Youth Art Fair
Witness the incredible talent of Youth Art Fair Artists as they exhibit and sell their work at the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original!
Why You Should Visit
Inspiring Young Artists
Discover the masterpieces of budding artists as they showcase their creativity among over 200 professional artists.
Mentorship and Learning
Our young talents gain invaluable experience through mentorship and peer-based learning, preparing them for a future in the arts.
Transformative Journey
From understanding the jury process to mastering customer service, our program offers a deep dive into the art world, guiding young artists towards professional growth.
What is the Youth Art Fair?
We are thrilled to announce that our Youth Art Fair Artists (grades 4-12) will exhibit and sell their work at the 66th annual Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original on July 17, 18, 19, 2025! The Youth Artists will enjoy even more mentorship, peer-based learning, and fun by exhibiting among over 200 professional artists.
This program is the gateway beyond the classroom, where budding visual artists can unleash their imagination and catch a glimpse of the world through the eyes of professional Art Fair artists. At the heart of our Youth Art Fair lies the ambition to kindle the creative spark within each young artist, pushing the boundaries of artistry and helping them find their unique voice.
In our program, artists will gain insights into the intricate world of artistry. From understanding the jury process to setting fair prices, delivering top-notch customer service, and beyond, our young artists will embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery and skill-building.
The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair is excited and honored to bring this free program back to the public to support our young artists on their path to becoming professional artists – or anything they can imagine! Plus, our Youth Artists will enjoy the thrill of being a part of the Ann Arbor Art Fair attended annually by over 400,000 patrons!
The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original has been providing free arts education programming for 66 years.
16 Years
of Youth Art Fair
$160,000
Youth Artist’s sales
1,000
Youth Artists impacted
How it Works
Participation
Aspiring young artists must successfully pass a jury evaluation before securing their spot at the Youth Art Fair. Each young artist, once accepted by the jury process, will receive an invitation to join the fair for one of the three days, running from 11 am to 4 pm. This rotation ensures that every participant has an equal opportunity to showcase their talents.
Supervision
One parent or guardian must accompany each participant during their time at the fair.
Sales and Finances
Each participant is solely responsible for managing their own sales and handling money transactions.
How to Apply
2025 applications for Youth Art Fair are closed, however youth artists are encouraged to apply in 2026!
Requirements
- Artists should bring 4 to 6 samples of artwork.
- Artists are required to bring a photo/image of their work to the jury session. (Photo/image will not be returned.)
- Artists must be in grades 4–12 at time of jury and reside in Michigan.
- All artwork must be original and made by the artist(s).
- Artists meet one-on-one with a pair of jurors for a brief time.
- Artist must attend two June info/mentoring zoom sessions after acceptance.
- Artists should be able to talk about the work they make, their art interests, and how they plan to make enough art to sell at the Fair.
2026 Youth Art Fair Applications will open in March 2026.
In-person jury session will be in April 2026.
Artists will be notified of acceptance by May 1, 2026.
