Connie Mettler's Blog – January 2017 Archive (33)

July 20-23

Ann Arbor, Michigan

June 3 & 4

Quincy, Illinois

Downtown in Washington Park

60 Artists

Deadline: February 3



Application fee: $20; Booth fee: $100

Kudos to the Des Moines Arts Festival for their outreach to engage their community and build enthusiasm for the Arts Festival taking place June 23-25. For the second year in a row they hosted an event at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines where they "REVEALED" the artists who will be participating in this years festival. 

At the ticketed gala event, REVEAL, sponsors and stakeholders and enthusiasts of the event watched a…

June 9-11

Salina, Kansas

Presented by: Salina Arts & Humanities

136 artists

Deadline: February 6



Application fee: $40; Booth fee: $325

June 24 & 25

Winnetka, Illinois

Presented by the North Shore Art League

80 Artists

Application fee: $35; Booth fee: $400 single/$600 double…

Happy New Year dear artist (a little late). I hope the year brings you happiness, love and prosperity. I know it will bring some of that and am asking if you'd share that bounty with others in our business.

I'm sure you remember when you started in the business the helpfulness of other artists and the great tips you picked up "behind the booth." This was invaluable information that has…

May 20 & 21

East Lansing, Michigan

downtown streets

180 artists

Deadline: January 31



Application fee: $25/$35; Booth fee: $335-$670



This highly anticipated mid-Michigan festival attracts over 70,000 knowledge-able art patrons from around the region. Established in 1964, the East Lansing Art Festival is an evolving outdoor celebration of fine art and fine craft show that takes…

May 27 & 28

St. Charles, Illinois

Presented by the Downtown St. Charles Partnership

100 Artists

Deadline: January 31



Application fee: $35; Booth fee: Single $395; Double $795

I know our focus here is on insuring that the artists who are participating in the events earn a living. That is my mission.

But some art festivals do that and more. The Anacortes Arts Festival in Anacortes, WA, has a mission of giving back to the arts in its community, a Giving Back Program. In 2016, the festival handed out $42,350 in grants. That number was $39,974 in 2015 and $49,000 in 2014 (which includes cultural…

Next podcast: January 31, 5 pm ET

The premise: As a "new" artist attempting to earn a living at the nation's art fairs I often think about the business side of things. People are surprised that I even attempt the notion of doing it full time... without a pension! …

May 13 & 14

Birmingham, Michigan