Paint Historic & Picturesque Marquette, MI
Friday June 27th thru Sunday June 29th 2025
Open to emerging and professional artists
Open Competition! Over $4000 in Prizes!
The Fresh Coast Plein Air Art Festival is held during the last week of June on the shores of Lake Superior around Marquette, MI.
Artists can paint Friday night and Saturday all day. Competitors can turn in two paintings, entered into either professional or emerging artist categories. Our public awards reception is held Saturday. Sunday is our “sales and social day,” giving artists and the public the chance to purchase paintings created throughout the weekend.
Downloadable, Printable Registration Form
Online Registration
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Full Info and itenerary
The eighth annual Fresh Coast Plein Air Painting Festival and Competition, a Lake Superior Art Association annual summer event, will be held throughout Historic and Picturesque Marquette, Michigan and its magnificent shoreline on Friday & Saturday, June 27 -28. This year we have added a “Sales and Social Day” on Sunday, June 29, to give our community and visitors the opportunity to meet the artists, view their artwork, purchase paintings, and enjoy some light refreshments and social relaxation. The festival is part of the “Grand Finale” of the City of Marquette Art Week. Art Week is a week-long celebration of Marquette’s creative community held during the last full week of June, featuring a wide range of community art projects, installations, performances, and more. Learn more about Art Week at https://www.mqtcompass.com/artweek/
This year’s judging, reception, presentation of awards, artwork display and sale, and our new “Sales and Social Day” will be held at Marquette’s comfortable and charming Presque Isle Pavilion, locatedon Lake Superior in Marquette’s Presque Isle Park.
The 2025 Plein Air Festival combines our evening and daytime segments to allow artists to paint both times for one registration fee.
On the evening of Friday, June 27, “Dusk to Dark” will be held. Artists who choose to participate in Dusk to Dark must register and get their canvases stamped that evening at The Presque Isle Pavilion. Once completed, pieces must be turned in that evening by 10:00 pm. Emphasis should be placed on capturing the evening light, as it showcases the sunset, nighttime cityscapes, etc.
Paintings will be safely stored inside the Presque Isle Pavilion.
Saturday, June 28 will be the All-Day painting segment. Artists participating in the daytime competition may get their canvases stamped on Friday evening or Saturday morning, then have until 4:30 pm to submit their pieces for jurying, display, and sales at Marquette’s Presque Isle Pavilion.
***Artists may enter two paintings into the competition, painted either Friday evening or Saturday.
Painters must be 17 years old to enter the competition. Artists may paint anywhere within the Historic City of Marquette and along the Lake Superior Shoreline. All paintings must be stamped upon registration and created outdoors and on-site. The key is to capture the effects of light on people, places, and things inspired by the Marquette landscape, businesses, or residents, giving artists a chance to share their visions of what they see and experience.
Artists may pre-register with this form to save on entry fees, register the day(s) of, or register and pay online at https://lakesuperiorartassociation.org/fresh-coast-plein-air-painting-festival-2025/ or visit the Lake Superior Art Association Website – lakesuperiorartassociation.org. See the registration form for more information.
There are two entry levels, (1) Professional and advanced painters, and (2) Novice, intermediate, emerging, and/or recreational painters. It is up to the artist to place themselves in the appropriate category and pay the appropriate fees. Artists who have won a 1st place monetary award in the novice division are expected to enter the advanced artist level the following year. Entry fees are as follows, to be paid upon check-in at the event when you bring your canvases to get stamped, through the mail, or online. Cash, checks, and online payments are all accepted – please make sure your registration is included.
Friday – “Dusk to Dark” / Saturday – All Day – one fee includes both times.
Level 1: professional/advanced
$30 pre-registered / $35 day-of event
Level 2: novice, intermediate, emerging, recreational
$20 pre-registered / $25 day-of event
***Pre-registration will end 7 days before the event.
Sunday, June 29 – “Sales and Social Day” – Open to Public
New this year is our “Sales and Social Day”, taking place at Marquette’s Presque Isle Pavilion from 9:30 -12:30. Artists may bring in any paintings they have painted throughout the weekend in Marquette, (including those not entered in the competition). Paintings must be priced to sell. We do not take any commission but would be thankful for any donations to help fund next year’s event.
~$4,000 in monetary and artist door prizes will be awarded at the Saturday evening reception, including 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for both competition levels, people’s choice, and several door prizes. Artists are encouraged to price their artwork if they are interested in selling, as there will be an abundance of attendees at the public showing and reception.
Artwork will be judged this year by Pasqua Warstler from Escanaba, Michigan. A seasoned professional and award-winning artist, Pasqua has recently retired after many years as Gallery and Executive Director of the Bonifas Art Center in Escanaba. Her professional experiences include developing interdisciplinary curriculum, exhibits, public programming, and grants, providing learning opportunities to explore and learn through the arts. Her Gallery experience includes curating, installing, traveling exhibits, and judging competitions. Pasqua brings a deep understanding of the transformative power of the arts to her work. Constant observation and experimentation are the starting point of her creative process.
For more information, please contact Marlene at marlenesew@gmail.com, posstroke@sbcglobal.net, 847 791-8403 or Lake Superior Art Association at lakesuperiorartassociation.org
Itinerary
*All registration and canvas stamping will take place at Marquette’s Presque Isle Pavilion.
Friday – “Dusk to Dark”
4:30pm – 7:00 pm *Registration, check in, canvas stamp
5:00pm – 10:00pm Painting Time (Paintings must be turned in by 10:00 pm)
Saturday – All-Day Painting
7:00am – 9:00am *Registration, check in, canvas stamp
7:00am – 4:30pm Painting Time (throughout Marquette and the Lake
Superior shoreline)
3:00pm – 4:30pm Artwork drop off at Presque Isle Pavilion (Pavilion will be closed from 9:30 – 2:30)
4:30pm – 6:00pm Judging inside Pavilion (*Judges and volunteers only)
6:00pm – 7:00pm Peoples’ Choice Voting & Public Reception
*** The public may enter the Pavilion to vote and enjoy light refreshments
7:00pm – 8:30pm Awards Ceremony, Artist Raffle Prizes, Public Reception, Art Sales
Winners presented with awards. Those unable to attend will be sent checks.
Artists interested in having their art sold at reception should have it priced.
Sunday – 9:30 – 12:30 “Sales and Social” at Presque Isle Pavilion. Open to all artists and community members / visitors. A chance for the public and artists to socialize, view, and purchase paintings! ***Artist Competitors can bring any paintings created throughout the weekend in Marquette to sell, including paintings not entered into the Competition. No commission will be taken but we are thankful for any donations towards next years event.