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
Artist Gatherings
Meetings are free to attend and are the 1st Monday of the month, unless it's a holiday*, from 6-8pm.
2026 Meeting dates: April 6, May 4, June 1, July 6, August 3, September 14*, October 5, November 2, & December 7
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.
Call for Entries: Bonifas Membership Show
June 12 - August 6 | Opening Reception: June 12 at 6pm.
Deadline to submit to the exhibit is June 6th by 3pm.
Eligibility & Conditions: This show is open to all artists 16+ 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 Powers Gallery. Artwork should have been created within the last two years. Original works only (no prints). Any medium, traditional or experimental, qualify for entry.
Entry Procedure: Bring in Artwork, payment and application by 3 pm on June 6 during our business hours: Tues. - Fri.: 10 - 5:30 pm, Sat. 10 - 3 pm
- All artwork must be labeled with the artist’s name, title, sale price/NFS.
- A 35% commission is applied to any sales.
- Artwork is returned in the packaging it came in so all packaging must be labeled with artist name. If artwork is dropped off with no packaging, then it will be returned with no packaging.
- We invite you to include an artist statement with your entries.
Entry Fees: $15 entry fee covers up to 2 artwork entries (diptych/triptych = 1 entry).
Submission: All work must be framed, wired and ready for hanging or suitably prepared for exhibition. Note that your entry grants permission for the Bonifas to photograph your work for promotional or educational purposes only.
And don't forget to look into the Barb Symon Scholarship
Barb Symon Scholarship
Applications are due two weeks before our annual Bonifas Membership Show
Have a workshop in mind that you would like to take? We have a $200 scholarship that, if chosen from the applicants, you could use towards the workshop cost.
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.
Artist Retreats:
October 9 - 12, 2026
Mark your calendars and get your projects together for our upcoming scheduled Artist Retreats! Only $20 a day or $70 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.
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
Escanaba LogJam Music Festival:
Saturday, June 27, 2026
There is an opportunity for vendors to display and sell their goods at the Escanaba LogJam Music Festival. There will be a designated area at the festival for arts and craft vendors. The Bonifas Arts Center is coordinating the vendor area at the festival while the Escanaba DDA is making all the festival arrangements. For any art/craft vendor questions, please email our events coordinator at events@bonifasarts.org
-Vending Hours will be from 10am to 6pm
-The cost is $40 for the day
-The vendor sites will be TBD
-The area available to each vendor will be is 15x15 feet for each space.
-The festival will go on rain or shine. Please plan accordingly.
-Tents are allowed but you will not be allowed to anchor the tent if the venue is on the pavement. Sand weights are advised.
-There is no electricity available.
Waterfront Art Festival
Saturday, August 1st, 2026
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 2026 Festival.
Applications must be received by July 24, 2026
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.
If you are a food vendor, please reach out to our events coordinator at events@bonifasarts.org
Young Artist Market
Saturday, August 1, 2026
10am - 4pm
Applications must be received by July 25, 2026
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 7, 2026
10am - 3pm
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@bonifasarts.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!