An Elevated Marketplace for Authors, Creators, Entrepreneurs & Luxury Brands

Early Bird Vendor Participation Fee: $375 - Tuesday, June 1, 2027
Regular Vendor Participation Fee: $650 Wednesday, June 2, 2027

Vendor Space Is Limited | Acceptance Is Selective

Vendor Opportunity

Thank you for your interest in becoming a vendor at the Black Authors Festival. The Black Authors Festival is more than a literary event. It is a curated cultural experience designed to attract authors, readers, professionals, entrepreneurs, tastemakers, community leaders, collectors, and an upscale audience that values quality, originality, excellence, and meaningful experiences.

All Vendor Participation Fees Are Nonrefundable

This applies regardless of:

• Acceptance or non-acceptance

• Change of mind

• Change in business circumstances

• Travel difficulties

• Personal scheduling conflicts

• Failure to attend

• Failure to arrive on time

• Failure to participate

If an application is declined, the vendor participation fee will not be refunded. If an accepted vendor subsequently cancels, fails to appear, arrives after the setup deadline, or otherwise fails to participate, no refund, no transfer date, and no credit will be issued.

The applicable vendor participation fee covers participation in the Festival marketplace if the applicant is accepted.

IMPORTANT

Payment of the vendor participation fee does not guarantee acceptance. All applications are subject to review and approval by the Black Authors Festival

Our marketplace is intentionally curated.

We are seeking authors, entrepreneurs, artisans, luxury brands, service providers, publishers, creators, and businesses whose products and services complement the quality and spirit of the Black Authors Festival. We are not simply filling vendor tables. We are curating an experience.

Festival Discretion

The Black Authors Festival reserves the right to:

• Accept or reject any application

• Limit the number of vendors in a category

• Limit competing or duplicate product categories

• Determine vendor placement

• Adjust vendor placement when necessary

• Determine the final vendor lineup

• Establish Festival operating procedures

• Remove a vendor who violates Festival policies

• Decline products that do not meet Festival standards

Acceptance into a previous Black Authors Festival does not guarantee acceptance into a future Festival. Each Festival is independently curated.

Selective Vendor Acceptance

The Black Authors Festival is a curated, premium experience, and vendor space is intentionally limited.

We do not automatically accept every business that applies.

Applications may be evaluated based upon:

• Product or service quality

• Brand presentation

• Professional website

• Digital presence

• Product pricing

• Audience alignment

• Brand reputation

• Originality

• Professionalism

• Product category balance

• Available space

• Overall contribution to the Festival experience

The Festival may also limit the number of vendors offering similar products or services to maintain a diverse and engaging marketplace.

PLEASE NOTE:

Submitting an application and paying the vendor participation fee does not guarantee acceptance.

The Black Authors Festival reserves the sole discretion to approve or decline an application.

Sales & Revenue Disclaimer

The Black Authors Festival provides vendors with an opportunity to introduce their brands, products, books, services, and businesses to Festival guests.

However:

The Festival Does Not Guarantee Sales

The Black Authors Festival is not responsible for:

• The amount of merchandise sold

• The number of customers visiting a booth

• Vendor revenue

• Vendor expenses

• Unsold inventory

• Customer purchasing decisions

• Vendor profitability

Each vendor is solely responsible for the success of their own sales experience

Vendors are encouraged to arrive prepared with:

• Sufficient inventory

• Multiple payment options

• A professional sales strategy

• Promotional materials

• Business cards

• Special offers

• An engaging customer experience

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Please Read Carefully

The applicable $375 Early Bird or $500 Regular Vendor Participation Fee is NONREFUNDABLE.

No refund or credit will be issued due to:

• Non-acceptance

• Cancellation

• Failure to attend

• Travel difficulties

• Personal emergencies

• Scheduling conflicts

• Failure to arrive on time

• Failure to meet setup requirements

• Failure to participate

Required Festival Contribution

Every accepted vendor must contribute at least one item valued at $150 or more to be raffled during the Festival.

Required Raffle Contribution

One item minimum retail value: $150

The donated item should be representative of your brand and of meaningful value to Festival guests.

The donated item must be provided according to the Festival's stated deadline and submission instructions.

Insurance & Liability

Each vendor is responsible for protecting their own:

• Merchandise

• Inventory

• Equipment

• Cash

• Electronic devices

• Displays

• Personal property

The Black Authors Festival is not responsible for loss, theft, damage, or disappearance of vendor property.

Vendors are responsible for any injury, damage, claim, or loss arising from their products, services, booth, equipment, employees, representatives, or activities, to the extent permitted by law.

The Festival may require proof of insurance or additional documentation for certain vendors or product categories.

Professional Presentation Standards

Because the Black Authors Festival caters to an elevated audience, all vendors are expected to maintain a polished and professional presentation.

Vendors agree to:

• Maintain a clean and attractive display

• Dress appropriately and professionally

• Keep products organized

• Remain courteous and welcoming

• Refrain from aggressive sales tactics

• Respect neighboring vendors

• Respect Festival staff and volunteers

• Keep their assigned area clean

• Remain within their assigned vending space

• Avoid obstructing walkways

• Follow Festival instructions

• Remove all merchandise and materials at the conclusion of the event

The Festival reserves the right to request removal of any product, display, signage, or material it determines to be inappropriate, offensive, unsafe, misleading, or inconsistent with Festival standards.

Sales, Taxes, & Business Requirements

Each vendor is responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing their business.

This may include:

• Sales tax collection

• Business licensing

• Food permits

• Health requirements

• Product labeling

• Insurance

• Professional credentials

• Payment processing

• Customer receipts

The Black Authors Festival does not assume responsibility for a vendor's legal or regulatory compliance.

Late Arrival

Any vendor arriving after 12:00 PM will not be permitted to set up and will not receive a refund.

Vendor Equipment & Supplies

Unless otherwise specified, vendors are responsible for bringing all materials necessary to create and operate their vending experience.

Vendors should bring:

Vending table
Tablecloth
Tent/canopy, if applicable
Professional signage
Product displays
Products/inventory
Business cards
Promotional materials
Payment-processing equipment
Extension cords/power supplies, if needed
Chairs, if desired
Any additional equipment necessary for operation Electricity is not available, please make sure all of your operations can function without electricity

Out-Of-Town Vendors

We recognize that some of our vendors will travel from outside the local area. Out-of-Town Vendors are those from other states, not upstate, NYC, etc. For qualifying out-of-town vendors, the Black Authors Festival will provide:

One Vending Table Only

Out-of-town vendors remain responsible for:

• Table covering

• Signage

• Displays

• Chairs

• Products

• Payment equipment

• Promotional materials

• Tents/canopies, when applicable

• Electrical equipment

• Any other necessary vending supplies

Local & Regional Vendors

Local and regional vendors are responsible for providing their own vending table and complete setup.

The fee entitles me to one meal.

SELECTION PROCESS

Submission of an application constitutes a request for consideration. It does not guarantee selection as a Community Leader Honoree.

Each application will be reviewed in accordance with the Festival's established selection process.

The Black Authors Festival Selection Committee will evaluate submissions based upon factors that may include, but are not limited to:

• Literary accomplishment;

• Quality and significance of the applicant's work;

• Professional achievement;

• Contribution to literacy and education;

• Community impact;

• Cultural contribution;

• Intellectual and literary significance;

• Preservation of Black history, culture, or lived experience;

• Commitment to intellectual freedom;

• Alignment with the mission and values of the Black Authors Festival; and

• Overall contribution to the advancement of Black literature and culture.

Applicants selected for further consideration may be referred to the Advisory Council and may be invited to participate in an interview or additional review process before a final determination is made.

Selection decisions are made at the discretion of the Black Authors Festival pursuant to its established selection procedures and all decisions are final.

APPLICATION FEE AND NON-REFUNDABLE PAYMENT TERMS

ALL APPLICATION FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE AND NON-TRANSFERABLE.

The application fee is required in order to submit an application for consideration.

The application fee is consideration for the administrative processing, review, evaluation, selection process, and associated resources devoted to the applicant's submission. The fee is not a payment for acceptance, an honor, a speaking engagement, media exposure, literary representation, publishing services, or any guaranteed Festival opportunity.

Payment of the application fee does not guarantee:

• Selection as a Community Leader Honoree;

• Admission to any Festival program;

• An interview;

• A speaking opportunity;

• A panel appearance;

• Media coverage;

• Literary representation;

• Presentation before Mark Gottlieb or other Festival Dignitaries;

• A publishing contract;

• A book deal;

• Commercial opportunities; or

• Any other particular outcome.

Once an application has been submitted and the applicable fee has been paid, the application fee shall not be refunded solely because the applicant is not selected, withdraws from consideration, changes their mind, becomes unavailable, disagrees with a selection determination, or otherwise does not receive the outcome for which the applicant hoped.

Selection Notification

Only applicants selected for advancement in the honoree selection process will be contacted by the Black Authors Festival. Submission of an application does not create an obligation for the Festival to provide individual status updates or notifications to applicants who are not selected to proceed.

Applicants should therefore understand that the absence of communication from the Black Authors Festival constitutes notification that the applicant has not been selected to advance in the process, unless otherwise expressly communicated by the Festival.

The Festival appreciates the time, consideration, and literary contributions of all individuals who submit an application.

APPLICANT ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT

By submitting an application and remitting the required application fee, the applicant acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agreed to the terms and conditions governing the 2027 Community Leader Honoree application process, including the non-refundable and non-transferable nature of the application fee.

The applicant further acknowledges that submission of the application and payment of the applicable fee constitute the applicant's express agreement to be bound by the applicable application terms and conditions, subject to applicable law and final review by counsel.

The applicant represents that they have had a reasonable opportunity to review the application requirements before submitting payment and that they are responsible for obtaining clarification from the Black Authors Festival regarding any provision they do not understand before submitting the application and payment.

Questions concerning eligibility, application requirements, participation, Festival programming, manuscript submission, scheduling, or other matters should be directed to:

The Black Authors Festival Team - Email: info@blackauthorsfestival.com

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit questions before payment and application submission. Failure to seek clarification before submitting an application shall not create an obligation on the part of the Festival to provide a refund where the applicant subsequently disagrees with a stated application term.

NO REFUND FOLLOWING UNSUCCESSFUL APPLICATION

The applicant expressly acknowledges that an unsuccessful application does not constitute grounds for a refund.

An applicant who submits an application after acknowledging the non-refundable nature of the application fee may not subsequently demand or pursue a refund solely because the applicant was not selected.

The applicant further acknowledges that the Festival incurs administrative, personnel, professional, technological, communications, evaluation, scheduling, and other expenses in connection with the application and selection process regardless of the ultimate outcome of an individual application.

Accordingly, the applicant expressly accepts the risk that the application may not result in selection and agrees that such outcome shall not create a refund obligation on the part of the Black Authors Festival.

PROHIBITION AGAINST FALSE OR BAD FAITH REFUND CLAIMS

An applicant shall not knowingly submit false information, materially misrepresent the circumstances surrounding an application or payment, initiate a knowingly improper payment dispute, or otherwise engage in deceptive or bad faith conduct for the purpose of obtaining a refund to which the applicant has expressly agreed they are not entitled.

Any knowingly false, fraudulent, deceptive, or materially misleading representation made in connection with a refund demand, payment dispute, chargeback, or other attempt to recover a properly retained application fee may constitute a material breach of the applicant's agreement with the Black Authors Festival and may result in the Festival pursuing any remedies available to it under applicable law.

Such remedies may include, where legally available and appropriate:

• Contesting an improper chargeback or payment dispute;

• Recovery of amounts improperly withheld or reversed;

• Recovery of demonstrable damages;

• Recovery of reasonable costs and expenses to the extent permitted by law;

• Injunctive or other equitable relief where appropriate;

• Civil claims arising from breach of contract or other legally cognizable misconduct; and

• Referral to appropriate authorities where the Festival reasonably believes that conduct may constitute unlawful activity.

Nothing in this provision shall be construed as creating or asserting criminal liability where none exists under applicable law. Any determination concerning potential criminal conduct rests with the appropriate governmental authorities.

FESTIVAL PARTICIPATION

Applicants selected as a Community Leader Honoree agree to comply with the applicable Festival participation requirements, deadlines, submission procedures, professional standards, event policies, and reasonable instructions communicated by the Black Authors Festival.

Selection as an honoree does not create an entitlement to a particular speaking position, panel assignment, media appearance, schedule, placement, accommodation, promotional treatment, or other Festival benefit unless expressly confirmed by the Festival in writing.

The Festival reserves the right, consistent with applicable law and its published policies, to modify programming, scheduling, speakers, venues, presenters, literary industry participants, or other Festival components when circumstances require.

MANUSCRIPT PRESENTATION TERMS

Where the Festival offers an eligible applicant an opportunity to submit a manuscript or literary project for presentation to Mark Gottlieb or another participating literary professional, the applicant acknowledges that:

1. Submission does not guarantee that the manuscript will be selected for presentation.

2. Presentation does not guarantee representation.

3. Presentation does not guarantee a publishing contract.

4. Presentation does not guarantee acquisition or commercial publication.

5. The literary professional retains independent discretion regarding any subsequent communication or professional relationship with the applicant.

6. The Festival does not control the independent professional decisions of participating literary agents, publishers, editors, or other third parties.

7. The applicant remains responsible for ensuring that submitted materials are their own work or that they possess all necessary rights and permissions to submit such materials.

8. The applicant should retain appropriate copies of all submitted materials.

9. Any separate professional relationship arising between an applicant and a literary agent, publisher, editor, or other third party shall be governed by any separate agreement entered into between those parties.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF VOLUNTARY APPLICATION

By completing and submitting this application, the applicant acknowledges that they are voluntarily seeking consideration by the Black Authors Festival and that they have independently determined that the opportunity is appropriate for them.

The applicant further acknowledges that:

I have read the application requirements and participation terms.

I understand that the application fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.

I understand that payment does not guarantee selection or any particular Festival opportunity.

I understand that failure to receive the outcome I desire does not entitle me to a refund.

I understand that I am responsible for contacting the Black Authors Festival before submitting my application if I have questions concerning these terms.

I understand that by submitting my application and payment, I am agreeing to the applicable terms and conditions governing the application process, subject to applicable law.

I understand that knowingly submitting a false, deceptive, or bad-faith refund claim or payment dispute may expose me to legal consequences and the Festival to pursue remedies available under applicable law.

APPLICANT CERTIFICATION

By clicking “Submit Application and Pay Application Fee,” the applicant represents and acknowledges that:

• The information provided in the application is truthful and accurate to the best of the applicant's knowledge;

• The applicant has reviewed the eligibility requirements;

• The applicant understands that selection is not guaranteed;

• The applicant understands that the application fee is non-refundable and non-transferable;

• The applicant understands that payment does not guarantee selection, recognition, participation, literary representation, manuscript presentation, or any other specific benefit;

• The applicant has had the opportunity to contact the Black Authors Festival with questions before submitting payment;

• The applicant agrees to the applicable terms and conditions governing the application;

• The applicant understands that submitting payment after reviewing these terms constitutes acceptance of those terms, subject to applicable law; and

• The applicant understands that knowingly providing materially false or misleading information or pursuing an improper refund or payment reversal may result in the Festival exercising any rights and remedies available under applicable law.

Questions before submitting? Contact The Black Authors Festival Team: info@blackauthorsfestival.com

Applicants must agree to the terms and conditions.