Activities

Join in the fun and participate in a variety of activities such as Dancing, Drumming, Playing Music, Karate, Tai Chi, Chi Kung and more. Adult Involvement takes place on the west side of the County Building. Click more info for schedule.

Give your creativity a whirl and try painting. Open to those 13 years of age or older and at least 52” tall.

Explore. Entertain. Engage. Share the Experience of Art!

Inspired by the work of Calder, families can bend and twist colorful wires into fancy swirls and wonderful designs. Attach beads of all shapes and sizes to create a beautiful piece of art to hang in the window.

Talented West Michigan artists create art while you wait.

Talented West Michigan artists create art while you wait.

Art from several of the area’s finest artists is for sale on the Calder Plaza.

Create colorful sidewalk art with chalk.

Board a trolley for the 20-minute self-guided City History Tour showcasing the history of development and preservation in downtown Grand Rapids. (Sat. 10am – 4pm) Click more info for route information.

Spin around in the gigantic tire swing created by artist Mark DiSuvero. Supervised by volunteers, the swing can be found between City Hall and the Federal Building.

Choose one of the cool designs offered and have it painted on your face or arm. Face painting is located on the west lawn of the Federal Building.

Take home a fun souvenir to remember your visit to festival 2009. Stop by the festival Store located on Ottawa Avenue, north of Lyon and choose from the variety of items we have for sale. All proceeds benefit festival of the arts and we are grateful for your support!

Back by popular demand, Glue In is the place where kids can create art with pieces of cut wood and glue. Glue in is located in the Fifth Third parking lot on Ottawa Avenue.

Fully appreciate the sounds of classical music inside where it’s quiet. Please see schedule for details.

Kids ages 4-12 will be able to paint their own masterpiece using washable paints in this parent-free zone located in the Fifth Third parking lot on Ottawa Avenue.

Kids ages 4-12 will be able to create whimsical hats in this parent-free zone located on the south side of the Federal Building.

The 2009 festival opens Friday, June 5th at noon on the Calder Stage. This year’s Opening Ceremonies feature the youth and energy of our West Michigan community. The students of William C. Abney Academy will perform in song and dance, demonstrating the importance of the arts, recycling and sharing. Please join us as our community’s youth kick off the 40th festival of the arts in Grand Rapids.

A temporary postal station featuring the winning designs from the 2009 Philatelic Design (stamp cancellation) Contest is located on Ottawa Avenue across from the festival store.

Winning entries of the Dyer-Ives Poetry Competition will be read at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts. The UICA is located at 41 Sheldon SE.

View this year’s festival poster and the posters for each of the previous years, starting in 1976. This is a permanent exhibit located in the Monroe Avenue lobby of the City/County complex.

Learn classic silk screening techniques and walk away with your own handmade festival souvenir. Please note: the line closes a half hour before the closing time.

Listen to West Michigan’s best storytellers tell their tales. Stories during the day are geared for kids through age 12. After 5 pm, the stories are more appropriate for older audiences.
Click more info for complete schedule.

Science meets art as you create one-of-a-kind, two-dimensional works of art. Swing’n Art is for those at least 52” tall and 13 years of age or older. Located on the west side of the County Building. Please note: the line closes a half hour before the closing time.

The Youth Art Exhibit is a colorful, non-juried show of K-12 student artwork submitted by local art teachers. The exhibit can be found on the first floor of the Old Art Museum, next to the Regional Arts Competition.