Plein Air and Performance + by Festival of the Arts

ART FOR ALL DEFINES US EVEN DURING THESE TIMES!

TOGETHER, WE ARE GOING TO CELEBRATE THE ARTS TWICE THIS YEAR – JUNE 4,5,6 AND SEPTEMBER 17,18,19, 2021!

Plein Air by Festival of the Arts June 4 – 6, 2021

  • Michigan artists spread out through Downtown Grand Rapids to paint urban landscapes, live, and entering a prize exhibition juried by Stephen Smith of Muse Gallery
  • Instrumentalists playing in social zones in downtown districts
  • Virtual Regional Arts Exhibition and Competition including Art inspired by the Grand River
  • Virtual Youth Arts Exhibition
  • Light Show with auditory experience on Calder Plaza in the evenings
  • Kids take away paint activities

Performance + by Festival of the Arts September 17 – 19, 2021

  • Collaboration with ArtPrize, WYCE, WGVU, LaughFest, Local Spins, Lions & Rabbits, Artxchange and more
  • Friday evening performance of Latin Zarzuela by Opera Grand Rapids
  • Saturday evening performance block from Diatribe featuring Grand Rapids Poet Laureate Kid Kayne
  • Grand JazzFest presents “Jazz Brunch” on Sunday morning/afternoon
  • Artisan Village sponsored by Steelcase featuring 50+ fine art and craft booths

Applications for artists, musicians, and the virtual Regional Arts Exhibition are now open. The Regional Arts Exhibition will be coordinated virtually this year and available to view at festivalgr.org with more than $10,000 to be awarded to outstanding local artists.

In 1969, Alexander Calder’s La Grande Vitesse was installed in front of City Hall in downtown Grand Rapids. The 43-foot-tall, vibrant red stabile, which became known as "The Calder", inspired a celebration - one that's grown to encompass most of downtown Grand Rapids.

Festival of the Arts is a FREE three-day community event that features performances, a juried Regional Arts Exhibition, food, creative activities for children and adults, and opportunities for purchasing art from West Michigan’s best artists. Every purchase at Festival from food to art to t-shirts and posters gives back to the West Michigan community.