2025 Spring Art Market at the Dennos Museum Center

Description


2025 Spring Art Market 
The Dennos Museum Center in Traverse City is pleased to announce a fine arts and crafts event in its 4th year May 10th, 2025.  The Spring Art Market is a one day juried art fair held indoors in our Sculpture Court before the summer art fair season begins. This well-attended event falls on Mother's Day weekend and special programming will be offered making this a fun-filled experience for visitors of all ages. Admission is free to all.
Founded in 1991, the Dennos Museum Center builds community, sparks conversation, and inspires change for audiences of all ages through its exhibitions, programs, and the collection and preservation of art.

BASICS: Participation is open to all artists 18 or older whose work is original in concept, design, and execution. The Spring Art Market Committee juries submissions to ensure quality, creativity, variety and originality. It seeks to maintain the highest standards for both the artists and our visitors and to achieve a well-rounded and engaging market visitors will look forward to revisiting year after year. Application Requirement: 5 digital images minimum to include four photos of current work showcasing all media you wish to display during the market and one booth shot required. The committee expects artists to be intentional in selecting high quality and detailed images that represent the scope and volume of what their booth will actually offer.  Photos featuring the artist will not be accepted.Application Fee: $10.00 non-refundable. Booth Fee: $75 - $125EVENT OVERVIEW:
The Dennos Museum Center is excited to welcome twenty artists to gather and display their work indoors before the summer season of art fairs begins. The Spring Art Market will be held in the DMC Sculpture Court in Traverse City, Michigan, Saturday, May 11th. Special programming with a nod to Mother’s Day will be planned creating a day filled with fun for all ages. Admission is free. 

The Spring Art Market is open to all artists 18 or older whose work is original in concept, design, and execution. All work must be the original design of the artist. The artist is expected to be the major contributor of the time required in the essential production of the work. The Spring Art Market Committee juries submissions to ensure quality, variety and originality.
We are looking for artists who can creatively think about our market as a boutique art fair
and happily adapt to an indoor space that is smaller than an outdoor booth and comes with a couple of museum rules to follow to protect the exhibit artwork, space, and accessibility. That simply means planning accordingly and measuring carefully to be respectful of other artists.
Please know that the creativity and time of each applicant is valued and that space is limited. Selected artists will inevitably change year to year simply due to space and should expect that when they apply. Our visitors remain engaged and excited to return because the market shifts and evolves with a mix of new and returning artists offering ever-changing artwork.  
The spring event is in its fourth year this May. Last year we received 46 applicants from which 24 were selected and the museum welcomed 787 adult visitors while 2023 welcomed 740, and 2022 613.
Market Date & Time : Saturday, May 10th, 2025 10 AM – 4 PMSet-Up: Friday, May 9th, 12PM – 6 PM.

Application/Acceptance Deadline: February 17th: Deadline to apply.
March 5th: Artists notified of acceptance. 
April 1st: Deadline for invited artists to accept via Art Call and confirm space in show by paying booth fee in full.

Media: Painting, Drawing, Jewelry, Fiber, Wood, Metal, Glass, Photography, Pottery, Printmaking, Leather and Mixed Media. Clothing and jewelry must be handmade or substantially altered by artistic effort. Artist applying for the event must be major contributor of the time required in the essential production of the work and present for the duration of the event.
Booths:  Standard Booth: 8’ length X 6’ wide/deep x 6’ height $75
Large Booth: 10’ length x 6’ wide/deep x 6’ height $125 (limited availability)  Selecting a large booth does not guarantee availability.
Please visit Booth Format page to carefully read the measurements and layout of the market.  Booths are front facing and there is little room between the end of one booth and beginning of another in most cases.  Exceptions include end booths which may have additional walkway space on one side.  A map of artists locations is provided following acceptance and before booth payment if required. 
Booths are located throughout the Sculpture Court which has an upper and a sunken middle area with stairs or ramp for access.  Artist booths are separated by only 2 feet in most cases so artists agree to measure their displays carefully to not exceed their allotted space.  Booths are assigned by the DMC staff to best accommodate traffic flow, accessibility, and balance of media.  Tables and linens are provided. 

Terms and Conditions:
Terms and conditions in full must be agreed to prior to applying.  These include but are not limited to the following:

Artists are responsible for their own cash drawer, credit card processing, and sales tax. 
All artwork must be handmade, original work, not the work of mass production studios. No work that has been made with commercial kits allowed.  The artist is expected to be the major contributor of the time required in the essential production of the work.  
Your items are artfully and professionally represented in your application photos/and or website.This market is open to all artists 18 or older. Fine art submissions are juried by the Spring Art Market Committee to ensure quality, originality and variety. All work must be original in concept, design, execution, and of the artists’ own creation.  Artist selections are based first and primarily on jury score and secondly on market variety and media balance to maintain the highest standards for both artists and visitors.  Your product, booth design, and application information will be juried for quality, authenticity, creativity, and variety. Artists must be present for the duration of the market.Exhibitors agree to act in a professional and respectful manner with fellow exhibitors, staff, volunteers and patrons.
Full Terms and Conditions can be viewed under that page of the application.

Promotion/ Benefits to the Artists:

Promotion will begin when you are juried into, and accept your invitation to the Spring Art Market.

Artists will be included/tagged on our website, Facebook page and Instagram, and email marketing to our museum members, our e-news subscribers and the Northwestern Michigan College community.
The market will be promoted in Northern Express, Traverse City Ticker and Facebook ads, community calendars, promotional materials to our 1000 plus DMC members as well as our DMC newsletter subscribers and Northwestern Michigan College campus intercom.
Select artists may be featured in other social media postings.

DMC will provide morning treats and beverages on Saturday for artists. Free parking on premises in DMC lot and all NMC campus lots. Artists are asked to park in further yet still close NMC lots on the day of the sale.A conference room is available to break in. Volunteers will be on hand to sit with your booth during breaks.A special hotel rate may be offered for out of town travelers at a neighboring hotel subject to availability.

Questions can be directed to Nicole at nzeiler@nmc.edu or by phone during the week 231-995-1587.