50th Annual East Lansing Art Festival May 18 - 19, 2013
50th ANNUAL EAST LANSING ART FESTIVAL - MAY 2013
Click on the map thumbnail to download a printable PDF of the site map>>>
Saturday May 18, 2013 - 10am to 6pm
Sunday May 19, 2013 - 10am to 5pm
The East Lansing Art Festival is a non-profit event. Festival programming is FREE to the public thanks to our generous sponsors! Click here to support!
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CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A PDF OF THE 2013 FESTIVAL BROCHURE
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It is Easy to Get Here:
It is Orange Barrel Season - but not to worry! It is easy to get to the East Lansing Art Festival thanks to CATA!
Click here to learn about the CATA Art Festival Bus Route!
Check MDOT for current road closures: enter East Lansing zip code: 48823
Click here to learn about mid-MEAC Bike Valet parking at the festival!
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The Greater Lansing Visitor Center in East Lansing
will be open during the East 
Lansing Art Festival to assist you in finding out about more things to do while in the community. Kids can stop in and take part in a coloring contest and receive crayons to take home. Located at 549 E. Grand River Avenue (directly across from the Broad Art Museum) and open Saturday 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. & Sunday 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
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FAMILY REST PLACE at MARTIN LUTHER CHAPEL, 444 Abbot Rd, just north of City Hall. Saturday hours are from 10-6:00 and Sunday from 10-5:00. The Chapel will be open throughout the 2 days with Volunteers to direct you to appropriate areas for resting, letting children "wind-down" a little, caring for and feeding infants or giving your feet a break in a peaceful place.
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OUR VOLUNTEERS are the reason the EL Art Festival is rated as a top 100 fine art festival in the nation! Click here to sign up online.
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Festival weekend: Saturday, May 18 - 10am to 6pm and Sunday, May 19 - 10am to 5pm
Many Thanks to Such Video for creating this outstanding PSA for the EL Art Fest!
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The Artist Application Deadline has passed. See a full list of Artist Exhibitors HERE.
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The winning Melting Moments/EL Art Festival 50th Anniversary Ice Cream flavor will be announced at the EL Art Fest Applause Party for sponsors at the Marriott at University Place on May 17 and will be sold at the 2013 EL Art Festival! To receive a ticket to the Amazing Applause Party you must be a EL Art Festival Sponsor.
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NEW 50th Anniversary 2013 East Lansing Art Festival Poster Design - Festival Sponsors receive a limited edition silk screened copy of this beautiful poster, numbered and signed by the artist. Thanks to CiesaDesign and MacKellar Screenworks for creating one-of-a-kind fine art posters for the festival each year - for over 25 years! Artist: Chris VanWyck 
Celebrating 50 years of Artistic Expression in Downtown East Lansing!
Art Springs Forth at the East Lansing Art Festival each May as this two-day celebration of arts and culture kicks off the festival season in the streets of downtown East Lansing. The East Lansing Art Festival is ranked 55th in the nation in the top 100 Fine Art Festival list by Sunshine Artist Magazine! More than 200 juried fine artists and traditional craft artisans exhibit their original works in this outdoor artist marketplace. Enjoy the best our region has to offer throughout the festive weekend filled with free live eclectic musical performances and free children's hands-on arts activities. The EL Art Festival unique food court features diverse flavors from favorite local and regional restaurants and caterers. Is the ELAF a springtime Mid-Michigan tradition for you? We want to hear your story! Help us celebrate 50 years of ELAF info@elartfest.com or share with us on Facebook.
Check out the original poster circa 1964 - back when the festival was called "Greenwich Village Days". Poster designed by Mike Bidwell - ADS Advertising Fraternity at MSU
Something for Everyone at the East Lansing Art Festival! Check out this video from last year:
- ARTISTS: The ELAF is a juried festival which provides an exhibition and marketplace opportunity for artists who create original works of art. This festival is not open to buy/sell merchandise, manufactured items or food products. Artist representatives are not permitted. Apply online at www.zapplication.org between Sept. 1 and Jan. 31 each season.
- EMERGING ARTISTS: The ELAF Emerging Artist program encourages future art festival exhibitors by giving up-and-coming artists an opportunity to be awarded free space to exhibit among seasoned artists in a nationally renown top 100 fine art festival setting. Patrons of the arts can help support Emerging Artists with a donation to the Tim Knight for Artists Fund.
- SPONSORS: The ELAF is a non-profit event which must raise all the funds needed to produce this event each year. Artist application and booth fees underwrite the art exhibiton and marketplace. Corporate and Individual sponsors underwrite the free music and art activities programming at ELAF! We need your help to produce this fun and free community event! The ELAF offers many sponsorship and recognition opportunities with a great return on your investment in our community. Please contact us at info@elartfest.com or donate online!
- PERFORMANCES: The ELAF music programming highlights local and regional talent featuring all genres of original and traditional music.
- CHILDREN'S ART ACTIVITIES: ELAF features hands-on and interactive activities encouraging artistic exploration for children of all ages!
- THE MATT EPLING CREATIVE ARTS COMPETITION: This art exhibition and competition was created in 2006 to provide a public venue for middle school artists to exhibit their original artwork and receive juried awards - including the popular People's Choice Award!
- FOOD COURT: The ELAF gives first priority to local and regional vendors serving unique or International cuisine. Vendors from previous years are given first right of refusal for their space each year so openings are very limited.
All interested Performers, Activities Presenters and Food Vendors must submit requests for consideration to the festival by email at info@elartfest.com. Please do not call the festival office - we regret that phoned in requests for consideration cannot be returned.
Check MDOT for current road closures: enter East Lansing zip code: 48823
AN IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT PETS AT THE EL ART FEST:
Animals are NOT permitted in the Food Court or Children's Activities Areas of the festival. We ask pet owners to please be considerate of all festival artists and guests. The festival is crowded with many patrons, fragile art works, small children, swirling activity, live music and the aromas of many different kinds of delicious food. Animals and people are unecessarily put in dangerous situations when animals interact aggressively. In addition, although this is a spring festival the weather can be very HOT! These conditions may pose serious health dangers for your pet. Please be kind to pets and people. WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE LEAVE YOUR FURRY, SCALY, FINNED AND FEATHERED FRIENDS AT HOME!
2013 East Lansing Art Festival Volunteer Board of Directors
Geoffrey Ehnis-Clark (Chairperson) - Guyselman & Ehnis-Clark Attorneys
Andrew Sandstedt (Vice Chairperson) - Artistic Design Services
Denise J Kratzer (Treasurer) - Summit Community Bank
Susi Elkins (Secretary) - WKAR Public Television
John Donohoe - CiesaDesign
Kevin Epling - Michigan State University; Matt Epling Creative Art Competition
Todd Luter - Nightlight Image Foundry
Jack Roberts - Michigan High School Athletic Association
Tim Schmitt - City of East Lansing
AnnMarie Schneider - MSU Institute for Public Policy And Social Research
Michael Sundermann - MSU College of Music
In Memory of Tim Knight: In 2012 the East Lansing Art Festival lost one of our very dear friends. Tim Knight served 11 years on the board of directors, Tim's love was for art and the artists behind the work. Those of us fortunate enough to have worked with him will always remember with gratitude his enthusiasm, energy, hard work, personal warmth, infectious laugh, generous spirit, and love of the arts. Please join us in honoring his memory with a contribution in his name to the Emerging Artist Program. elartfest.com/content/tim-knight Indicate "Tim Knight Fund" in the memo.
