TAKE YOUR CREATIVITY
TO THE NEXT LEVEL
TO THE NEXT LEVEL
ARTISTS
The Bonifas is always looking for new artists to showcase their work in gallery exhibits. Each year we host a variety of exhibits for artists to participate in, including the annual favorites of Northern Exposure, Bonifas Membership Show, and Youth in Art. Work is displayed in our beautiful Powers and Studio galleries at the Bonifas, and duration of shows last 6 to 8 weeks on average. All mediums are in consideration for display. Work will need to be submitted for approval by the Bonifas staff, but you need-not be a professional artist to submit—just a love of creating!
CURRENT ARTIST OPPORTUNITES
POWERS GALLERY
Call for ART: UP Cycle
April 10 - May 22, 2025
Calling all artists! UP Cycle is back in 2025! We held this exhibit theme in 2020 and had requests from both the community and artists alike to host it again. We are offering a fun challenge for artists to look at every day items that we would normally throw away to find a way to reuse, repurpose, and recycle them into artwork.
Eligibility & Conditions: This exhibit is open to all artists age 16 or older who want to save the planet, one piece of art at a time! All work must be the artists’ own design and original in concept and execution. The work must have been created within the last two years and not previously exhibited at the Bonifas. Works in any medium qualify for entry. The only requirement is the work must be made up of 85% reused, recycled, and repurposed material (donated items qualify). for more information about the upcoming exhibit, please download the application below.
April Artist Retreat
April 4 - 7, 2025
Mark your calendars and get your projects together for our upcoming scheduled Artist Retreats! Only $15 a day or $50 for the whole weekend. You can set up all your stuff and work all day long, come and go as you like, and even spend the night! For more information about these retreats, email kate@bonifasarts.org.
Artist Gatherings
Meetings are free to attend and are the 1st Monday of the month, unless it's a holiday*, from 6-8pm.
Planned meeting dates:
April 7, May 5, June 2, July 7, Aug. 4, Sept. 8*, Oct. 6, Nov. 3, & Dec. 1
Join us for inspiration and meet like-minded people that want to talk about what they love to do—ART! We offer an optional artist challenge each month that is designed to encourage artists to continue creating. Bring your finished or current project you are working on and share your discoveries with us.
Barb Symon Scholarship
Submissions due by May 15th, 2025
The Barb Symon Scholarship was established by Charles Symon in memory of his wife Barbara who was a highly respected weaver and a founder of the East Ludington Gallery. This scholarship is offered to encourage further study in an artist’s field of arts or crafts through workshops or classes.
Bonifas Membership Show
May 29 – July 10, 2025
Reception: May 29, 6 - 8 pm
A 40+ year tradition, the Bonifas Membership Show, has encouraged members to share their creative explorations at every level of ability. This show is open to all artists 18+ who are current members of the Bonifas. All work must be the artists’ own design, original in concept and execution and not previously exhibited in the Bonifas Gallery. The artwork should have been created within the last two years. Original works only (no prints). Any medium, traditional or experimental, qualify for entry. There are no size limitations.
- Application will be available March 2025
- Pay entry fee (forthcoming)
- Get a Bonifas Membership
The Studio Gallery
NO CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES
Please check back.
VENDORS
Do you love to sell your creations at art markets and fairs? Well, the Bonifas hosts 2 of the largest arts and crafts fairs in the central U.P.! The Waterfront Art Festival and Holi-day Art Fair draw large crowds each year and are a great way to sell your pieces. The summertime Waterfront Art Festival also includes a Young Artist Market that allows young upcoming artists and crafters an opportunity to sell products.
CURRENT VENDOR OPPORTUNITIES
Waterfront Art Festival
Saturday, August 2nd, 2025
10am - 4pm
We are calling all our artists and food vendors to register for this year's Waterfront Art Festival. Now is the time to register and be a part of the biggest Waterfront to date!
Artists: This is a juried show if you have not participated in the past 2 years of Waterfront Art Festival or Holiday Art Fair you will need to send us images or samples of your work ahead of time to be considered for the 2025 Festival.
Applications must be received by July 21, 2025
Artists must complete an application to go with your payment. You can download, print, and fill out the application from our website and mail it to the Bonifas. Or email the completed PDF to events@bonifasarts.org.
Eligibility: All work must be the artist’s own design/concept/execution. Only original works or signed/numbered prints may be exhibited, with no more than half of the work displayed being reproductions. Reproductions must be labeled as such. Examples of unacceptable work: commercially-made products, kits or settings of jewelry or lapidary work, items from commercial fabric forms.
Young Artist Market
Saturday, August 2, 2025
10 am - 4 pm
Applications must be received by July 21, 2025
Any artist age 18 and under can apply to have a small space under the young artist tent at the Festival. There will be a $10 fee per 4’ space, and the Art Center will provide a card table and two chairs if desired. Please RSVP if you would like to reserve a table. Artists can bring their own display if they want, as long as it fits in the space. Come prepared for rain or sunshine. Adult supervision as needed will be provided by parent or guardian.
Holiday Art & Craft Fair
Saturday, November 1, 2025
10 am - 3 pm
Registration Deadline: October 20 | Space is limited.
Event Fee: Booth: $35 Members / $45 non-member for 8’x10’
Table space: $10 member / $25 non-member
8” & 6” tables available to rent for additional $15 each
Eligibility: All media welcome, including but not limited to: fine art, photography, wood work, pottery, glass, fiber, basketry and jewelry. All work must be of original design and made by applying artist or crafter.
Entry & Jurying: If you participated in the Holiday Art Fair or Waterfront Art Festival in the past two years, you do not need to be juried in. All deadlines still apply.
New artists/crafters must submit three images that are representative of the work that will be displayed. Each image should be clearly labeled with the artist’s name and medium. The Art Center reserves the right to reject any work which is not of the same quality as shown in the images.
Include with your images, the entry fee and application when registering. If registering by email: pay your entry fee online and email form and images to kate@bonfiasarts.org
INTERESTED IN TEACHING?
We are always looking for new classes and instructors to teach innovative and exciting classes! For more information on teaching a class, call us at 906-786-3833.
ARE YOU PART OF AN ARTS ORGANIZATION?
The Bonifas loves partnering with other organizations, and encourages you to call us at 906-786-3833 to discuss collaboration!