The Puppetry Parade: A LUNA Fête Public Art Initiative
Puppets have long functioned as vessels for collective storytelling, protest, celebration, satire, and transformation. Existing somewhere between sculpture, performance, procession, and public ritual, they possess a unique ability to translate complex civic realities into experiences that are emotionally resonant, visually compelling, and accessible across generations.
The Puppetry Parade invites New Orleans artists, makers, culture bearers, and puppeteers to create illuminated puppets and puppetry inspired designs that respond to this moment in the city’s history; exploring themes such as resilience, environmental change, education, public safety, cultural identity, economic inequality, joy, remembrance, and collective imagination.
Artists are encouraged to consider the puppet not simply as an object, but as a civic storyteller: a living monument capable of moving through neighborhoods, gathering communities, provoking dialogue, and embodying the spirit, tensions, and aspirations of contemporary New Orleans. Through light, movement, sound, and performance, these works can transform public space into sites of reflection, wonder, and shared experience.
Selected finalists will be presented to the public in two chapters. First, the puppets or puppetry inspired design will premiere at LUNA Fête , Arts New Orleans’ annual festival of light, art, and technology, where they will be activated through procession, performance, and public interaction before audiences of more than 40,000 attendees. LUNA Fête will be held from November 13-15, 2026 in downtown New Orleans.
Following their festival debut, selected works will enter the City of New Orleans’ Percent for Art collection through permanent installation at designated New Orleans Recreation Development Commission and New Orleans Public Library sites. In this second life, the puppets will evolve from temporary performance objects into enduring civic artworks continuing to inspire imagination, dialogue, and community connection long after the festival concludes.
This application provides artists and creative makers the opportunity to be juried and approved to participate in the Arts Market of New Orleans. Once accepted, artists gain eligibility to sign up for any of our markets throughout the year.
The Arts Market of New Orleans is an outdoor festival held monthly in City Park, featuring original works by artists and creative vendors from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. We also host Holiday Markets in City Park, Marsalis Harmony Park, and LUNA Fête: light art and technology festival.
There is a $20 non-refundable application fee for all submissions.
We are currently accepting applications in all mediums — including, but not limited to, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, jewelry, woodworking, and bath & body.
All applications are reviewed by a jury on a bi-monthly cycle. Please note: We will not be reviewing or accepting new applications until January 2026.
View our upcoming dates and special events here: 👉 View Arts Market Page on website
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Requirements
All applicants must: • Be current residents of Louisiana, Mississippi, or Alabama • Create all work solely themselves • Ensure that 80% or more of all work is handmade (not commercially acquired or appropriated) • Review and agree to the Arts Market Rules prior to submitting an application (handbook available on our website)
Application Guidelines
We reserve the right to reject applicants who do not meet the requirements listed above or whose work does not align with the caliber, originality, or quality standards upheld by the Arts Market of New Orleans.
Applications may be rejected for the following reasons: • Incomplete submissions • Missing application fee • Failure to meet posted deadlines • Images submitted in non-digital formats • Missing booth setup image • Subject matter and/or technique already thoroughly represented by current Arts Market artists
For more information about the Arts Market, please visit our website.
Further inquiries may be directed to jordan@artsneworleans.org.
Best of luck to you!
Thank you for your interest in becoming a Food Vendor at the Arts Market New Orleans. Below is the basic application to become a Food Vendor, as well as the general rules and guidelines for participation. As part of the jury process, prospective vendors may be required to bring a sample of their food to the Arts Market or to the Arts New Orleans office at 1474 N. Broad St. for taste testing. Only after your food items are sampled will you be notified if you are eligible to begin participating in the Arts Market New Orleans.
Our markets are held every last Saturday from 10am-4pm located at Marsalis Harmony Park (8211 S Claiborne Ave.).
Price of single booth is $100 and includes approximately 10’x10’ space of ground for one food vendor only. Booth registration fees fluctuate in Summer (June-August) and holiday months (November and December).
For any additional questions, please contact artsmarket@artsneworleans.org.