Artists & Vendors
Applications Are Coming Soon
Youth Art Show
Submissions for the Festival 2024 Youth Art Exhibit are now open. Click the link below for more information.
Stay tuned for info for the Youth Arts Exhibition. Entries will open March 1.
Art Teacher may submit up to 5 pieces.
Artists must reside in Kent , Ottawa, Muskegon, Newaygo, Montcalm, Ionia, Berry, or Allegan County to be eligible to enter the Festival 2023 Regional Arts Competition.
Call for Submissions
Each teacher can submit up to 5 pieces of artwork on behalf of their students. Please complete this form by May 2nd. Detailed instructions are available here.
Reception: Wednesday, June 5th from 5-7pm on the Skywalk level at DeVos Place Convention Center.
Show Viewing: May 12– June 15th from 8:00 am – 6:00 pm daily.
Awards: 15 sponsored awards will be presented.
Questions? email Emily@festivalgr.org
School Districts and/or students must be in Kent , Ottawa, Muskegon, Newaygo, Montcalm, Ionia, Berry, or Allegan County to be eligible to enter the Festival 2023 Youth Art Competition. Please make sure you have adult permission to enter artwork into the show.
Applications are Opening Soon
Regional Arts Exhibition
All applications, entries, and jurying will be done online.
Award choices will be made in person once the show is hung.
Entry Categories: 2D, 3D, Photography.
Artists must reside in Kent , Ottawa, Muskegon, Newaygo, Montcalm, Ionia, Berry, or Allegan County to be eligible to enter the Festival 2025 Regional Arts Competition. Work of art must have been created in 2024/2025.
All Visual Arts Exhibition Info:
If art is accepted:
May 17, art arrival at DeVos Place
May 18, exhibition curated
May 19 – 23, installation
June 5, Opening Reception
June 14, Artist/Purchaser Pickup & Transport of award winner to LowellArts
June 15, Clean up and move out of DeVos Place
June 22, LowellArts Opening reception
Festival 2024 Regional Arts Competition applications are now closed. Jury selection for exhibition awards is now under way. Thank you to all who submitted work.
Festival is committed to enhancing the lives of West Michigan Artists. This year, over $17,000 for Awards has been raised.
For a list of awards and winners vsit our Regional Arts Exhibition page here.
New this year, Crop Marks will print 50 copies of the winning comic book or graphic novel. Artists must submit 6 pages of their book, mounted on a single board, for jurying, as one entry. The printed page size will be 6 5/8” x 10 1/8” and the books will include up to 36 pages. This award cannot be converted to a cash prize.
For complete entry rules click here.
Drop off of art will be on April 25, 26, and 27, at John S. Hyatt and Associates at 1765 Alpine Avenue NW, 49504. (Same as last year.)
Jurying will follow and all artists will be notified by midnight on April 29th as to acceptance status.
Pick up of non-selected art will be the same location on:
Thursday, May 11, from Noon to 5:00 pm
Friday, May 12, From 4:00 to 8:00 pm
Saturday, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Check back here for the 2023 application!
The Festival 2024 Regional Arts Exhibition will be held in the Skywalk between the Amway Grand and DeVos Place from May 12, through June 15. There will be an exhibition of Award-Winning entries at LowellArts from July 6, through August 10, 2024.
Perform At Festival
Applications are now closed
For Festival 2025 we are revisiting and simplifying our performance application and selection process This year we are moving to an invitation procedure.
Due to Festival 2025 changes we will be limiting the number of vendors to 70-80 total.
We have opened the invitation to previous Festival participants first. Our selection criteria was based on the following.
• Performance Popularity
• Group Size & Stage Fit
• Your Organization’s adherence to Festival policy and city/county rules.
If you are a previous participant and were selected, you should have recently received an invitation email with instructions. If you have not received an email or have not participated in Festival in the previous few years you may email us and be put on a list for consideration for selection for any remaining spots. Please note that this does not guarantee you a spot.
Email us at scheduling@festivalgr.org
Thanks to all those who applied. The Festival Scheduling Committee is now hard at work organizing the Festival 2024 Schedule.
All applicants will be notified the last week of February if they have been selected for a performance spot.
Festival presents a variety of performers. For information on applying to perform at during Festival 2024 click the instructions button below. You must reside in Kent, Newaygo, Barry, Montcalm, Ionia, Muskegon, Ottawa or Allegan counties to perform at Festival.
Stage plots ensure the quickest setup and maximum performance time for all performers. Please download, print, and markup the plot using the button below. Upload the completed plot when completing the online application.
Application deadline is Jan. 31, 2024. Complete your Application via the following link:
2024 Performance Schedules are now available. Click the link below.
Interested in working on one of our stages? Sign up to be a member of our Stage Team.
Artisan Village
Festival's 2025 Artisan Village is moving to Monroe Center!
Due to this change in location, and the space limitations that will follow, we are forgoing our traditional application process and instead inviting 20 specific Artisans we’ve worked with over the years. We wish everyone could be included, however, invitations to participate in 2025 are being sent to only a select few.
Our criterion for selection was pretty straightforward.
• Booth size requirements / 10×10 booths only
As the 2025 Festival footprint is finalized, the hopeful news is additional space might yet become available. If you are a past member of the Artisan Village, and are interested in being considered for a spot, please reach out to artisanvillage@festivalgr.org.
We will be happy to add you to our list of prospects. In the meantime, thank you for your past involvement! We look forward to opportunities in the coming years for past Festival Artisans and new ones too.
Showcase and sell your work at the Festival Artisan Village! We welcome makers of jewelry, pottery, paintings, fiber arts, metalwork, and much more.
You must be a resident of Kent, Newaygo, Barry, Montcalm, Ionia, Muskegon, Ottawa or Allegan Counties. Details are on the application form below.
Use the link below to complete you application online.
Application deadline is March 2, 2024. Questions? Reach out to us at artisanvillage@festivalgr.org
Festival Food Vendors
Applications are now closed
For Festival 2025 we are revisiting and simplifying our food vendor application and selection process This year we are moving to an invitation procedure.
Due to Festival 2025 changes we will be limiting the number of vendors to 12-15 total. We have opened the invitation to previous Festival participants first. Our selection criteria was based on the following.
• Previous Sales
• Menu Popularity
• Your Organization’s adherence to Festival policy and city/county rules.
If you are a previous participant and were selected, you should have recently received an invitation email with instructions. If you have not received an email or have not participated in Festival in the previous few years you may email us and be put on a list for consideration for selection for any remaining spots. Please note that this does not guarantee you a spot.
Email us at food@festivalgr.org
Check back soon for 2024 applications.
Apply now to be a Festival 2024 Food Vendor. Festival always attracts lots of hungry people. It’s a great money-making opportunity for any organization. All food vendors must be residents of Kent, Newaygo, Barry, Montcalm, Ionia, Muskegon, Ottawa or Allegan Counties.
Details are available via the following links:
Click here for the online application:
Deadline for Applications is Jan. 31, 2024. Need help? Email us at: food@festivalgr.org
Applications opening soon.
Fun With Printmaking
Submit your own t-shirt design for the Festival 2024 Fun With Printmaking booth.
Fun with Printmaking applications are now closed for Festival 2023. Check back next year!
Fun with Printmaking is once again reaching out to the community requesting submissions for designs for the 2023 screen printed t-shirts. We are seeking submissions from all levels of artists, of all ages.
15 Designs will be selected. 5 will be used per day. Designs will be juried by the Fun with Printmaking Committee. If your art is selected, you will get a free shirt and a chance to actually hand print your own design!
Click here for the online submission form:
If you prefer to mail your design, click below for the printed submission form.
Need help? Email us at: funwithprintmaking@festivalgr.org
The Fun with Printmaking tent needs volunteers to help in the tent. If you are interested please let us know at: funwithprintmaking@festivalgr.org
