Ann Arbor Art Fairs
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. There was no event in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic was to blame; it returned in 2021.
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. 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.” 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.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. It is supported by the State Street Area Association in collaboration with local businesses. 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.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.