Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original

INDIVIDUAL DONORS

The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original Needs Your Support

For 50 years, The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair has been connecting a carefully selected group of artists with an appreciative audience from Ann Arbor and across the country. During this half century, the Fair has won many awards, been a national leader in operational and program development, provided substantial economic benefit to the local business community, and often been recognized as the brand of Ann Arbor.

So how much does it cost to put on this free event? While most events of this caliber are run on budgets well exceeding one million dollars, The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair has managed to grow and flourish with an annual budget of just $350,000. As a non-profit organization, the Fair has relied on artist fees, souvenir sales and national corporate support to meet these budgetary requirements and operate as a free public event.

However, due to a combination of factors (poor economic conditions, reduction of revenue producing space due to construction, and general corporate pull out from the state of Michigan) the income generated from these key sources is no longer expected to cover the Fair’s annual production costs.

Individual contributions could help offset the expected $65,000 shortfall facing the Original Fair. Donations will go directly to supporting our world class programs, including projects like the Zero Waste Initiative, the New Art New Artists series, the Art Zone/Imagination Station’s free art activities, art demonstrations, and the Townie Street Party.

Here are just a few of the many reasons to offer your support:

Economics: Bringing Money and Jobs to Ann Arbor

§ More than $78 million is spent locally in Ann Arbor hotels, stores, and restaurants by the estimated 500,000 patrons who visit during Fairs’ week

§ In addition to its year-round employees, the Street Art Fair brings on people from the Delonis Center and Dawn Farm during the Fair, providing them with positive work opportunities

§ The majority of the $350,000 annual budget comes from revenue sources outside Ann Arbor and Michigan, but it is spent almost entirely in local Ann Arbor businesses.

Enrichment: Encouraging the Growth of Community and Culture

§ Over the decades, the Street Art Fair has purchased numerous pieces from artists and donated them to many public spaces, including The Ann Arbor District Library, Washtenaw County buildings and Ann Arbor City Hall.

§ The Townie Street Party, a special free kick-off event for the community to celebrate the Art Fairs, is hosted annually by the Street Art Fair on Ingalls Mall and North University.

§ The Kid’s Art Fair gives young artists the opportunity to exhibit and sell their work and the New Artist Program allows University level artists to experience what it’s like to participate in the Street Art Fair.

§ The Imagination Station “make and take” activities for younger children and the Visual Art Workshops help to encourage a broader understanding of art while providing area artists with an opportunity to engage fairgoers in community art projects.

§ The Street Art Fair’s Zero Waste Program was initiated two years ago with a goal of minimal environmental impact. This program was one of three invited to present at the annual MFEA Conference this year.

How Can You Help?

Become a supporter of the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair today! We’re asking for a “Fifty for Fifty” commitment: $50 to celebrate our 50^th Anniversary. But don’t worry if that’s not in your budget this year – your gift will be appreciated no matter what the size. If each of our 500,000 visitors donated even $5, we would have enough to run the fair for over seven years!

You can donate online by clicking on the donate button at the top of the page, or you can send a check to our office at:

Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original
P.O. Box 1352
Ann Arbor, MI 48106

Thank you for considering a donation to the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair. If you have any questions, please contact us by email (mriley@artfair.org) or phone: (734) 994-5260.

The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original is a 501c(3) non-profit corporation.Your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.