR SET-UP SCHEDULE
Set-up Hours will be Thursday, July 6 from 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm and Friday, July 7 from 8:00 am-11:00 am. All vendor vehicles must be moved off festival grounds before 12:00 pm on Friday. Vendors will not be allowed to set up on Festival grounds before 5:30 pm on Thursday.
Tear-down is Sunday, 7pm – 10pm. No vendors/exhibitors will be allowed to leave early and must remain set up until 7 pm on Sunday at the conclusion of the festival.
BOOTH SETUP AND GUIDELINES
All display materials must be of professional quality. Exhibitors are responsible for providing their tent, table and chairs, adequate weight supports and booth set-up, equipment, and supplies– CBAF is only providing the exhibition space. Tarps are NOT allowed to replace a tent. Tent colors other than white are highly discouraged and blue slant leg tents are not allowed to maintain a high-quality event. Branded tents in good taste are acceptable.
Exhibitors are responsible for setup, operation, maintaining and dismantling of their equipment and for load-in and load-out. The CBAF staff and volunteers are not responsible for transporting exhibitor supplies or equipment unless prior arrangements are made with the CBAF vendor coordinator.
The exhibitor shall maintain a clean and safe operation for the full duration of the festival. The exhibitor shall clean up the booth site and remove or dispose of all trash. Exhibitors will be billed if their exhibit space is not cleaned including zip ties, and will be charged for any damage incurred and jeopardize future participation in the CBAF.
Exhibitors are expected to comply with all Federal, State and local laws, rules and regulations, and shall have all appropriate licenses, permits and other required documentation. Subletting or booth sharing is strictly prohibited. Any vendor found to be in violation of these will be asked to leave the festival grounds immediately.
You must display your CBAF issued exhibitor identification on the upper right side of your tent at all times. Exhibitors not displaying a legitimate CBAF exhibit identification will be removed from the Festival.
Food vendors must meet all standards of Environmental Health and Waste Water Management for Denver and will need to supply the following for their set-up: fire extinguisher, canopy, extension cords, flooring to protect from asphalt from grease/food splash, kitty litter, potable water, and handwashing station. A 16 lb. bag of ice can be purchased for $6/bag from Festival personnel. Food Vendors shall not leave debris, rubbish, trash, or grease/grime on asphalt. Any violators will be billed for the additional clean-up and not allowed to participate the following year.
Items with the CBAF logo, title, or name will be prohibited from being sold at the festival.
EVENT VIOLATIONS
If an applicant is accepted into the Festival and later found to have violated the required rules found in the exhibitor/vendor guidelines and the application, the applicant will be asked to leave the Festival, no refund will be granted and the applicant may not be considered for future festivals.
REFUND POLICY
If you submit an application for the 2023 Colorado Black Arts Festival and you wish to withdraw your application, you must do so by emailing vendors@colbafweb.org by 11:59 pm on the following dates in the refund schedule.
CBAF refund schedule:
- 100% refund if you notify CBAF 30 days prior to the event (June 7, 2023 by 11:59 pm)
- 50% refund if you notify CBAF 15 days prior to the event (June 22, 2023 by 11:59 pm)
- 0% refund will be given after June 22, 2023. The forfeited fee will not be applied towards Festival 2024.
Refunds will be based on the above schedule minus the application fee (and processing fee if applicable). CBAF reserves the right to refund vendor fees by check.