Description
This well-attended juried event takes place indoors in the museum Sculpture Court offering visitors a festive marketplace to engage with Michigan artists and explore quality, heart-felt, artist-created work. Special museum programming enhances the two-day event with fun for all ages and free admission.
22 artists will be selected to fill the Sculpture Court by the 2024 Holiday Artist Market Committee. For a second year, we are excited to offer an additional 6-7 artists booths in our Milliken Auditorium entry adjacent to the Court. This new location featuring a local food vendor at one end proved successful in sales and visitors in 2023; fees will be discounted while we continue to monitor its success.
Participation is open to all artists 18 and older who exhibit work of original concept, design, and execution. Space is limited and jury selections are based first and primarily on jury score and secondly on media balance, market variety, and diverse representation of both new and returning artists to maintain the highest standards for both artists and visitors.
Dates
Market: Friday, November 1st and Saturday, November 2nd from 10 AM - 4 PM
Set Up: Thursday, October 31st
Application Deadline: Monday, July 15th, 4 PM
What We Are Looking For
Artists who can creatively think about our market as a boutique art fair and happily adapt to an indoor space that is smaller than an outdoor booth and comes with a couple of museum rules to follow to protect the beautiful artwork, space, and accessibility of it all. That simply means planning accordingly, measuring carefully, and respecting your artist neighbors.
Artists who are creating currently and who offer a range of prices to fit an event marketed to holiday shoppers and art supporters alike.
Submission Guidelines
Each applicant must submit 5 digital images including 4 of current work and 1 of a real & fully-stocked booth or table display similar to what the artist intends to set up at the market. AI & Photoshop-generated images of a booth and images prominently featuring the artist or artist will not be accepted. Artists should intentionally select high-quality and detailed photos that represent the range and quality of what their booth will offer.
Full Rules & Regulations are included in the application to be read and agreed to prior to submission.
Market Stats
The committee typically receives between 40-60 applications to fill the 22-28 spaces available.
Attendance averages of the last 3 years: Friday 875, Saturday 1269, 2 Days Combined 2276 Visitors. 2023 attendance was 2688 Visitors total.
2024 Fees
Application Fee $10
Standard 8’ x 6’ Booth $150
Extended 10’ x 6’ Booth Limited Availability $250
Milliken Auditorium Standard 8’ x 6’ Booth $100
Milliken Auditorium Extended 10’ x 6’ Limited Availability Booth $150
Media
Painting, Jewelry, Fiber, Wood, Metal, Glass, Photography, Printmaking, Mixed Media, Pottery, Illustration/Drawing, Leather.
