The Arts Commission is Pleased to Announce the Return of Artomatic 419: A 3-Day Local Arts Exhibition

Daily Dose  |  07/08/2026 10:00 am

The Arts Commission is excited to announce that Artomatic 419 will return to the Erie Street Market for a second consecutive year, on Friday September 18– Sunday, 20, 2026!

Calls for artists are currently open through August 2nd. 

Artomatic 419 is a free program which celebrates the diversity of arts in Toledo in an accessible, inclusive format, builds community among artists, and increases awareness of, and appreciation for, the quality and breadth of Toledo arts.

Artomatic 419 is a non-juried, multidisciplinary art exhibition for local Toledo creatives to showcase their work. This multi-day event will provide access to indoor exhibition space at Erie Street Market in Downtown Toledo. 

This event will offer a gallery-esque setting for visual artists and designers, multiple stage performance areas, and a projection room for film and video. Artomatic 419 is free for participants and attendees.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the first Artomatic 419 in 2006. The Artomatic 419 model brings together artists to co-create and execute this unique festival experience that numerous Toledo artists credit with getting their artistic careers off the ground. 

“Artomatic brings the best out of Toledo. I am looking forward to the joy shared by the artists and the audience during this three day celebration of the visual, musical, literary, and performance arts. I remember being amazed at my first Artomatic when I was 19 or 20 years old, thinking, ‘This happens HERE in Toledo?’ More than a decade later, I’m so glad to be a part of the planning of this year’s event to continue the magic of Artomatic.” - Caroline Jardine, Artist, Artomatic 419 Co-Chair, and Arts Commission Board Member.

Calls for artists are currently open through August 2nd, or when spots are filled. Artists of any medium are encouraged to apply. This includes but is not limited to dance, music, theater, film, literature, design, and visual arts.

Applications for each category are linked below:

• Visual Art Exhibition — Exhibition artists are invited to sign up as an individual or collective for a designated space to showcase their work. This can include physical 2D or 3D art, installations, performance art, videos or projections, or creative work of any medium. 
• Live Performance — Performance artists are invited to sign up as an individual or collective to be assigned a time slot on one of the designated performance stages. This can include musical or theatrical performances, literary readings, poetry, puppet shows, demonstrations, or timed performances of any type.
• Film and Video — Film and video artists are invited to submit their works to be included in the official schedule during Artomatic 419. A projection room will be dedicated for these works with a timed schedule on display. Videos of all lengths, genres, mediums, and styles are eligible to apply. 
• Spectacle Art — Spectacle art refers to visually striking work that draws the audience’s attention. We are seeking larger site-specific or interactive temporary installations to include as feature points in the Artomatic 419 footprint. These works will be placed throughout the event space. New or existing work is permitted. 

More information about Artomatic 419 and artist applications can be found at The Arts Commission’s website:  https://theartscommission.org/events/artomatic-419

About The Arts Commission

The Arts Commission is the longest standing arts commission in the state of Ohio, founded in 1959, administering the City of Toledo’s One Percent for Art Program since 1977. The Arts Commission is supported in part by the Ohio Arts Council and by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.