1. Art Fair returns as U-M reopens museums, galleries, gardens reopen to the public

    Mark Rivett posted July 14, 2021

    Read more at Umich Arts and Culture

    Recently lifted restrictions, however, will allow for art lovers to once again fill the streets of Ann Arbor for the AAAF, which runs July 15–17.

    A Midwest tradition that draws close to half a million attendees over four days in July each year for browsing and shopping, it is the largest juried art fair in the nation. The AAAF comprises three independently juried, nonprofit art fairs that run consecutively: Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original; Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair; and Ann Arbor State Street Art Fair. This year’s fair will feature nearly 1,000 artists and a footprint spanning 30 city blocks in downtown Ann Arbor, extending onto the University of Michigan’s campus.

    The return of the 2021 AAAF coincides with the reopening of several U-M museums, galleries and other public spaces on campus, including the conservatory and display gardens at Matthaei Botanical Gardens.

    Though U-M welcomes art fair visitors back to campus, they are encouraged to plan ahead this year, as many of our public museums and spaces are still operating at limited capacity, requiring advance registration and health screenings upon arrival. This updated list offers information on COVID-19 protocols for recently reopened spaces.