A new team is taking the helm of The Lakeshore Art Festival (LAF). Bre McCarthy and Pam Ackley are taking over as Co-Directors of the nationally recognized event, which takes place the last weekend in June.
The role is a good fit for McCarthy who holds a degree in Art & Design from the University of Michigan and has served on the LAF committee since 2017. She will partner with Ackley, a recent retiree of Mona Shores School District, who has been the group’s Craft Market Coordinator since 2018.
Fine Art section Coordinator, Paula Ray, will return to the team as well. She has been with the show since 1993.
“We have a very solid team, and are thrilled to continue building the legacy of the Lakeshore Art Festival,” says McCarthy. “LAF began as Art in the Park in 1961, which means over six decades of fostering art in the Muskegon Lakeshore area. We will continue the mission of LAF, which is not only to bring visitors from across the country, but also to contribute to our local community.”
Call for Artists
Applications to be a fine art or craft exhibitor are now open. Lakeshore Art Festival is a juried show; professional artists and fine art/craft coordinators serve on the jury and review each exhibitor's application before they are accepted into the show. No buy/sell items are allowed.
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Hosted by the Muskegon Downtown Development Authority, the Lakeshore Art Festival is returning after a year off due to the pandemic.
The event will take place in Downtown Muskegon on the weekend of June 24-25. Applications are online only and can be accessed via
Zapplications or
lakeshoreartfestival.org.
Local and national artists are encouraged to apply. Exhibitor amenities include more than $3,000 in prize money, extensive marketing and publicity, vehicle access near their booth sites for easy setup and tear down, private security overnight Friday and Saturday, exhibitor hospitality including morning beverages and baked goods, and friendly LAF Team booth sitters for exhibitor breaks.
Become an Event Partner
The festival ranks as one of the Top 200 in the Country by Sunshine Artist Magazine (multiple years running), has been recognized as the People’s Choice Award: #1 Art Festival in West Michigan, and as one of the Best Art Fairs in America by ArtFairCalendar.com.
Since 2013, Lakeshore Art Festival has brought in over $9.3 million to the Muskegon lakeshore area and supported a number of local non-profits.
LAF is also inviting community organizations to play a critical role in support of the popular festival, which brings thousands of people to Downtown Muskegon over the weekend. Learn more at the
Sponsorship Guide or by contacting contact Ann Meisch at ann.meisch@shorelinecity.com.
Interested in joining as a volunteer or local business partner, contact Bre McCarthy at director@lakeshoreartfestival.org or visit
lakeshoreartfestival.org.
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