NANA
The New Art, New Artists (NANA) College Student Program offers Michigan college students the opportunity to sell their artwork at the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original while receiving comprehensive guidance.
Participation is free and artists keep 100% of their sales revenue. Selected artists enjoy equal access to amenities and mentorship from established artists, gaining valuable exposure and entrepreneurial experience.
NANA’s Impact
18 Years
Of the New Art New Artists program
$180,000
In NANA artist sales
108
Emerging college artists impacted
How Does NANA work?
Six Artists
Six college artists are chosen by jury to exhibit their work at the fair, fostering artistic growth and development. Eligibility requires current enrollment at a college or university in Michigan, and is open to undergraduate and graduate students.
Team Experience
The jury selected NANA artists collaborate as a cohesive team, working together to create a shared booth and providing mutual support to ensure successful sales. Our NANA college students receive personalized mentoring from the dedicated staff of the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original, starting from their acceptance in April until the Fair in July. Throughout this period, our student artists actively engage in meetings where they gain valuable skills in presenting their artwork, crafting compelling Artist Statements, designing captivating art fair booths, and receiving tips on effective public interaction and art sales.
Professional Mentorship
Furthermore, each student is paired with a Mentor, an experienced Art Fair Artist, who offers additional guidance and support. Many of these mentor-mentee relationships extend beyond the program’s duration, blossoming into year-long partnerships that assist these aspiring artists in establishing their artistic ventures and making significant strides in their careers.
NANA applications are closed for 2025. Check back March 1 to apply for 2026.
NANA 2025 Guest Mentorship
John Stanley
John Stanley, a distinguished figure in the art museum world, provides guest mentorship for NANA’s 2025 program. With a career spanning roles at institutions like the Whitney Museum of American Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Toledo Museum of Art, Stanley brings invaluable expertise to guide participants. Throughout his tenure, he oversaw numerous large-scale projects and collaborated with acclaimed architects such as Frank Gehry, Norman Foster, and Renzo Piano. His dedication to the museum field is further evidenced by his appointment as the President of the Board of Directors for the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original.
NANA 2025 Participants
Lila Hudgins
University of Michigan
Lila Hudgins paints from her most vivid experiences, particularly related to live music, as well as life and culture in Panama, where she was raised. She experiments with paint texture, stitching and assemblage, and abstract figuration. Lila maintains her signature vibrancy throughout her body of work, relying on her use of color to insert emotion and excitement into her paintings.
Corinne MacInnes
Cranbrook Academy of Art
Corinne Elizabeth MacInnes is a ceramic artist based in Detroit, MI. She is currently completing an MFA at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, MI. Her work is a study of memory and material with attention to repetition and interruption found within the physical history of substances as well as the patterns that occur within our own memories.
Zachary Raska
Oakland Community College
I create one-of-a-kind functional ceramics that blend visual appeal with everyday utility. My work explores form and glaze within the constraints of functionality, offering pieces that invite interaction and enrich daily rituals.
Oliver St Cyr
University of Michigan Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design
I consider myself a philosopher first. As a philosopher attempts to understand the world around him, I use art to seek understanding. My work is often strange, inspired by biology, ecology, literature, psychology, history, religion, or another academic subject. It is sometimes ugly, and sometimes beautiful but almost always thought-provoking.
Kaia Tolu
University of Michigan (Media and Communications)
Humanity’s stories unfold before us every day. Through my lens, I capture intimate moments that shape our world. Street photography fuels my passion, but I strive to explore how we engage with images—transforming them from static visuals into interactive, imaginative experiences that deepen dialogue with the viewer.
Kayla Turner
University of Michigan (College of LSA)
At the center of Kayla’s work is the idea of rest. Regarding art as a contemplative act for both artist and audience, her paintings offer moments of introspection and imagination. Using primarily oil and watercolor her work is rendered in a realistic style with a focus on three-dimensionality and vivid color. She paints with particular attention to light as it appears in the natural world.