The Delaware Gazette will be the media sponsor for the 2016 Delaware Arts Festival.

“I am thrilled that The Gazette will be sponsoring the information booth at the festival,” said Judy Burdette, a festival volunteer in charge of the booth layout. “I’m delighted that’s happening again.”

“What this means is that we’ll be putting out a special section which will detail the event, with a list of exhibitors and a map, and feature some downtown businesses,” said Gazette general manager/media director Sherry Fisher Scroggins.

The 43rd annual festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 14 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 15 in downtown Delaware. Admission and parking are free, and the event’s website says, “all of the profits from the festival go to supporting the visual arts in Delaware County through scholarships and grants.”

“We are probably one of the few shows that even if the person won Best of Show last year, we make them jury back in,” Burdette said. “That’s the way it’s always been done, and consequently, pick up new talent from all over the United States. If anything, the applicants are more than last year.”

“Awards are based on craftsmanship, originality, creativity and display, and are determined by independent judges,” states the festival website.

While it may be the local Arts Festival, exhibitors attend from across the country.

“This year, 25 percent of the exhibitors will be new people who have never done the show before,” Burdette said. “The mix is really good — a full complement of ceramics and glass people, as well as artists using every medium imaginable, plus photography.”

The only concern each year is rain.

“It’s going to be a really nice show,” she said. “We’re going to have to do a dance so the weather’s good. That’s the only element that keeps the show from being wonderful every year.”