Established in 2006, the New Art, New Artists (NANA) College Student Program offers an unparalleled opportunity for Michigan college students to showcase and sell their artwork at Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original—at no cost to participants. Artists keep 100% of their sales revenue while receiving comprehensive guidance and mentorship, gaining invaluable exposure and entrepreneurial experience.
Each year, six college artists are selected through a competitive jury process to exhibit their work at the fair. These artists enjoy equal access to all professional amenities and join a tradition of fostering artistic growth. Eligibility is open to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in Michigan colleges and universities.
The NANA artists collaborate as a cohesive team to create a shared booth while receiving personalized mentoring from the AASAF team. From April to July, NANA artists participate in meetings to develop skills such as:
Designing captivating art fair booths
Writing compelling artist statements
Effectively engaging with the public and making sales
Each artist is also paired with a professional mentor who provides additional guidance and fosters lasting connections. These relationships often extend well beyond the program, supporting artists as they establish their careers.
The NANA Program is the ideal platform for emerging college artists to take the leap into the professional art world. Here’s why:
High Artist Sales: The fair generates over $2.3 million in annual sales, giving artists a proven platform to reach enthusiastic buyers.
Massive Attendance: Your work will be seen by over 400,000 art lovers at the nation’s largest juried outdoor art fair.
Prime Location: The fair is hosted in the heart of Ann Arbor, with your booth set in a picturesque, high-traffic area near the iconic Burton Bell Tower.
66 Years of Excellence: As the original of three Ann Arbor fairs, AASAF is renowned for showcasing gallery-quality, one-of-a-kind fine art and craft.
Competitive Jury Process: Gain recognition as your work is evaluated by world-renowned jurors and esteemed peers.
Zero Cost: Participation is completely free, and artists keep 100% of their sales revenue.
Collaborative Booth Experience: Work alongside fellow NANA artists in a shared booth, fostering mutual support for successful sales.
Personalized Mentorship: Receive one-on-one guidance from professional artists and AASAF staff from April through July. Gain expertise in:
Presenting your artwork
Crafting compelling artist statements
Designing captivating booths
Engaging effectively with buyers and collectors
John Stanley Guest Mentorship: Learn from John Stanley, a distinguished figure in the art museum world and current President of the Board of Directors for the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original (AASAF). As a guest mentor for NANA's 2025 program, Stanley brings a wealth of expertise gained from a career that includes prominent roles at the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Toledo Museum of Art. Throughout his tenure, he has overseen numerous large-scale projects and collaborated with renowned architects such as Frank Gehry, Norman Foster, and Renzo Piano. Stanley's dedication to the museum field and his invaluable insights make this mentorship an unmatched professional learning opportunity..
Networking Opportunities: Engage directly with 100 collectors, gallery owners, designers, and influencers through exclusive Buyer Tours.
Far-Reaching Promotion: Be featured in the fair’s extensive marketing efforts, including a national TV audience of 3.5 million, 8.7 million radio listeners, and over 1.3 billion print and online views.
Year-Round Visibility: Gain ongoing exposure in the fair’s online artist directory and robust social media campaigns.
Hospitality: Enjoy complimentary breakfasts, refreshments, gelato, and access to air-conditioned restrooms. Booth sitting and water delivery ensure a seamless experience.
Artist Reception: Network with fellow artists, donors, jurors, and collectors at an exclusive reception catered by The Moveable Feast.
Convenient Housing and Parking: Access the artist housing referral program, discounted hotel rates, and easy parking near your booth.
University of Michigan
Lila Hudgins paints from her most vivid experiences, particularly related to live music, as well as life and culture in Panama, where she was raised. She experiments with paint texture, stitching and assemblage, and abstract figuration. Lila maintains her signature vibrancy throughout her body of work, relying on her use of color to insert emotion and excitement into her paintings.
Oliver St Cyr
University of Michigan Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design
I consider myself a philosopher first. As a philosopher attempts to understand the world around him, I use art to seek understanding. My work is often strange, inspired by biology, ecology, literature, psychology, history, religion, or another academic subject. It is sometimes ugly, and sometimes beautiful but almost always thought-provoking.
Zachary Raska
Oakland Community College
I create one-of-a-kind functional ceramics that blend visual appeal with everyday utility. My work explores form and glaze within the constraints of functionality, offering pieces that invite interaction and enrich daily rituals.
Corinne MacInnes
Cranbrook Academy of Art
Corinne Elizabeth MacInnes is a ceramic artist based in Detroit, MI. She is currently completing an MFA at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, MI. Her work is a study of memory and material with attention to repetition and interruption found within the physical history of substances as well as the patterns that occur within our own memories.
Kayla Turner
University of Michigan (College of LSA)
At the center of Kayla’s work is the idea of rest. Regarding art as a contemplative act for both artist and audience, her paintings offer moments of introspection and imagination. Using primarily oil and watercolor her work is rendered in a realistic style with a focus on three-dimensionality and vivid color. She paints with particular attention to light as it appears in the natural world.
University of Michigan Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design
University of Michigan Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design
University of Michigan Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
Michigan State University
