Morning Glory Art Fair 2027

Join us for the 52nd Morning Glory Art Fair on the beautiful grounds of the Marcus Performing Arts Center in downtown Milwaukee. This location is in the heart of the downtown arts-centered environment, across the street from Saint Kate’s Art Hotel, near the downtown theater district, adjacent to the Milwaukee Riverwalk and Red Arrow Park.

Show Dates - May 22 - 23, 2027

This year will feature a refined booth layout to improve traffic flow. Artist booths will be located on a combination of flat grass or concrete. Artists will enjoy a Friday set-up, free parking, indoor restrooms, and booth sitters. Artists must dolly a short distance from the street to their booth location. Vehicles are not allowed on the grounds of The Marcus Center.
 

52nd Annual Morning Glory Art Fair Presented by Wisconsin Craft

• May 22, 2027 10 am - 5 pm 
• May 23, 2027 10 am - 4 pm

Morning Glory Website:   ​www.MorningGloryArtFair.com

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LOCATION

The 52nd Anniversary Morning Glory Art Fair will be located on the grounds of the Marcus Performing Arts Center in downtown Milwaukee, located at 929 N. Water St, Milwaukee, WI 53202. 

The ground’s surface consists of flat and even concrete and grass areas. All booths will need to be weighted properly with a minimum of 50 pounds per leg, as no staking is allowed on the grounds. Artists must dolly a short distance from the street to their booth location. Vehicles are not allowed on the grounds of The Marcus Center.

IMPORTANT 2027 SHOW DATES

• Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 Applications open
• Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2027 Deadline to apply 
• Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2027 Notification of acceptance 
• Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2027 Acceptance/payment deadline 
• Wednesday, Mar. 24, 2027 Last day to cancel and receive a refund of booth fee less $75 
• Friday, May 21, 2027 Load-in
• Saturday, May 22, 2027 Load-in and 52nd Morning Glory Art Fair
• Sunday, May 23, 2027 52nd Morning Glory Art Fair

Each exhibitor will be screened at the beginning of the fair by the Morning Glory Committee to be certain that the images submitted for jurying reflect the work being exhibited. If inconsistencies occur, the artist will be asked to remove the ineligible work. If necessary, the artist will be asked to leave the fair and may not be allowed to exhibit in the future. All booth fees will be forfeited and the decisions of the Fair Committee are final.

ARTIST AMENITIES

• ​​Friday setup
• Booth sitters
• Overnight security​ on the grounds
• Promotional Postcards
• Social, Website, and Print marketing
• Free Onsite WiFi
• Convenient nearby parking
• On-site staff and fabulous volunteers

ELIGIBILITY

The fair is open to all artists 18 years or older working in ceramics, digital art, fiber/leather, glass, jewelry, mixed media, painting and 2D media (see rules & regulations), photography, sculpture, and wood.

Please carefully read this prospectus and in particular, the show's Rules and Regulations to determine if you are eligible for the show. Application fees are non-refundable. 

If you have a question about eligibility, please contact the show director at morningglory@wisconsincraft.org

JURY PROCESS

• Morning Glory uses a "blind jurying" process; artist names are not disclosed to jurors. 
• The jury panel is composed of three jurors, made up of working artists, gallery directors, educators, and/or academic professionals. 
• The jurors are different every year. Jurors view images on computer screens. 
• No pre-screen scoring is done.

***Please exclude your name, business name and/or logos from all images.***

Evaluation Process

• All artists’ images are first previewed by category to provide the jurors a sense of the overall body of work submitted. 
• Each image is then viewed via the online ZAPPlication process by media category and scored on a scale of 1-7, omitting the number 4. 
• Scores are tabulated by a separate panel, and committee members review the jury scores and balance the media to ensure a dynamic, exciting show for the audience. 
• Award winners from the previous year are jury-exempt. 
• Additional artists, selected by their jury scores, are placed on a waiting list and are notified if and when space becomes available. 
• Up to 5% of Morning Glory Art Fair artists may be invited at the show director's discretion. 

SALES

All proceeds from sales go directly to the artists. Each artist is responsible for collecting and reporting Wisconsin sales tax. 

Artists must provide their current Wisconsin Tax ID number and other state required information prior to setting up at the show. Each artist is responsible for collecting and reporting Wisconsin, Milwaukee County and City of Milwaukee sales tax which totals 7.9% on all sales.

Wisconsin Sales and Use Tax Information

AWARDS

Cash awards totaling $3,200 will be presented. Artist awards will be presented Saturday afternoon with colorful placards and ribbons at the winners' booths.

• Best of Show (1): $600, automatic acceptance to 2028 show, free 10x10 booth
• Award of Excellence (4): $350, automatic acceptance to 2028 show
• Award of Merit (4): $250, automatic acceptance to 2028 show
• Annette Hirsh Memorial Award for Excellence in Jewelry (1): $200

SECURITY

Overnight security is provided by the Milwaukee Police Department and BEST Security, however, we strongly recommend that artwork, tools, or valuables of any kind NOT be left in your booth or vehicle overnight. 

Wisconsin Craft, Morning Glory Art Fair, and/or the Marcus Performing Arts Center will not be held responsible for loss or theft of any kind under any circumstances.

QUESTIONS

Email: morningglory@wisconsincraft.org

1)  Artists must be present to exhibit. No spouses, sales reps, or other representatives will be permitted in place of the artists - NO EXCEPTIONS.

2)  If art is done in collaboration with another artist, one of the collaborators must be present at both check-in and in the booth. The collaborating artist must be listed in the application. A collaborator is a person with whom an artist works directly to create the work. An associate, for purposes of definition, is one who may be another artist or business partner but offers assistance to the artist to a lesser extent than a collaborator, in the creation of the work.  An associate can assist in the booth for sales or general assistance, but the artist or collaborators must be present during the show. 

Collaborators will be listed in the show program and booth sign, but an associate will not be listed. If in doubt, please contact us. ​When you complete your application, please make sure your Zapp profile information is as you wish it to appear on your booth sign and name tags.

3)  If applying in more than one category, a full set of images must be submitted with separate applications and fees. The work must be substantially different in execution. If accepted in two or more categories, only one space is allowed, unless payment is made for a double booth (if available). If you create jewelry as a small portion of your work portfolio, you will need to also apply and be accepted in the jewelry category in order to show your jewelry.

​4)  Artist's name, business name, image of self, or signature must NOT show on jury images, including booth photo. Only one item per image except in the case of small groupings of similar items, e.g., earrings and pendant, or teapot and teacup.

5) Artists may not exhibit their artwork or have artist chairs outside of their 10' X 10' booth. All artwork and display structures MUST be contained within the 10' x 10' footprint of your booth.

6)  All buy & sell work is prohibited. We will require these pieces to be removed from the booth. All work in every category must be original and be designed and handmade by the exhibiting artist. 

7) Work that has been produced with commercial kits, molds, plans, pre-fabricated forms, patterns ( mugs & T-shirts) kits or other commercial methods and their like is not permitted. Component parts not made by the artist must play a subordinate role in the overall piece. 

8) Offset reproductions of original art may be sold but must not comprise more than 20% of exhibited work or comprise more than 20% of a booth space. Use of your artwork on printed note cards, puzzles, and stickers must not comprise more than 5% of the booth space. Reproductions must be identified as such.

9) Work that has been produced all or in part with Computerized Tools such as laser printers, CNC machines, computerized embroidery machine, Cricut machine, 3D printer etc. must be disclosed on the application with an explanation of your process.

10) AI Policy: Wisconsin Craft celebrates the beauty and skill of traditional and contemporary craft. We support artists and protect originality and craftsmanship. It is our expectation that every artist participating in our events will not use AI in their creative or physical processes.

11)  The Fair Committee may at any time question any applicant regarding their practices and processes and may require further information about those practices and processes.

​12)  Prior approval must be obtained for artist demonstrations in booths.

13)  Artists are required to display the show-provided booth sign and are encouraged to display an Artist's Statement in their booth. No "special sale," "discounts," "going out of business," etc. signs allowed. If in doubt, see the show director.

14)  Artists' booth areas must be clean upon departure on Sunday. Please remove any tape marking the edges of your booth.

15)  Artists are expected to act in a professional manner and conduct themselves accordingly, likewise for show staff and volunteers. No music is allowed to be played in a booth during show hours.

MISCELLANEOUS

1)  Images submitted for jurying should represent current work and be in direct proportion to the work you plan to exhibit. The quality of the booth display image will be considered as an important element in the overall jury process.

2)  The Morning Glory Art Fair Committee reserves the right to refuse any artist the right to exhibit work that is inconsistent with submitted images or does not comply with stated requirements. If the Fair Committee finds an artist in violation of these requirements, the artist will be required to remove the offending work or vacate entirely, at the discretion of the Fair Committee. No refund will be given upon being required to vacate. Decisions of the Fair Committee are final.

3)  In submitting an application, the artist agrees that their images may be used for publicity purposes unless the show director is notified otherwise. Artists warrant that they have the right to submit photographs of their work and they grant Wisconsin Craft the limited right to reproduce these photographs for the purposes of jurying, publicity, social media and display.

4) The committee reserves the right to change artists' categories if necessary.

5) Applications will only be accepted in the categories listed below. Non-juried or outside makers/vendors will  not be allowed to have a booth unless they are a fiscal sponsor of the event. 

6) Applicable to all media - No mass-produced or machine-made work is permitted. If multiple pieces of the same design are displayed, each piece should be signed. 

CERAMICS

Functional, decorative and sculptural work where the primary material is clay.

FIBER ARTS

Artists who have work in fiber wearable, non-wearable and leather should submit in this category, as well as  paper, basketry, tapestries, weaving and hand embroidery.

GLASS

Functional, decorative and sculptural work where the primary material is glass. 

JEWELRY

Only artists accepted in the jewelry category may exhibit or sell jewelry. The majority of components in jewelry must be handcrafted by the exhibiting artist. Work assembled primarily from commercially produced units, including beads, is not allowed. Stringing of purchased beads without added artist embellishment or design does not meet our jurying criteria.

MIXED MEDIA

This category includes both 2D and 3D works that incorporate more than one type of material to produce. 

PAINTING & DRAWING

This category includes painting, drawing, oil, acrylic, charcoal, pastel, crayon, chalk, watercolor, graphite, pen and ink, egg tempera and colored pencil.

PHOTOGRAPHY & DIGITAL ART

Includes images taken with any type of film or digital camera, and printed on any form of conventional or digital printing process without any exceptional enhancements or additions.  Photographers should post the process used for the printing of their photographs.

PRINTMAKING

Works made encompassing printmaking techniques such as lithography, etching, engraving, wood block, linoleum, mono prints, etc...

SCULPTURE

Three dimensional works created in any medium.

WOOD

Original works made of wood that may be hand-tooled, machine-worked, turned or carved. Work may be functional or decorative.

FEES

The Morning Glory Art Fair is a production of Wisconsin Craft, a non-profit organization that celebrates the beauty and skill of traditional and contemporary craft, building creative community, opportunity, and cultural vibrancy. While there is no membership requirement in order to participate in the Morning Glory Art Fair, members of Wisconsin Craft are eligible for lower booth fees as follows.

• Non-refundable application fee for all artists is $40 
• Regular 10x10 booth: $470 ($395 members) 
• Double 10x20 booth: $940 ($865 members) 
• Corner booth fee: $80 additional for everyone
• Emerging Artists (single 10x10): $235 for everyone 
• Artist ad digital: $75 for everyone

An annual membership in Wisconsin Craft is $50, and Wisconsin residency is NOT REQUIRED. Your Wisconsin Craft membership MUST BE CURRENT at the time you pay your booth fee in order to enjoy the lower rates! Learn more about Wisconsin Craft and membership at wisconsincraft.org/membership.

DISPLAY AND INSTALLATION

1) Artists are responsible for providing their own display materials including weights and walls that are of quality standards to convey a professional look. A white canopy is required.

​2) There is space for up to 125 artists. Spaces measure 10’ x 10’, with additional space for storage in most booths. Only one exhibitor/partnership is allowed per booth space. A limited number of double booth spaces and corner booths are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

3) Electricity is not included in the booth fee. Use of generators is not permitted. Battery-powered lighting is acceptable.

4) There is no staking allowed, and you may not tie your canopy to any trees or nearby structures. You must come prepared with 50 pound weights per leg. Most booths will be located on grass, but some may be located on concrete, or a combination of grass and concrete.

5) Artists may not exhibit their artwork or have artist chairs outside of their 10' X 10' booth. All artwork and display structures MUST be contained within the 10' x 10' footprint of your booth

6) Artists must dolly a short distance from the street to their booth location. Vehicles are not allowed on the grounds of The Marcus Center.

The application fee of $40 is non-refundable.

Artists may cancel by midnight (CST) on March 24, 2027 and receive their booth fee refunded, less a $75 handling fee.

Absolutely no refunds will be issued for cancellations after midnight (CST) March 24, 2027.