Art U.P. Map
Downtown Gallery Guide (PDF)
Galleries
Fairs & Festivals
Information for Artists
Organizations
Visual Arts Brochure (PDF)

Marquette is home to a large visual artist community. The arts are abound year round, inside and out. From the only winter outdoor exhibition, "Glacier Glide" at Presque Isle Park in February (viewers can ski, snowshoe or walk while viewing), to "Art on the Rocks," a juried exhibit that features over 200 regional and national artists in July, to the many galleries Downtown, there is a media and season for everyone!

In addition to the thirty galleries, studios, workshops, a dozen guilds and visual arts groups, the Lake Superior Art Association is the largest organization serving the visual arts and works closely with the City of Marquette Arts and Culture Center.

Northern Michigan University's Art and Design Department has become the largest major on campus and houses the Devos Art Museum. The Devos Art Museum features a large permanent collection of global, national and regional artwork, as well as dynamic visiting exhibitions through the year. View their current exhibit schedule here.

The community's interest in regional artisans supports several arts fairs and festivals throughout the year in the Marquette area. The City of Marquette Arts and Culture Center invites visitors to plan a special trip to Marquette to enjoy one of the many events.

Art on the Rocks
Marquette's 54th Annual Art on the Rocks Fine Art Juried Outdoor Art Show was held on July 30 and 31, 2011 at Mattson Lower Harbor Park. The event is sponsored by Lake Superior Art Association.

Outback Art Fair
Shiras Park, known as Picnic Rocks, is the Home of the OUTBACK Art Fair. The artists, fine crafts people, and several authors have a wonderful array of items for your shopping pleasures. Pottery, glass, fiber, fabrics, wood, watercolors, oil paintings, photos, carvings, metalworks, soaps and lotions, cement, stones, toys, yaya hats, jewelry and gifts galore! Held the last full weekend of July.

Downtown October Walk and Art Stroll
The fine establishments of Downtown Marquette and the Downtown Development Association bring citizens and visitors the October Stroll and Art Walk, on the First Thursday of October from 5-8 p.m. Enjoy an evening of art, entertainment and exploration of the unique galleries, shops & restaurants.

Marquette Arts & Culture Center Holiday Art Sale
The City of Marquette Arts and Culture Center sponsored their Annual Holiday Art Sale on November 12, 2011. The sale features the work of over 25 local and regional artists in the lower level of the Peter White Public Library. Find a holiday gift or special gift for yourself at this multi-media juried exhibition. Artist works range from ceramics, original paintings, prints, fibers, jewelry, woodworking, metals, clothing, mixed media, and more!

Downtown Marquette Farmers & Artisan Market
The Farmers and Artisan Market happens everyday Saturday from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. from May to October at the Marquette Commons, 112 South Third Street. Local farmers and growers offer a wide variety of fresh produce, herbs, eggs, meat, baked goods, plants, and fresh-cut flowers. Community artisans showcase their work, including hand-made jewelry, stained glass, wreaths, yarns, soaps, wood art, furniture, health and beauty products, clothing, paintings and more!

Arts organizations within the Marquette area foster a sense of community for artisans within a certain media and offer a venue for exhibition, sharing of talent and opportunity to take workshops from professional artists.

LSAA-Lake Superior Art Association
LSAA, Inc. is a nonprofit, volunteer organization whose mission is to promote and encourage the development of visual arts and artists in the Marquette County area through programs and services directed toward appreciation and participation in the visual arts. Membership consists of professional and semiprofessional artists, amateur artists and friends of the arts. LSAA sponsors six month long art exhibits a year in cooperation with the City of Marquette's Art and Culture Center Gallery. Located in the lower level of the Peter White Library, this gallery showcases the talents of LSAA members as well as visiting artists from the local area and around the country. Works in the gallery range from very traditional to extremely innovative, and provide an opportunity for community members to view a variety of quality exhibits. A public reception is held for each show, traditionally on the first Thursday of each month, and allows the opportunity for the public to meet each artist. The group also hosts monthly meetings at the City of Marquette Arts and Culture Center on the third Tuesday of each month (except June - August, November and December).

Marquette County Quilters
The Marquette County Quilters' Association (MCQA) was formed in 1978 and is dedicated to the promotion and preservation of the art of quilting, patchwork, appliqué, and related fiber arts. Centered in Marquette, members hail from several counties in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The Marquette County Quilters' Association meets at 6:30pm-8:30pm on the 1st Wednesday of every month in the Community Room, lower level of Peter White Public Library.

Superiorland Photography Club
Superiorland Photography Club meets once a month on the second Thursday at the City of Marquette Arts and Culture Center in the lower level of the Peter White Public Library.

TGIW Watercolor Group
The "Thank God It's Wednesday" Watercolor Group meets once a month on the third Wednesday at the City of Marquette Arts and Culture Center in the lower level of the Peter White Public Library.

Marquette several exhibition spaces that change monthly to feature local and regional artists, as well as visiting national and international artists.

Marquette Arts and Culture Center Lower Level Gallery
Located in the lower level of the Peter White Public Library, the Marquette Arts and Culture Center hosts regional and national exhibits monthly.

DeVos Art Museum
The DeVos Art Museum is located on the campus of Northern Michigan University and is part of the School of Art and Design. The Devos Art Museum also serves as a regional art museum for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The mission of The DeVos Art Museum is to provide the University and local communities the opportunity to experience original works of art and to foster educational opportunities for all audiences through exhibitions, programs and publications.

Oasis Gallery
In 1987, a group of friends began a gallery because there wasn't a venue for contemporary art in the Marquette area. Over twenty years later, the Oasis is still going strong, thanks to the dedication of its curators and, more importantly, the community's support, which has shown that there is a need, and a desire, for this type of gallery. Located downtown on Washington Street, hours are seasonal.

Huron Mountain Club Gallery
Located on the main floor of Peter White Public Library, the Huron Mountain Club Gallery features rotating monthly displays of local artists, national and international artists, along with interactive cultural exhibitions. Other various art and culture displays are available for viewing on each level of the Peter White Public Library.

Art U.P. Map
An interactive map showcasing art galleries, art studios and performance art center in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Regional artists benefit from the Arts and Culture Department through increased collaborations, exhibit and retail gallery sales opportunities, printing and distribution of a quarterly arts calendar of events, a monthly arts page in the local newspaper, marketing efforts made by and coordinated through the Arts and Culture Center such as a Downtown Gallery Guide, Co-sponsoring Annual Gallery Stroll, Holiday Art Sale, contractual employment for workshop instructors, First Thursday Series performers/speakers, concert and special event performers, dance festival and productions, special events, contractual employment, artist in residence, rentable workshop spaces for artists to host workshops, brochure/poster distribution, grant writing advisement and more. The Arts and Culture Center acts as a resource for arts and cultural information, arts education, coordinates events, provides access to the community through special events programming, cultural awareness activities, youth theater programming, arts and culture workshops and classes, monthly exhibits, and offers technical assistance to arts groups and helps in the creation of new arts groups.

2012 "Shots & Stories" Information Released NEW!
MACC Gift Shop Consignment Application (PDF)
Gallery Exhibition Application (PDF)
MACC Workshop Instructor Application (PDF)

Michigan Cultural Data Project (PDF)
The Michigan Cultural Data Project helps arts and cultural organizations improve their financial management and services and arts advocates better understand and describe the sector’s impact. Your involvement allows you to generate instant annual reports and trend analysis, benchmark your performance against other organizations and use the data as part of your grant application to participating foundations. Many funders will soon require CDP participation for grant decisions. The CDP training will provide you with all the information you need to get started. Please feel free to attend with more than one representative of your organization.  For more information, visit www.miculturaldata.org. 

Useful links for artists:

Michigan Council for Arts and Culture Affairs
The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs serves to encourage, develop and facilitate an enriched environment of artistic, creative, cultural activity in Michigan.  State of Michigan.

ArtServe Michigan
Statewide cultural organization promoting art as a valuable community resource. Offers, education, advocacy, services, awards, and membership.

Michigan Film Office
When it comes to movie-making in Michigan, you’re looking in the right place. Whether you’re a producer, director, crew member, actor or just someone who is new to the business, they’re there to help.

Michigan Humanities Council
The Michigan Humanities Council connects people and communities by fostering and creating quality cultural programs.  In carrying out its mission, the Council encourages and supports, through advocacy, fundraising and community engagement, a variety of activities which bring humanities scholars and the public together to examine culture.

Marquette Community Foundation
Grant opportunities for artists in Marquette County.

CUPAAD Arts Mini-Grant
The MCACA Art mini-grant program is a grants-giving partnership funded by the State of Michigan through the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) and administered locally by CUPPAD.

National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts, an independent federal agency supporting artists and arts organizations and bringing the arts to all Americans.

Americans for the Art
National organization that supports the arts and culture through private and public resource development.

2012 "Shots & Stories" Information Released!

Shots & Stories Call for Submissions (PDF)

Shots & Stories Information for Artists (PDF)

Shots & Stories Artist Application (PDF)

Shots & Stories Call for Votes! (PDF)