Cambridge Celebration of the Arts

All forms of performing are eligible, including, but not limited to instrumental, vocal, dance, theatre, mime, juggling, busking.  There will be simultaneous performances up to 45 minutes long, staggered throughout the building and the grounds surrounding Cambridge City Hall in Civic Square and McIntyre Square.  

Performers who have taken part in previous CCA are encouraged to apply again but should perform different material.  It should be noted that we have a limited amount of time for set up and tear down at the event.  Please ensure all material submitted and performed is appropriate for an all ages event.  Please note, by signing this application the artist is consenting for the festival to use all material submitted for festival promotion.

Artists will be selected by the Cambridge Celebration of the Arts volunteer planning committee and decisions are final. 

Artists will be notified of their acceptance by email on or about Friday, May 1st 2026. All entries must be received no later than midnight on March, 30 2026.  Please note that no late entries will be accepted or considered.

Selected entries will be paid an honorarium for the performance.   Clicking the submit button confirms that you have read and agree to the above conditions.

All forms of performing are eligible, including, but not limited to instrumental, vocal, dance, theatre, mime, juggling, busking.  There will be simultaneous performances up to 45 minutes long, staggered throughout the building and the grounds surrounding Cambridge City Hall in Civic Square and McIntyre Square.  

Performers who have taken part in previous CCA are encouraged to apply again but should perform different material. It should be noted that we have a limited amount of time for set up and tear down at the event. Please ensure all material submitted and performed is appropriate for an all ages event. Please note, by signing this application the artist is consenting for the festival to use all material submitted for festival promotion.

Artists will be selected by the Cambridge Celebration of the Arts volunteer planning committee and decisions are final. 

Selected artists will be paid an honorarium for their performance. 

Artists will be notified of their acceptance by email on or about Friday, May 1st 2026 at 11:59p.m. 

Applications will remain open until Monday March, 30, 2026 at 11:59p.m. 

All media including but not limited to painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, cartooning, animation, video art, installation, photography, fibre, performance art, new media art, stained glass and fine crafts will be accepted - provided works are able to fit through a standard door frame.  

Artists may submit up to 10 works. All art works that are intended to be hung, must be wired and ready to display.  

For each work submitted please list the following:

1.  File Name

2. Dimensions

3. Value

4. Material

5. Hanging Display Requirements (if there are any)

If an artist is chosen for the CCA exhibition, up to 6 pieces of original works from the submission will be selected and exhibited inside Cambridge City Hall.  Artists who have shown work in previous CCA are encouraged to apply again, but must submit new works for the exhibition.

Selected visual artists will be informed of the dates/times to drop off and pick up works for exhibition. Drop off date is tentative for Thursday June 11, 2026 and pickup date for Friday, June 26, 2026.

Chosen pieces must be delivered ready for hanging/display.  Works may be offered for sale, but no works may be withdrawn before the exhibition closes.  The exhibition will be in place for up to 2 weeks.  The CCA does not take any commission on sales.

Please note, by signing this application the artist is consenting for the festival to use all material submitted for festival promotion. 

There will be a People's Choice Award & Committee Choice Award issued after the event.

A submission consists of:  - One poetry submission to include up to 10 poems  - One prose submission (i.e. Story, essay, memoir etc) not to exceed 5,000 words  We will accept one submission per author, per genre.  Therefore, a writer may submit one prose entry and one poetry entry only; not two prose or two poetry.  Prose must be double spaced.  Poetry must be single spaced with clear stanza breaks.  Prose must indicate word count at the end of the piece.  Submissions accepted in the following formats:  doc, pdf, txt, jpeg.  Entries must be in English, not previously published in writing or on the internet  Copyright remains with author  Submissions will not be acknowledged; however decisions will be given via email Decisions are made by the CCA Committee, decisions are final.  Where possible, feedback will be provided.  Ensure that all material submitted is appropriate for an all-ages event  No submissions, whether prose or poems, may be altered/edited after submission.  All entries must be received no later than midnight on March, 30, 2026.  Please note that no late entries will be accepted or considered.  Please note by signing this application the artist is consenting for the festival to use all material submitted for festival promotion.  Clicking the submit button confirms that you have read and agree to the above conditions.

Selected artists will be paid an honorarium for their performance. 

Selected artists will be notified by email before Friday May, 1, 2026 of their acceptance.