08/07/2026
Letter from the Executive Director
To Our Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair Community,
Well, 2026 was certainly a year to remember.
In more than 20 years of producing this event, I have never experienced an Art Fair quite like this one. Yet through every challenge, I came away with a renewed sense of gratitude for the incredible community that surrounds and supports this event.
My heartfelt thanks go to The City Of Ann Arbor - Government including: Police, Fire, Public Works, Signs and Signals, Emergency Services, and City Administration—as well as our valued community partners, including Destination Ann Arbor and the Ann Arbor DDA. I am equally grateful to the sponsors whose financial support makes this event possible, the downtown businesses and Main Street Area Ann Arbor that welcomed visitors and supported the Fair throughout the week, the temporary staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly through extraordinary circumstances, the art lovers who came out to support the Fair, and, most importantly, the artists who choose to be part of The Guild of Artists & Artisans and this remarkable event.
This year's Art Fair reminded us what resilience truly looks like.
Our artists arrived and set up their booths in extreme heat, only to wake on opening day to poor air quality and AQI concerns. Despite the uncertainty, they showed up. They stayed. They adapted. And throughout it all, they remained positive, professional, and committed to sharing their work with the public.
The City of Ann Arbor also demonstrated what it means to rally behind a community event. From countless planning meetings to navigate unexpected obstacles, to helping procure masks for artists and patrons during the air quality advisory, the City's commitment was unwavering. Our downtown businesses also played an important role, welcoming visitors, supporting artists, and helping maintain the vibrant atmosphere that makes the Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair a truly community-wide celebration. And when thousands of community members chose to come downtown despite the challenges, it reminded all of us why this event has remained such an important tradition.
This year's Fair reinforced something we have always known: its success is built on partnership. It takes artists, businesses, city departments, community organizations, sponsors, volunteers, and patrons all working together to create something extraordinary. Thank you for your resilience, your generosity, and your belief in the power of art to bring people together. We look forward to welcoming you back next year.
Karen Oakley Bauer (formerly Delhey)
Executive Director
The Guild of Artists & Artisans
Creating spaces where fine art belongs to everyone!
