After record-breaking year, Lakeshore Art Festival sets sights on further growth

After a record-breaking number of artists participated in the 2018 Lakeshore Art Festival, organizers are planning for an even more momentous event in 2019.

Currently in the running for the country’s best art fair, the festival that’s held each year in downtown Muskegon announced it is now accepting fine art and craft applications for the event that will be held Friday, July 5 and Saturday, July 6.

Lakeshore Art Festival has what’s known as a blind jury process: a group of industry professionals, artists and crafters review each entry for the event without knowing the applicant’s identity. To learn more about the application process, click here.

Featuring artists from throughout the region—and country—the festival draws around 50,000 people to Hackley Park and downtown Muskegon. In addition to a wide range of fine art and crafts—think everything from hand-carved jewelry to large-scale sculptures—the two-day whirlwind of creativity offers live music, street performers, artisan food, a wine and craft beer garden, children’s activities, interactive and community art, and more.

Launched in 2013 and following in the footprints of the Muskegon Art in the Park, which began in 1961, the Lakeshore Art Festival has quickly landed national recognition. In 2015, Sunshine Artist Magazine named the Muskegon fest as the country’s 83rd top craft show—and it vaulted to number 11 last year. Now, it could land the title of “America’s Best Art Fair,” and the public can cast their ballots for the Lakeshore Art Festival by going here.

“It has been our goal to continually enhance the quality of exhibitors that attend the show,” Lakeshore Art Festival Director Carla Flanders said. “The recognition received by artists, national publications and guests signifies that we are reaching our goals. In addition to putting on a quality event for exhibitors and guests, we are pleased to announce that the festival gives back to the community and has donated over $30,000 to six local non-profits this year alone.”

For more information, or to register for the 2019 Lakeshore Art Festival, visit lakeshoreartfestival.org.