Children build sculptures from wooden and cardboard boxes in the courtyard of the Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum, an event in celebration of a past Marquette Art Week. (Journal file photo)

MARQUETTE — The city of Marquette presents 2024 Art Week, which runs from Monday to June 29. 

This annual event brings together local artists, organizations and businesses for a week-long celebration of arts and culture.

All events are free and family friendly.

This year, the Art Week theme is “Grow,” which draws inspiration from several ongoing city capital improvement projects. Those include the renovation of the former chamber of commerce building at 501 S. Front St. into a cultural center and trailhead and the Shoreline Cultural Trail and the Peg Hirvonen Band Shell.

Each of these projects are funded through grants and foundation funds.

Art Week 2024 presents opportunities throughout the week for residents to engage with these projects and more. 

The success of Art Week is made possible through collaboration with over 200 local artists, businesses, organizations, community partners and support from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council.

The city of Marquette Art Week 2024 features over 50 events, performances, exhibits, installations, festivals, workshops and more. Art Week projects and events will be held at various neighborhoods and community spaces across the city.

Art Week features a range of highlighted events, including an opening sunrise ceremony, the annual children’s plein air painting at Lighthouse Park, an opening concert by the Hiawatha Music Co-op at the Marquette Commons, the Marquette Downtown Development Authority’s Wednesday market on Washington Street, the annual Rosewood Walkway installation, public art tours, children’s art activities hosted by Liberty Children’s Art Project, the Paint the Town with Love sidewalk chalk festival by the U.P. Children’s Museum, a variety of workshops throughout the week, the new Lakeshore Community Arts Festival, the Presque Isle Artist Market, the annual Fresh Coast Plein Air Painting Festival, and a closing concert performance by the Marquette City Band and friends.

Additionally, the week will offer numerous pop-up artist demos, workshops, music performances, installations and exhibits.

Pick up an Art Week schedule at the City Arts & Culture Center, the Peter White Public Library, city hall or at Travel Marquette. 

For a comprehensive list of Art Week events, visit the Art Week home page on the Marquette Compass website at www.mqtcompass.com.

Vickie Fee can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 542. Her email address is vfee@miningjournal.net.