Ann Arbor Art Fairs - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Ann Arbor Art Fairs are a group of four award-winning, not-for-profit art fairs that take place annually in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...

. Over 500,000 visitors attend the Fairs each year, which always take place during the third full week of July, running from Wednesday through Saturday. The 2012 fairs are scheduled to be held July 18-21 (Wed–Fri: 10 am – 9 pm and Sat: 10 am – 6 pm).

The four official fairs are the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original (52yrs); the State Street Art Fair (44yrs); the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair (42yrs); and Ann Arbor's South University Art Fair (12yrs). Taken collectively, the Ann Arbor Art Fair is one of the largest art fairs in North America

North America

North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

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In addition to art exhibits, the fairs also feature music performances and children's activities.

The 2011 Ann Arbor Art Fair Event Guide

Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original

The oldest of the four, the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original, was established in 1960 by a collaboration between the Ann Arbor Art Association, the University of Michigan

University of Michigan

The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...

, and two business groups. For 50 years, The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair has been connecting a carefully selected group of artists with an appreciative audience from Ann Arbor and across the country. During this half century, the Fair has won many awards, provided substantial economic benefit to the local business community, and often been recognized as the brand of Ann Arbor.

The “Original” moniker in the Fair’s title comes not only from the event’s history, but from its unique role as a leader in the art fair community. It was the first Fair to jury an outdoor show in 1965 and was integral in the creation of the online jurying system Zapplication, now in use by hundreds of fairs across the country.

The Fair has also been a leader in programming throughout the years, initiating events like the Townie Street Party. This special free kick off event takes place the Monday before the start of the Fairs (July 18, 2011) and gives the community a chance to celebrate the Art Fairs before the crowds come to town. Other programs like the Kid’s Art Fair give young artists the opportunity to exhibit and sell their work. The New Artist Program allows University level artists to experience what it’s like to fully participate in the Street Art Fair.

The Performances on the Lawn program is a big hit with the Fair crowd too. Housed within a huge 60’x 90’ tent, this line up showcases an exciting and eclectic mix of music, dance and magic by local community groups and professionals that is family friendly, forward thinking and innovative. The Performances on the Lawn program features over 30 acts throughout the four days of the Fair, creating an intimate and inviting sense of community that complements the exceptional visual art that surrounds it.

The Original Fair has recently made a huge commitment to sustainability as well, introducing the Zero Waste Program in 2008 with a goal of minimal environmental impact. This program was one of three invited to present at the 2009 annual MFEA Conference.

As a result of its leadership, The Original Fair has won numerous awards, including the Governors Award (State of Michigan), several Reader’s Choice Awards (Ann Arbor News, Ann Arbor Current), a Gold Pinnacle Award (International Festivals and Events Association), and the title of the Number One Art Fair in the country (according to the AmericanStyle magazine readers survey, October 2004). It has made the list of Top Ten Fairs and Festivals every year since.

In 2003, the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original relocated to North University Avenue and the streets surrounding the landmark Burton Memorial Tower. This gorgeous new location on the University of Michigan’s Central Campus is set amidst elegant architecture and beautifully landscaped pedestrian walkways.

Ann Arbor State Street Art Fair

The State Street Area Art Fair is a nationally recognized and award winning art fair that combines the talents of 325 artists with a host of merchant displays along the vibrant streets of Ann Arbor's campus area. It is one of four Ann Arbor fairs held concurrently each July.

Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair

The Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair was established in 1960 and is run by The Guild of Artists & Artisans. Originally called the Free Arts Festival and held on the Diag

The Diag

At the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, the Diag is a large open space in the middle of the university's Central Campus. Originally known as the Diagonal Green, the Diag derives its name from the many sidewalks running near or through it in diagonal directions...

, in the University of Michigan's Central Campus, in the mid-70s it was renamed to become the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair. Currently, it is held in two locations, one on State Street, and the other on Main Street and Liberty Street between Main and 4th Avenue. In addition to 375 professional artists, the fair also features performances and children's activities.

Ann Arbor South University Art Fair

"Diversity, Live it on South U"

Celebrating 50 years of Art on the streets of Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor's South University Art Fair: Since the first Fair appeared on South University in 1960 many things have changed and yet so much remains the same. The idea for an Art Fair, first proposed by Bruce Henry, owner of Artisan’s Gallery on South University, now has a life of its own. Colorful paper fish hung by the merchants flew gaily from the lamp-posts during the first fair and that theme is echoed in this years poster designed by Daniel Lager (Booth E159). Ann Arbor’s South University Art Fair featuring almost 150 artists is where the past meets the future. Cutting edge creations blend with traditional styles, and local and international artists combine to bring you the unmistakable flavor which epitomizes the youngest of the Ann Arbor Art Fairs. Great ethnic restaurants, hip and quirky stores plus plenty of easy access parking at the Forest Parking Deck make South U. the best possible starting place for your Art Fair adventure.

Unofficial Fairs

Over the years, several unofficial, for-profit art fairs have piggybacked onto the Ann Arbor Art Fairs in an attempt to capitalize on its large attendance. One such fair is operated downtown in a privately-owned parking lot off Liberty Street, directly adjacent to the State Street Area Art Fair. In 2009, another for-profit art fair, Ann Arbor Art Fair at Briarwood, began in the parking lot of Briarwood Mall, a staging area for shuttle busses that travel to and from downtown Ann Arbor during the Ann Arbor Art Fairs.

The art found at these fairs is generally lower priced than that found at the official Ann Arbor Art Fairs. This may be attributed to the lower booth fees charged by the shows' directors and the relative lower experience level of the artists who exhibit here. Artists generally find that they are much more likely to be accepted as exhibitors in these shows when compared to the official Ann Arbor Art Fairs.

Ann Arbor Art Fair at Briarwood

The Ann Arbor Art Fair at Briarwood was established in 2009 and is run by Kathy Jacobi, of Buzzy Bee Productions. It is held in the parking lot near Sears at Briarwood Mall, located near the intersection of State Street and I-94.

Briarwood is one of the two locations (the other is Pioneer High School) the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority operates shuttle bus service from a large parking lot to the other downtown Ann Arbor Art Fairs.

The shuttle bus service from Briarwood mall routinely transports over 30,000 visitors. The Ann Arbor Art Fair at Briarwood uniquely allows visitors to visit part of the Ann Arbor Art Fairs conveniently located near both their vehicle and the shuttle bus service, ensuring that visitors do not need to carry their purchases around with them all day.

Art Fair Food

While the main attraction of these fairs is the art, another reason the crowds gather is to experience the variety of delicious treats that the multitude of street vendors offer. The usual fair food is offered such as french fries, cotton candy, funnel fries, caramel apples and fried Twinkies. Walking around the fair all day, one can certainly work up an appetite and might want to turn to those guilty pleasures. However certain vendors also offer a variety of specialized cuisine from restaurants across the city.
Greek, Asian, Creole and Indian food are some of the variety that can show up at the Ann Arbor Art Fair.

Protest from Residents

Given the traffic and inconvenience of having a large number of visitors come in for the week, some Ann Arbor residents dislike the fairs and have protested against them, rallying under the slogan of "It's not art, and it's not fair." In 2005, in an effort to cultivate a better relationship with locals, the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original started a tradition of holding a "Townie Street Party" on the Monday before the fairs begin.

External links

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