Belle Isle Art Fair 2027

Summary

Belle Isle is a beautiful island park reached by bridge from Detroit. The art fair is in a grass field near the beautiful Scott Fountain. People from all over love to come to the island and it's packed with people on summer weekends. In 2025, USA Today proclaimed this the 10th best art fair in the country.

We work hard to attract art buyers- media exposure, work with community groups and place extensive print and broadcast advertising.

Integrity Shows avoids the everything for everybody concept of shows. Our marketing is designed to bring people with the means and ability to buy your artwork. Our shows are widely praised for the effort placed toward supporting participating artists. We understand that your success is essential and we do what it takes to meet your needs.

We are committed to your success. Please feel free to call with questions or concerns at any time. We are artist focused and seek to provide a venue that enhances your work and simplifies your participation.

General information

Integrity Shows works hard to earn your trust. Artists rank us high for service, marketing, and results. Our marketing is artist-focused and our entertainment is the art. We advertise heavily and generally have significant television coverage.

The park is served by Michigan State Police and we supplement with overnight security.

Set up and show hours

Set up: Friday 3pm-8pm; Saturday 7am-9am.

We have tents, canopies and display walls available to rent.

Show hours: Saturday 10am-7pm; Sunday 10am-5pm.

Booths are at least 11 foot wide and most have additional space behind. There are no RV hookups.

Rules and regulations

You may participate in the art fair only in accordance with these rules. No other document, even if signed or acknowledged by Integrity Shows, shall modify these rules. If you do not agree with or abide by these rules, you may not participate in the art fair.

• Your work must be original and created by you as the artist. If we determine that your work is not original and created by you (for example, if it was created by another artist or is substantially completed using AI), you may either immediately and completely exit the fair without refund, or remain at the fair and be classified as a "commercial" booth, with rent adjusted to the commercial rate of $2500.
• Your work may only be in the medium and styles as presented to and accepted during the application process. If you wish to be considered in two mediums we suggest applying for each separately.
• You must provide your own tent and display as presented in the application process. All tents must be staked, or have a minimum of forty (40) pounds of weight securely attached to each corner.
• Electricity has limited availability and must be prepaid and reserved.
• Your booth area will be designated by lines or other demarcation. Your tent and displays must remain in the booth area assigned to you at all times.
• You may not share a booth unless all artists sharing the booth have been accepted by the jury and prior arrangements for sharing have been made and accepted by us.
• Art must be available for sale. You are required by law to collect and remit Michigan sales taxes.
• Integrity Shows reserves the right to cancel your acceptance to the art fair at any time prior to the show with no further obligation to you except a refund of your previously paid booth fees (if any).
• You authorize us to use your name, image, and likeness, as well as representative samples of your work, for purposes of promoting and advertising the art fairs.
• Your booth must remain open during all event hours. At least one of the artists listed on your application must be present during the event.
• You acknowledge the inherent risks associated with outdoor, public displays of your artwork. You are responsible for proper insurance and protection of your work and setup. Your liability policy must have a minimum coverage of $1 million and list City of Detroit and the State of Michigan as certificate holders and additional insureds.
• The show will be held unless the event management (or venue, city or municipal official) determines that there is a threat to safety. If show hours are reduced or the event is canceled there is no refund.
• You agree to hold harmless and indemnify the Belle Isle Art Fair, Integrity Shows Inc, the City of Detroit, The State of Michigan and the Michigan State Parks, for any damages.
• We reserve the right to amend these rules at any time with prior written notice to you. The venue may have rules of its own, which you agree to abide by.

Prints, reproductions and mass items

Prints are made by a process that assures each one may be unique. Etching, wood cut, silk screen and so forth. Prints are welcome and should be numbered and signed. Apply under print.

Reproductions are mechanically produced images, which include Giclée's, digital copies, 3D printing and so forth. We permit reproductions as up to 25% of your booth as long as they are clearly labeled and are made from your own original artwork. Each piece should be clearly labeled- reproduction.

Embellished work is art with added details, touches of paint or other modifications to make each one unique. All art should be signed.

Mass Items are similar to reproductions in that they can be easily produced in large quantities. These items are not expected at art fairs. You may have a small section in your booth to sell stickers, buttons, magnets, coasters or notecards that are your original work. This display must be limited to about a 2' by 2' area.

Kits, commercial molds, copywritten or trademarked images are NOT allowed. This includes sports and other logos.

Booth information and fees

We have set aside up to 10% of our spaces for artists who need a discount from the standard fees. If you are invited you will be given an opportunity to request a variance.

• Standard booths are 10x10 - $525
• Booth and a half are 15x10 - $775
• Double booths 20x10 - $975

Electricity is limited and runs $175. We close before dark so most years no one purchases electric access. We suggest rechargeable batteries as a way to save money.

Corner spaces require an additional $135 fee.

Possible additional fees: a State Fair passport is required for all motor vehicles. If you have a Michigan plate you may have ordered a pass with your renewal, otherwise it runs $12 a year. Out of state requires a daily pass.

You are required to have liability insurance. If you need a policy we can refer you. Fees are paid directly to the insurance company and run under $50 per show, or you can get an annual policy for about $300.

Refund and cancellation policy

You may cancel your participation at the art fair at any time and for any reason. There may be penalties depending on when we receive your notification. If cancellation is received 60 days before the show you receive a full refund. Artists canceling 45 days before the show may receive a 75% refund or apply all fees to the next year. Refunds of 50% are available until 30 days before the show. After that time there are no refunds except if the show is canceled.

If the show is canceled by Integrity Shows, the artist receives a full refund, unless cancelation is required by the venue or a government body. If we cancel at least one month before move-in day a minimum of 75% of booth fees will be returned. After that, a minimum of 50% of booth rent is refunded until one week prior to move-in day. If the cancellation is required on or after that, no refunds are available.

There is no discount or refund if the show hours are reduced due to weather or other factors.

Jury details

Average number of applications submitted each year: 220. Average number of artists selected from the jury to participate in the event: 110. Average number of exempt from jury artists who are invited: 40.

Returning artists are selected on a three-year jury rotation to allow artists to plan their schedules.

Jurors view images on a computer monitor and score applications on a 1 to 5 scale. A single jury panel of five jurors scores applications for all medium categories, separately from various locations. The jury process is closed.

Applications are jury-reviewed and scored on a 1-5 scale by 5 jurors viewing images on a computer monitor. A single jury panel scores applications for all medium categories, and jurors score separately from various locations. The jury process is closed to observation. Roughly 220 applications are received each year, with about 110 artists selected by the jury and about 40 jury-exempt artists invited.