About the Festival: Shop for art and meet the artists at the 51st annual Stevens Point Area Festival of the Arts is a juried art festival held on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at Artist & Fare and O’so Brewing Company in Plover, WI from 10am-4pm. We host 56 fine art artists from across the Midwest selected from over 140 applications. It is an opportunity to talk with the artists, learn about their work, and purchase unique one-of-a-kind pieces of art.
Events: Our one-day festival is free to the public with ample parking at Artist & Fare. Shop at over 50 fine artist booths that showcase a variety of mediums. Six artists will receive Artist Awards and during the festival chosen by local artist Mark Brueggeman. Support local art education at the art raffle for a chance to win original art! A kids art zone is free to families during the festival.
Sponsors: Thank you to our top event sponsor Sentry Insurance. They have been supporting our event since 2018. Cellcom and Simplicity Credit Union are continuing their support of our festival by sponsoring our artist awards in 2025.
History of the festival: In 1972 the UWSP Committee of University Women and Student Wives group got together to organize an art show and sale. In the festival's first year founding member, Sherin Bowen, said that the Festival of the Arts was at first an evening program for the University Women and guests held in UWSP University Center. The room was filled with artists and people kept coming to the door wanting to get in and see what was going on. The festival opened its doors to the public in 1974. After the pandemic we moved the festival out of UWSP and into Artist & Fare in Plover with our new hosts O’so Brewing Company and The Mission Coffee. This is our fourth year at our new venue, and we are grateful for their support.
Community Art Grants: In the 1980's the festival began raising money for art students and the festival continues this tradition today. We have given back over $60,000 to our community to help support art education. In 2024, we raised $2900 that will be given back to UWSP Art students, the Riverfront Art Center Emerging Artist exhibit for grades 7-12, the 37th annual Culture & Agriculture Exhibit held at Gallery Q located in downtown Stevens Point, Stevens Point Area School District, and the Boy's and Girl's Club to help enhance their art programs in 2025.
Art Raffle: Participating Festival artists generously donate original pieces of art to help raise funds for local art education. Tickets are $1 each or get 12 for $10. Winners do not need to be present to win.
Artist Awards: There are six cash awards for artists. This year's judge is retired UWSP Fine Art Department Professor and past Council Chair, Mark Brueggeman. Brueggeman is a painter, printmaker, and stained-glass artist. His studio, Atelier Vermeil II is in Nelsonville and is part of the Hidden Studios Art Tour Oct. 3-5, 2025.
Dick Schneider Best of Show Award: $500 Dick Schneider, well known in central Wisconsin for his ceramic artistry, his creative talent is legendary at UWSP and became a significant contributor to the festival planning. Awarded to Barbara Nelson, a jeweler, in 2024. She is returning to the festival.
John Morser Best 2-D Award ($250) John was a photographer, UWSP professor, and council member. Awarded to Peter Sandker, Watercolor, in 2024. He is returning to the festival.
Brenda Gingles Best 3-D Award ($250) Brenda was a silver jeweler, former director of the Riverfront Art Center, and former council chair. Awarded to Carolina Niebres, ceramics, in 2024. She is returning to the festival.
Kids Art Zone: Local retired art teacher Roberta Laine will be teaching children paper quilling for free from 10am-2:30pm inside the Annex inside Artist & Fair.
Mission Statement: Our mission is to encourage art awareness, support working artists, and contribute to local art education. We hope to see young artists attend the show and be inspired to become professional artists themselves.
The Stevens Point Festival of the Arts is a non-profit that is run and organized by local artists. We are always looking for new members and volunteers to join our team. Contact Jessie at artfestival@StevensPointFoA.com. Board: Melissa Helene Bossenbroek, Jessie Fritsch, Diana Hoover, Tammy Rae Wolter.
Council: Elly Fritsch, Sharon Fujimoto, Erin Prais-Hintz, Paul Klein, Roberta Laine, Jen Lazarski
StevensPointFoa.com
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