The Old Town Saginaw Art Fair

As a proud member of the Old Town Saginaw business district, with our REVIEW offices located in this ambient, vibrant, and historical district for 37 years now, it gives me immense gratification to see ‘The ‘Original’ Old Town Saginaw Art Fair returning to the corner of 100 S. Hamilton & Court Street on its traditional dates of Thursday & Friday, June 8-9th.

Featuring the incredibly talented work of numerous artists representing the top of their field in a divergent array of media, the legacy of the Old Town Art Fair is legendary, dating back to 1965 and started by a core group of respected local artists and business owners that included the late Samuel S. Carter, who contributed illustrations to the definitive history book about the Saginaw Valley known as Indians, Jacks & Pines, along with Melodye & Dennis Adomaitis, and the late Tom & Mary Ellen Whitney, who helped foster and expand both the size and scope of the Art Fair back in the 1970s through the late 1990s.

Until its untimely demise in the 2000s, it stood as the longest running art fair in the State of Michigan, pre-dating even the Ann Arbor Art Fair; and at its zenith in 1995 that marked the 30th anniversary of this amazing showcase, it covered five blocks and featured over 100 exhibitors displaying and selling their original high-quality artwork.

This year the times of the festival will run from 11 AM - 7 PM on Thursday, June 8th; and 10:30 AM - 6 PM on Friday, June 9th. Located on the historic Old Town Saginaw riverfront and surrounded by beautifully restored historic architecture, popular local businesses, and colorful murals, unlike many similar events, this is a Juried Fine Arts Fair that gives established and aspiring artists the opportunity to showcase their talented work, bringing culture, life, and education to the streets of Old Town Saginaw.

Old Town Art Fair Requirements & Submission Deadlines

All artists are welcomed and will be considered for admission during the application process. Old Town Saginaw Art Fair will only accept work from an artist that is original. Artwork has to be non-commercial and created by the artist submitting the work. Examples of artwork that would be accepted are: Paintings, Drawings, Ceramics, 3D Art, 2D Art, Sculptures, Arts that are hand-made, put together, or crafted in a way that is original and your own.

You must submit 2 photos of your artwork and 1 photo of the booth display for this show. There is a $25.00 non-refundable registration deposit and the last day to register is Monday, May 15, 2023. Go online to originaloldtownsaginawartfair.com to register. After that you can email the two photos of your artwork and 1 photo of your booth set-up to originaloldtownsaginawartfair@gmail.com

Fees for the booths are as follow:  Single Booth: 10′ x 10′ = $75.00  ($25.00 Non-Refundable Application Fee + $75.00 Booth Fee = $100 Total) Double Booth 20′ x 10′ = $150.00  ($25.00 Non-Refundable Application Fee + $150.00 Booth Fee = $175 Total)

Look for more about the 2023 Old Town Saginaw Art Fair in our special Art Fair Supplement that will appear in the May 18th edition of The REVIEW!