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What a year it has been on our planet! Is there hope for our business? Art fairs are a cultural treasure and 1,000,000's of people attend them every year in our country. Will they survive? I'm kind of thinking there is a touch of eagerness in the air. Do you feel it? This just in from ZAPP, the software company that helps artists and art fairs connect.

1. Some of you were actually exhibiting at art fairs in May and June this year. Did you last year?

2. Can you imagine what this amounted
to in $$$?

Do the math ... how did the festivals stay afloat?

3. Impressive! Back to 2019 figures? Do you think we're going to get back to that?

When do you think we'll be back to normal? Will you be there? 

Well, the shoe has finally dropped! It is with great sadness I'm reporting that the 2021 Ann Arbor Art Fair has been canceled. I live in the Midwest and have been involved in the art fair business since 1978, and have attended it every year since 1976.

If your history is similar to mine you understand the importance of this event in even establishing the art fair business. It has been THE show to do for thousands of artists for many years. Many 100's of 1000's of people see it as a centerpiece of their summer. Chartered buses brought people from Cleveland to Indianapolis and Chicago to attend.  

• The rest of this story.
• and this link includes a live interview with Mo Riley, director of the Ann Arbor Street Festival: Ann Arbor Art Fair Cancelled Second Year in a Row

Whereas there is surprising news from the Three Rivers Art Festival in Pittsburgh, June 4-June 13. “We were so excited, and a little surprised, to hear that the mandates were going to be lifted as of Memorial Day,” said Sarah Aziz, director of the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival and director of festival management for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. Learn more.

The folks in Des Moines have been holding their collective breath to see if they would be hosting their extravagantly fine art festival at the end of June. Their "drop dead" date to cancel has past and the team and artists are looking forward to getting together June 25-27. So exciting! See what is brewing in DM.

Good news also from Kansas City where there will be 3 art fairs in a row in September, Art Westport, Brookside and the Plaza Art Fair. Learn more here, this link includes a video.

Will there be art fairs? 

Show directors continue to watch the signs and making ongoing plans just in case but ...

Here is some encouraging info:

Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff in St. Joseph, MI ...

The 2021 Krasl Art Fair on the Bluff will look a bit different than in the past due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Krasl Art Center executive director Julia ... more info

In Connecticut:

• June 26-27, in Mathews Park, West Ave., Norwalk. This two-day juried art show will include live music and food for purchase. Admission is free. The Lockwood Mathews Mansion Museum will give mini tours for $5 throughout the weekend. For information, visit https://www.gordonfinearts.org/norwalk-art-festival.
• Aug. 14-15, Mystic. This two-day juried art show showcases over 230 with more than two miles of arts and crafts including oils, watercolors, photographs, pastels, sculpture, woodwork, comics, acrylics and more. There’s also a children’s art park with games and crafts. Admission is free. For information, visit mysticchamber.org/mystic-events-calendar/mystic-outdoor-art-festival.

Winter Park, FL, takes a chance on a May date: