Ann Arbor Art Fairs

Last updated
Ann Arbor Art Fairs
Ann Arbor Art Fair, 2019.jpg
NicknameArt Fair
GenreFair
Date(s)Normally July or August
FrequencyAnnually
Location(s)Downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan
Country United States
Inaugurated1960
Most recent20 July 2023 - 22 July 2023 [1]
Next event18 July 2024 - 20 July 2024 [2]
Website www.theannarborartfair.com

The Ann Arbor Art Fair is a group of three award-winning, not-for-profit United States art fairs that take place annually in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Over 400,000 visitors attend the fairs each year. Prior to 2016, the fair ran Wednesday through Saturday, generally the third weekend in July. Beginning in 2016, the days shifted to Thursday through Sunday. [3] There was no event in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic was to blame; [4] it returned in 2021. [5]

Contents

The three official fairs are The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original; the State Street Art Fair; and the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair. [6] [7] In addition to art exhibits, the fairs feature music performances, demonstrations, merchant marketplace, and interactive art activities.

The fairs

Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original

The oldest of the three, the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original, was established in 1960 by a collaboration between the South University Businessmen's Association, Ann Arbor Art Association, and the Chamber of Commerce. Originally the Art Association did not believe artist would want their work to be displayed in the street stating, “No good artist will sit in the street.” [8] That proved not to be true. The first fair attracted only 132 artists, 99 of them being local, by the third annual fair there were 220 artists. [8]

Ann Arbor State Street Art Fair

The State Street Area Art Fair, originating in 1968, holds a special place in the Ann Arbor Art Fair tradition with Bargain Days roots, a merchant event preceding the Ann Arbor Art Fair by 32 years. [9] It is supported by the State Street Area Association (DBA State Street District) in collaboration with local businesses. [10] The fair has maintained its commitment to community development and artist opportunities expanded over time. Its unique funding model, where 100% of the State Street Area Art Fair revenue is invested in arts & culture, local businesses, and community events, reflects the fair's dedication to its founding principles. [10] [11]

Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair

The Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair takes place in two locations, State Street from Madison to William, and along Main Street and Liberty to Fifth Avenue. Produced by The Guild of Artists & Artisans, a non-profit artist membership organization, it features 375 jury selected artists.

It all began in the spring of 1970, about ten years following the premiere of the original Ann Arbor Street Fair. A group of young artists from Ann Arbor began working on a separate art fair which would give emerging artists, craftspeople and art students a chance to “take to the streets.” Calling it the Free Arts Festival, they set up this “free fair” on the University of Michigan's “Diag” on Central Campus. Funding and management for this new fair was provided by the participating artists themselves. Later in the mid-70s the event was renamed the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair.

Ann Arbor South University Art Fair

South University Art Fair in 2006 AnnArbor-MI-ArtFair.jpg
South University Art Fair in 2006

The Ann Arbor South University Art Fair is nationally recognized as a fine arts and crafts fair. [12]

Art Fair Food

The usual fair food is offered such as French fries, cotton candy, funnel fries, caramel apples and fried Twinkies. However community businesses and local vendors offer a variety of specialized cuisine from restaurants across the city in the street and with grab & go food. [13]

Protest from residents

Given the traffic disruption and the inconvenience of having a large number of visitors come in for the week, many 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." [14] In 2005, in an effort to cultivate a better relationship with locals the fairs started a tradition of holding a "Townie Street Party" before the fairs begin expanded to all Fairs activating a community event prior to the Ann Arbor Art Fair event date. The First Townie Party was planned and supported by all four fairs. [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ann Arbor, Michigan</span> City in Michigan, United States

Ann Arbor is a college town and the county seat of Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States. The 2020 census recorded its population to be 123,851, making it the fifth-most populous city in Michigan. It is the principal city of the Ann Arbor metropolitan area, which encompasses all of Washtenaw County and had 372,258 residents in 2020. Ann Arbor is also included in the Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor combined statistical area and the Great Lakes megalopolis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metro Detroit</span> Metropolitan area in Michigan, US

Metro Detroit is a major metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Michigan, consisting of the city of Detroit and over 200 municipalities in the surrounding area with its largest employer being Oakland County. There are varied definitions of the area, including the official statistical areas designated by the Office of Management and Budget, a federal agency of the United States.

Richard Theodore Titlebaum was a writer, artist, antiquarian book collector and literature professor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority</span>

The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (AAATA), branded as TheRide, is the public transit system serving the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti area in the U.S. state of Michigan. In fiscal year 2021, the system had a ridership of 1,725,797.

The recorded history of Ann Arbor, Michigan, began with settlers from various eastern states in early 1824.

The culture of Ann Arbor, Michigan includes various attractions and events, many of which are connected with the University of Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WQKL</span> Radio station in Ann Arbor, Michigan

WQKL, known on the air as ann arbor's 107one, is a commercial radio station in Ann Arbor, Michigan. WQKL is owned by Cumulus Media, airing an adult album alternative/alternative rock radio format. WQKL has its studios at the south area of Ann Arbor near Briarwood Mall, and broadcasts its signal from a 3,000 watt transmitter atop Tower Plaza in the city's downtown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tower Plaza (Ann Arbor, Michigan)</span> Condominium building

Tower Plaza is a high-rise condominium building in Ann Arbor, Michigan, located at 555 East William Street. The building was first proposed in 1965, and opened in 1969. It stands at 26 stories. The antenna stands at 292 feet tall and the roof is 267 feet (81 m) tall. It was designed in the international style of architecture, primarily using concrete and glass. Originally a residential apartment building, it was converted to individually-owned condominiums in 1987. Tower Plaza also has the most buttons of any elevator in Ann Arbor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dally in the Alley</span> Detroits largest annual community festival

Dally in the Alley is Detroit's largest annual community festival, located in the Cass Corridor district in Detroit. The event is completely organized and executed by a team of community volunteers. According to organizers, The Dally in the Alley gives an offering of live music, visual arts, performance, food and beer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sharon Que</span> American artist

Sharon Que (Querciagrossa) is an American visual artist and luthier, based in Ann Arbor, specializing in violin restoration and repair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Depot Town</span> Commercial area of Ypsilanti

Depot Town is a commercial area, with some residences above storefronts, in Ypsilanti, Michigan's historic district. Depot Town proper consists of East Cross Street from the Huron River to North River Street, and a small area on the 300-block of North River Street. However, several blocks in the surrounding area are also commonly referred to as part of Depot Town. These areas include Riverside Park, Frog Island Park, and River Street extending north and south for several blocks. First established in the late 1830s, most of the buildings standing today were constructed between 1850 and 1880. Over the years, Depot Town has included hotels, an Underground Railroad station, an American Civil War barracks, and a building that has housed a bar and restaurant continuously for more than 150 years, switching to soft drinks during Prohibition. Today the area is dominated by restaurants and stores. Depot Town also hosts several large summer festivals each year, as well as weekly bike nights and cruise nights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">State Theatre (Ann Arbor, Michigan)</span> Movie theater in Ann Arbor, Michigan

The State Theatre is a movie palace in Ann Arbor, Michigan, designed by C. Howard Crane in the Art Deco style.

Spier, Rohns & Gehrke was a noted Detroit, Michigan architectural firm operated by Frederick H. Spier and William C. Rohns, best remembered for designs of churches and railroad stations. These were frequently executed in the Richardson Romanesque style. F.H. Spier, W.C. Rohns and Hans Gehrke were authors of the Detroit Chamber of Commerce, tallest building in the city at the time of construction (1895). Hans Gehrke's well known structures include the Fire Department Headquarters on Larned Street in Detroit, and residence of Robert C. Traub in Arden Park residential district of Detroit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ypsilanti, Michigan</span> City in Michigan, United States

Ypsilanti, commonly shortened to Ypsi, is a college town and city located on the Huron River in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the city's population was 20,648. The city is bounded to the north by Superior Township and on the west, south, and east by Ypsilanti Township. Ypsilanti is a part of the Ann Arbor metropolitan area, the Huron River Valley, the Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor combined statistical area, and the Great Lakes megalopolis. The city is also the home of Eastern Michigan University (EMU).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBTQ culture in Metro Detroit</span>

The LGBT community in Metro Detroit is centered in Ferndale, Michigan, as of 2007. As of 1997, many LGBT people live in Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, and Royal Oak. Model D stated in 2007 that there are populations of gays and lesbians in some Detroit neighborhoods such as East English Village, Indian Village, Lafayette Park, and Woodbridge and that the concentration of gay bars in Detroit is "decentralized".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Michigan Detroit Center</span> Community outreach center

The University of Michigan Detroit Center is a community outreach center, meeting/events facility, and academic home base for University of Michigan units, located in Midtown Detroit.

Eclipse Jazz was a student-run committee within the University Activities Center at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. From 1975 to 1993 it operated under the auspices of the University’s Major Events Office, showcasing jazz performers and giving students hands-on experience in the performing arts business.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ann Mikolowski</span> American 20th-century contemporary artist

Ann Margaret (Stroman) Mikolowski was a twentieth-century American contemporary artist. She was a painter of portrait miniatures and waterscapes, as well as a printmaker and illustrator of printed matter. Mikolowski was part of Detroit's Cass Corridor artist movement and co-founder of The Alternative Press.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Museum of Dinnerware Design</span> Design museum in Kingston, New York

The International Museum of Dinnerware Design (IMoDD) is a design museum located in Kingston, New York. It was established in 2012 by Margaret L. Carney. IMoDD is a 501(c)(3) organization that "collects, preserves, and celebrates masterpieces of the tabletop genre created by leading artists and designers worldwide. Through its collections, exhibitions, and educational programming," IMoDD's mission statement says, "it provides a window on the varied cultural and societal attitudes toward food and dining and commemorates the objects that exalt and venerate the dining experience." IMoDD has over 9,000 objects in its permanent collection, consisting of work by contemporary artists as well as the leading designers for industry, with an additional focus on fine art referencing dining.

References

  1. ↑ Burgio, Alysia (2023-05-04). "What to expect at the 2023 Ann Arbor Art Fair - CBS Detroit". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  2. ↑ "Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair". The Guild. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  3. ↑ Dunn, Patrick (2016-07-13). "Ann Arbor Art Fair switches up schedule, opens July 21". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
  4. ↑ "2020 Ann Arbor Art Fair canceled due to COVID-19 concerns". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  5. ↑ Luckoff, Nirali Patel, Kaitlyn (2021-07-21). "2021 Ann Arbor Art Fair brings culture, creativity, crowds downtown". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved 2023-07-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ "Official Event Guide" 2011 Ann Arbor Art Fair Guide Archived July 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ "Ann Arbor Annual Events". Ann Arbor Observer. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
  8. 1 2 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-12-18. Retrieved 2015-01-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ↑ "Bargain Days at the Ann Arbor Art Fair, July 17, 1975 | Ann Arbor District Library".
  10. 1 2 "Ann Arbor Street Art Fair records, 1960-2005 (majority within 1968-2005) - University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library - University of Michigan Finding Aids". findingaids.lib.umich.edu.
  11. ↑ "not found". www.statestreetdistrict.org. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Ann Arbor's South University Art Fair website". Ann Arbor's South University Art Fair. Archived from the original on 26 March 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  13. ↑ Mary, Yenta (2010-07-28). "Food Floozie: Wordless Wednesday -- Ann Arbor Art Fair Food: The Artery-Clogging Essentials". Food Floozie. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  14. ↑ Richard Wiggins. "Please Swipe my Credit Card." Internet Outlook 20 July 1997. Accessed 27 June 2006. “We know that we are the second largest impactor after Michigan football, and we have numbers that go between $12 million and $15 million a year of impact from the overall event.” Ann Arbor Art Fair attendance for the fair is very much determined by how much the weather cooperates. Jul 20, 2023 Archived 2006-03-13 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ↑ "The First Ever Townie Street Party | Ann Arbor District Library". www.aadl.org.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.