Show Review of the Month Art in the Park Saugatuck
Photo courtesy of Randall Nyhof
September 17, 2022; Art in the Park Saugatuck; Saugatuck, MI. Contact: Artist Entrepreneurs, Anna Donahue, 420 Water St., Saugatuck, MI 49453; Phone: 616-292-3930; Email: anna@annadonahue.com; Website: https://creative-painter-3730.ck.page/products/art-in-the-park-saugatuck; Application fee: $25; Space fee: $100; Space size: 10x10; 100% outdoors; Exhibitors: 50; Attendance estimate: 1,500.
Compiled from FastAudit reports
Art in the Park Saugatuck is a juried, one-day show. Of the artists who reviewed the 2022 show, 83% said they would participate in it again.
An artist whose mediums were mixed media, painting, and wood reported $1,300 in sales and would like to be invited back.
A mixed media artist who made $350 would not do the show again because it is too far away for this artist.
A fiber/textile artist wants to participate again. The sales for this artist totaled $3,500.
Also interested in returning is a wood artist who made $1,500 at the festival.
The sales for one ceramicist totaled $2,200. This artist described it as a great juried show and wants to participate again.
It was the sixth year participating in Art in the Park Saugatuck for a ceramicist who made $3,500. “I do this show every year,” the artist said.
A sculpture artist who had $2,500 in sales wants to do the show again.
An artist whose medium was painting was unhappy with the sales and will not exhibit at the show again. The artist made $200.
However, a different artist who also listed painting as the medium made $2,000 and does want to participate in the future.
Sales for an artist whose mediums were jewelry, art glass, and metal totaled $1,450. This artist described the event as having a high-quality jury.
An artist whose medium was painting liked the size of the event and its location. This artist made $1,800.
Photo courtesy of Randall Nyhof
Photo courtesy of Randall Nyhof
Promoter’s Self‑Review
Anna Donahue said Art in the Park Saugatuck’s date had to change due to a city ordinance, but the event was very successful. “We were thankful in the end because the original date was terrible weather with a bad rainstorm and high winds,” she said. “It was a pleasant surprise to have just as many buyers after Labor Day, because the typical audience in this lakeshore community is higher between Memorial and Labor days.”
Originally scheduled for Aug. 20, last year’s event took place on Sept. 17.
Donahue is the director of Artist Entrepreneurs, the promoter behind the event. She said the artists were very happy with their sales. “I spoke to everyone and had high compliments and positive feedback,” Donahue said. “Last year (2021), we had more problems with the city’s maintenance and preparation, so this year (2022) was a big improvement. The Wi-Fi also was much better.”
She said something learned at the show that will improve future ones was they can always use more volunteers. “It is a long day and there is a lot of work to be done,” Donahue said. “Checking on each artist’s tent to make sure they have it anchored properly is important. There were some gusty winds that caused one tent to blow over that was not anchored.”
Donahue said the best improvement they made that others might learn from was “treating all artists with respect and providing help for the artists to get a break is super important to those who don’t have extra help. Quite a few artists are on their own and need tent sitters for short periods of time.”
Her message to those considering the show is, “We give artists as much extra help as possible with things like setting up, carting supplies, and unloading/loading. We also provide snacks, drinks, and lunch for two people per booth. We keep our rates low because we are here to give artists the opportunity to make money. Artist Entrepreneurs is a nonprofit organization. Our motto is ‘teaching artists how to make a living as an artist.’”