Art Birmingham 2026 - 45th Annual

45th Annual Art Birmingham
May 9 & 10, 2026
Produced by the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center
in association with The Guild of Artists & Artisans
Birmingham, MI
 
Art Birmingham, now in its 45th year, takes place on the streets surrounding Shain Park, in downtown Birmingham, Michigan.  The Park is surrounded by convenient parking for artists and fairgoers and within easy access to the many unique stores and fabulous restaurants of downtown Birmingham – favorites of the upscale shoppers and residents throughout Oakland County and beyond. A Mother's Day Tradition, this highly respected event will showcase jury selected artists in an elegant and extraordinary setting. 

Important Show Information:  Please review the application procedures, the event calendar and the Exhibition Standards and Rules.  If you have any questions, please contact The Guild at 734.662.3382, ext. 301 or info@theguild.org. 

General Information
Event Location, Days & Times
Art Birmingham
Mother’s Day Weekend
Saturday, May 9, 10 am – 6 pm & Sunday, May 10, 10 am – 5 pm
Art Birmingham in and around Shain Park in downtown Birmingham, Michigan.  This is an annual must-do show to kick off the outdoor Art Fair Season in Michigan! 

Show Features
·      Extensive advertising and promotion
·      Professional and respectful art fair staff
·  Select Social Media artist highlights leading up to the event
·     Artist listing including large image and link to artist website when provided on event page
· Artist Awards
·         Coffee, snacks, and goodies provided in artist hospitality tent
·         Friendly booth sitters
·         Professional, overnight security

Eligibility
Artists in fine art and fine craft disciplines are invited to apply. Please review the Exhibition Standards to help determine the eligibility of your specific artwork.
 
Security & Artist Parking
Professional, overnight security will be provided on Friday and Saturday.  There is ample artist parking available in close proximity to the fair site.  Parking is free on Sunday in the downtown Birmingham parking structures.
 
Electricity
Electricity will not be available at this event. Generators are not allowed.
 
Timeline
Please review the event calendar.  If you cannot apply online, please contact The Guild for additional options and fees, 734.662.3382.  Timeline may be subject to change.

 

 
*Payment plans available for Guild Members
**Cancel up to the deadline, fee is refunded to artist, less $50 administration fee.  Cancel after deadline, no refund is given.  Emergency consideration will be given for medical related artist cancellations.
 
Online Application Procedures for Art Birmingham

• Complete application form at www.Zapplication.org. 
• Submit four (4) work images and one (1) booth image with work displayed. If you are applying in two or more categories, please submit an application for each medium. No visible signatures allowed in the work images.
• Booth Images: Please show 3 walls of your booth. Remove artist names, business names, booth signage, booth tags, people, and animals from the booth image. Remove artist and business names from your artist statement as well.
• Your application will be removed if you do not comply with the jury image standards above and your jury fee will not be refunded.
• If you are applying in a non-jewelry category but wish to exhibit jewelry in your medium, you must submit a separate application for jewelry.  For example, you work in ceramics and wish to display your handmade ceramic jewelry within your booth.  Please note in your Artist Statement that you are applying in a non-jewelry category but wish to show a small amount of jewelry in your booth. If your jewelry does not pass the jury you will be unable to display it if accepted to participate.
• Submit jury fee of $30. Jury fees are non-refundable.

Deadlines
Applications will be accepted online until midnight EST, February 18, 2026. Applications received after the deadline will be subject to a $25 late fee. Jury fees are non-refundable  If you are unable to submit an online application, please contact The Guild for additional options and fees, 734.662.3382, ext. 301.

Important Information
By applying to this event, artists verify that they are responsible for the design and execution of their artwork according to the event's Exhibition Standards.  In addition, artists understand that the BBAC and The Guild are not liable for loss or damage to artwork or personal injury.  Artists will not be part of any legal action against the BBAC or its personnel or The Guild or its personnel.  Artists understand and agree that the event may use images of their artwork in advertising and promotion.
 
About The BBAC
The Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center has been providing “art for all” since 1957 and is a regional non-profit art center committed to promoting visual arts experiences.  Each year more than 500 classes are offered for all skill levels and ages preschool to senior citizens.  Throughout the year, nearly 5,000 individuals are served by classes, workshops, art camps, outreach programs, special events,  and exhibitions that are free and open to the public (with an additional 75,000 impacted by Art Birmingham, the BBAC’s annual fine art fair).   The BBAC also supports hundreds of artists each year, with opportunities to teach, exhibit, and sell their work.  The BBAC is a 25,000-square foot facility, with nine classroom studios, four exhibition galleries, and a retail Gallery Shop.   For further information about BBAC programs and events, visit BBArtCenter.org or phone 248.644.0866.
 
About The Guild
The Guild of Artists & Artisans is a non-profit, membership organization of professional artists.  Established in 1973, The Guild’s mission is to promote community awareness, understanding and appreciation of the visual arts and to maintain a support network for artists, which provides educational, mentoring and marketing opportunities.  The Guild is recognized and valued for its ability to showcase independent artists, bringing their artwork to the community via its juried fine art fairs and its gallery in downtown Ann Arbor, The Gutman Gallery.  It is a trusted source for artists and fairgoers alike.  The Guild is best known for its award-winning Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair.  
 
For information:
Nicole McKay, Artists Relations Director
The Guild of Artists & Artisans
118 N. Fourth Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734.662.3382, ext. 301
nicole@theguild.org
www.theguild.org

Exhibition Standards

1)     All work must be the original design of the artist; the essential work required to make each finished piece must be done by the artist.  The artist is expected to be the major contributor of the time required in the essential production of the work. Helpers or assistants do not replace the artist in the production of a piece. They are permitted to assist in the non-essential and more mundane processes that go into the production of a finished piece. The only exceptions allowed are defined in Exhibition Standards #2. 

2)     No more than 25 percent of the work in an exhibitor’s booth may be reproductions; this policy applies to all media.  Each piece must be clearly marked with the word “reproduction.”  Exhibitors must use the word reproduction; other terms, including “print,” may not be used to refer to a reproduction.  The presentation of the reproductions must play a visually subordinate role to the entirety of the exhibitor’s display.  Reproductions of the artist’s own original work are the only reproductions allowed within the artist’s booth.  Determination of what constitutes an original or a reproduction is determined by The Guild of Artists & Artisans. The decision of The Guild is final.

3)    All novelty items such as stickers, buttons, magnets, coasters or notecards must be the original work of the artist and can only be 5% of the total display at any one time. 

4)     All work must be safe, non‑toxic, and fit for its intended use.  If any work requires special or limited use, this will be fully disclosed and explained to the public.

5)     Any commercially produced parts used in a work must play a subordinate role and may not be sold separately.   

6)     A mass‑produced, cluttered, or commercial appearance to an artist display is not permitted. Limited multiples of items may be displayed where color and size are varied and are required to show clearly the range of items available for sale to fair attendees.   However, if the display presents an overwhelming number of multiples resulting in a commercial appearance, as determined by the Standards Committee, on-site adjustments will be requested and compliance will be required.  

Note:  The Guild understands that small work can be an important and essential sale item for an artist, therefore, an artist may display up to 15 percent of small work without a separate review or jury image. The small work must be clearly shown in the artist’s booth image.  In addition, it is also understood (and encouraged) that experimentation with new work is part of the creative process. Ten percent of an artist’s display may be devoted to new work, without a separate review or jury image, if the new work is within the same medium and if the new work is of comparable quality to the artwork presented in the artist’s review or jury images. The exception to this is jewelry. If you wish to display jewelry as a second medium/small work in your booth, you must complete a separate application. You may only display jewelry if your jewelry jury application is accepted.

Exemptions 

If an artist believes his or her work transcends these standards, the artist is welcomed to apply to The Guild’s Standards Committee for determination of eligibility.  The request must be made in writing at least 60 days prior to the fair for which the determination is requested.  There is no guarantee that an exemption will be granted.  The decision of The Guild is final.

Acceptability of Specific Work

In an effort to help artists determine whether their specific artwork complies with the event’s Exhibition Standards, the event has prepared the following list of artwork that does not meet the requirements. This list is a guideline to help artists determine whether or not their artwork is eligible; it is neither exhaustive, nor is unacceptable work limited to the items listed.

Ineligible work includes but is not limited to: 

Jewelry

 

• Cut coin jewelry
• Enamels on manufactured representational copper shapes
• Jewelry made of manufactured components

• Jewelry made from flatware
• Commercial chains sold separately
• Permanent jewelry
• Commercial beads.  Beads must be made by the artist.  There are only two exemptions to this rule:
• 1. If the beads are not made by the artist, they must clearly play a subordinate role in the finished piece; and,
• 2. The requirement that beads must be made by the artist does not apply in the technique known as bead weaving; however, commercial bead weaving kits are not permitted.
• Stud earrings in commercial settings
• No simple strung or knotted pearls or beads will be allowed unless they play a subordinate role in the piece.

Clothing

· T-shirts, sweat shirts, hats, and other commercially manufactured clothes, no matter how embellished by the artist

·    No manufactured seams allowed in clothing blanks and upcycled clothing, including ties, pillow covers, etc. Scarves made from scarf blanks are limited to 20% of the booth

· Manufactured belt buckles sold separately from the belts

Other

· Manufactured tiles with a design as a major component of the piece

· Enamels on manufactured representational copper shapes

· Commercially made glassware, flatware or serving pieces no matter how embellished by the artist

· Alphabet photography, i.e. photographs composed of images representing letters of the alphabet and using those images to spell out names, dates, birthday greetings, etc.

· Dried flowers, in groups, arrangements, or bouquets

· Wreaths

· Anything made in a commercial mold, in any medium

· Anything made using a commercial kit, in any medium

· Tole painting

· Dough art

· Country crafts

· CDs and tapes

· Food

· Henna

· Beauty Products

· Candles

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)

The Guild recognizes that Artificial Intelligence (AI) usage is a new technology and has many valid uses in the creation of original artwork. However, the Guild prohibits derivative artwork created by AI (or any other means) that relies solely on the work of others. This includes copying the original work of others in another medium. 

Standards and Requirements:

The Guild accepts only original artwork created by the submitting artist. Derivative works that are composed entirely by or rely on AI-generated imagery, text-to-image programs, or synthetic content created by artificial intelligence are not eligible for entry.

Digital tools such as Photoshop, Lightroom, or similar software may be used for editing, compositing, and color correction, provided that all imagery originates from the artist’s own creative source or is legally licensed. 

Artists must be able to provide documentation of their creative process and verify authorship, originality, and substantive creativity in their work products.

Exhibition Standards Violations 

Violations of the Exhibition Standards will be handled by the Standards Committee and designated Guild Staff. At all Guild fairs, every attempt will be made to inform artists as soon as possible of violations by issuing a Standards Warning. This warning gives the exhibiting artist a chance to correct the problem without penalty as long as the correction is immediate. If the problem is not corrected or if the violation is a continuing problem, the artist will be subject to stronger consequences that may include loss of exhibiting privileges and/or being required to close his or her booth immediately and vacate the booth space at the end of the event day. If the Committee is not able to resolve a problem during the fair, the Committee will review the situation and determine any necessary action following the event. 

The Standards Committee will make a good faith effort to inform artists of any potential standards problems and what steps to take to correct the problems following the Standards Review or the event jury.  However, it is the responsibility of the artists to comply with the Exhibition Standards. 

There are two exhibition standards that are considered to be inviolable under any circumstances:

1.   Engaging in “buy-sell” practices, that is, buying the work done by another and selling it as your own; or

2.   Selling commercially produced reproductions of the work of another artist.

If it is discovered that an artist has engaged in either of these practices, that artist will lose event exhibiting privileges immediately and permanently.

Exhibition Rules

RULE 1:  Exhibitors must comply with all local ordinances, regulations, and rules. These rules include but are not limited to:

o   Fire lanes shall not contain storage or any other obstructions.

o   Walk-through sidewalk-street connections shall not contain storage or any other obstructions.

o   Vehicles are not permitted within the barricades during fair hours. 

o   All booth material, tarps and other coverings shall be fire-retardant or fire resistant.  Open flames are not allowed.

o   No gasoline, kerosene or motor oils are permitted in the fair area.

RULE 2:  Picture I.D. is required for fair registration, and must be presented upon the request of Rules Committee members or Guild staff at any time during the fair.

RULE 3:  Booth spaces may not be transferred or otherwise reassigned by the artist.

RULE 4:  By one hour prior to fair opening on the fair’s first day, artists must have claimed (by their presence, or [if necessary] by phone) their booth space, otherwise their space may be resold with no refund issued.

RULE 5:  Exhibitors must be present at the fair no less than 60 percent of each day. If an exhibitor is found to be in violation of this rule, the exhibitor’s booth must close immediately and remain closed until the exhibitor returns to the booth.  In the case of a partnership, in which two artists work on one body-of-work, at least one member of the partnership must be present no less than 60 percent of each day.

RULE 6:  Unless artists are officially notified of a fair emergency, booths must be open at the fair starting time and not close before the fair closing time.  Artists concerned with their personal safety may close.  Artists are expected to reopen as soon as the dangerous situation has ended.

Rule 7:  Rude, obscene or abusive language and/or threatened, actual physical restraint and/or abuse of another Guild member, Guild staff or general public are prohibited.

RULE 8:  On-site consumption of alcoholic beverages during fair hours is prohibited.

RULE 9: Booth structure and display must not exceed the limits of the assigned space.  Artwork hanging from display panels will not obstruct, or block clear and free passage.  If your artwork is hazardous, or interferes with your neighbor you will be asked to remove it.  Booth substructure must not impede water flow.

RULE 10:  Booth holders may share their space with no more than one other artist, as long as that artist has participated in and passed the event jury.

RULE 11:  All Storage must be neatly concealed within the booth structure.  If the exhibitor is found to be in violation of this rule, the exhibitor’s booth will be required to close and remain closed until the storage issue is corrected.

RULE 12:  Signs advertising sales or markdowns are prohibited.

RULE 13:  Pets are prohibited on the fair site. Service animals are permitted.

RULE 14:  No debris may be left behind after tearing down.

Rule 15:  The rule regarding the placement of chairs and tables may vary in each Guild event and/or may vary throughout the layout of a specific event. Where allowed, overhangs may not exceed 30”, must be at least 80” above the curb and may not interfere with any other exhibitor’s booth or the traffic flow, or be used for display, signs, etc. Exhibitors are required to adhere to the chair and table regulations established for the Guild event in which they are participating. 

RULE 16:  Use of sidewalks and planters is strictly prohibited.  Booths, chairs, tables and storage must be contained within the artist’s assigned street space (see Rule 15).

RULE 17:  Demonstrations are allowed within the assigned booth space.  All other requests are decided on a case-by-case basis by the Rules Committee.

Rules Violations:  Violations of the Exhibition Rules will be handled by the Rules Committee and designated Guild Staff. At all Guild fairs, every attempt will be made to inform artists as soon as possible of violations by issuing a Rules Violation Warning. This warning gives the exhibiting artist a chance to correct the problem without penalty as long as the correction is immediate. If the problem is not corrected or if the violation is a continuing problem, the artist will be subject to stronger consequences that may include loss of exhibiting privileges and/or being requir

Booth Fees
$395, 10’ x 10’ booth fee; $65 corner fee
$790, double booth fee; $65 corner fee
(Note:  A limited number of double booths are available.  A booth corner allows for access to the either the right or left side of the booth and the open side is between eight and ten feet from the next booth; a corner may or may not be at the end of a row or street.)