Highland Park, IL – The award-winning art festival production company, Amdur Productions, is pleased to announce that their 2021 art festival season is on! Founded by Amy Amdur more than 35 years ago, and known nation-wide for producing many of the Midwest’s most respected and popular juried art festivals, Amdur Productions will be hosting 21 shows in 2021, from May through September.
“This is very exciting news, not only for me and my team, but for our artists who have been eagerly anticipating the return of our outdoor art shows,” said Amdur. “We were fortunate to produce a handful of smaller art walks last summer with COVID safety measures in place, which were quite successful, but they weren’t the full-scale productions that our artists and the public have come to know and love,” she added. “On the positive side, we learned a lot about how to safely host and produce outdoor art fests, and we will continue with these practices this summer.”
In addition to requiring mask wearing at the shows, having plenty of hand sanitizer stations throughout the fests, reminding attendees of social distancing, and increasing the space between artist booths, Amdur will also be asking guests to enter the booths one family or friend group at a time. In addition, they will be using the online reservation system, Eventbrite.com, so the public can schedule a specific entry time for the festivals they wish to attend. “This worked out very well during the art walks last summer,” said Amdur. “Our artists and the festival guests were appreciative of this added safety measure to reduce larger crowds at any given time.”
As in the past, the Amdur art shows will feature juried artists from all over the country, showcasing work in a variety of mediums and price points including painting, 3D art pieces, photography, ceramics, glass, jewelry, wood, sculpture, metal, leather, and more. Some artists will be demonstrating their work during the show, and all are looking forward to sharing their stories with the public. “Our artists love interacting with our guests, talking about their experiences, and what inspired their pieces,” said Amdur. “They are excited to do it again!”
The 2021 festival season will focus entirely on art. Festival extras such as live music, food stations, and kids’ art activities are going to be put on hold this year, in what Amdur describes as a “bridge year” before things return to normal. As most of Amdur’s shows take place in downtown areas, food and beverage choices will be available at the local restaurants and cafes.
New this year is Amdur Productions’ partnership with the Chicago Furniture Bank, a non-profit organization that furnishes housing for those who have been homeless. The public is invited to bring their gently used art to the fest for donation to the Chicago Furniture Bank. “They’re truly making a difference by distributing furnishings to those leaving shelters and moving into permanent housing,” said Amdur. “Art donations from our festival guests will help turn empty spaces into cozy homes.” Donations will be accepted at the Chicago Furniture Bank booth on Saturdays from 10 am to 3 pm at most festivals.
While many are ready to get outside and experience the art fests in person, Amdur realizes that some people may prefer to see the art from their homes this summer. With this in mind, a new “Shop Now” feature can be found on the Amdur Productions website (www.AmdurProductions.com). This option allows people to browse and buy online from the festival artists at their convenience.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be back,” said Amdur. “The positive response from artists, and the public, has been incredible, and we are ready for our 2021 season!” For more information and a listing of festivals, please visit www.AmdurProductions.com.
About Amdur Productions:
For more than 35 years, the Highland Park, Illinois-based Amdur Productions, a nationally acclaimed arts festival production company, has organized and directed many of the country’s most prestigious juried art festivals. Shows produced by Amdur include many in the Chicago area, such as the Gold Coast Art Fair, the Port Clinton Art Festival, Millennium Art Festival, Artfest Michigan Avenue, Chicago Botanic Garden Art Festival, and in Milwaukee, the Third Ward Art Festival. Many Amdur Productions’ events are rated in Sunshine Artist Magazine’s “Top 100 Best Fine Art & Design Shows” and Art Fair Calendar’s “Best Art Fairs.”
Amdur Productions’ 2021 Season at a Glance:
Spring BAYSHORE Art & Artisan Fair: Glendale, Wisconsin
Saturday and Sunday, May 15 and 16
10 am to 5 pm on Saturday – 11 am to 5 pm on Sunday
https://amdurproductions.com/event/2021-spring-bayshore-art-and-artisan-fair/
Northbrook Art in the Park: Northbrook, Illinois
Saturday and Sunday, May 22 and 23
Hours both days: 10 am to 5 pm
https://amdurproductions.com/event/2021-northbrook-art-in-the-park/
Barrington Art Festival: Barrington, Illinois
Saturday and Sunday, May 29 and 30
Hours both days: 10 am to 5 pm
https://amdurproductions.com/event/2021-northbrook-art-in-the-park/
Lincolnshire Art Festival: Lincolnshire, Illinois
Saturday and Sunday, June 5 and 6
Hours both days: 10 am to 5 pm
https://amdurproductions.com/event/2021-lincolnshire-art-festival/
Wheaton Art Walk: Wheaton, Illinois
Saturday and Sunday, June 12 and 13
Hours both days: 10 am to 5 pm
https://amdurproductions.com/event/2021-lincolnshire-art-festival/
Burr Ridge Art Fest: Burr Ridge, Illinois
Saturday and Sunday, June 19 and 20
Hours both days: 10 am to 5 pm
https://amdurproductions.com/event/2021-burr-ridge-art-fair/
Valparaiso Art Festival: Valparaiso, Indiana
Saturday and Sunday, June 26 and 27
Hours both days: 10 am to 5 pm
https://amdurproductions.com/event/2021-valparaiso-art-festival/
Deer Park Art Show: Deer Park, Illinois
Saturday and Sunday, June 26 and 27
10 am to 5 pm Saturday – 11 am to 5 pm Sunday
https://amdurproductions.com/event/2021-deer-park-art-show/
Whitefish Bay Art Fest: Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin
Saturday and Sunday, July 10 and 11
Hours both days: 10 am to 5 pm
https://amdurproductions.com/event/2021-deer-park-art-show/
Millennium Art Festival: Chicago, Illinois
Three Day Show
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 16, 17 and 18
11 am to 6 pm Friday, 10 am to 6 pm Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm Sunday
https://amdurproductions.com/event/2021-millennium-art-festival/
Glencoe Festival of Art: Glencoe, Illinois
Saturday and Sunday, July 24 and 25
Hours both days: 10 am to 5pm
https://amdurproductions.com/event/2021-glencoe-festival-of-art/
Art at the Glen: Glenview, Illinois
Saturday and Sunday, July 31 and August
Hours both days: 10 am to 5 pm
https://amdurproductions.com/event/2021-art-at-the-glen/
Printer’s Row Art Fest: Chicago, Illinois
Saturday and Sunday, August 7 and 8
Hours both days: 10 am to 5 pm
https://amdurproductions.com/event/2021-printers-row-art-fest/
Evanston Art Fest: Evanston, Illinois
Three Day Show
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 13, 14 and 15
12 pm to 5 pm Friday, 10 am to 5 pm Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm Sunday
https://amdurproductions.com/event/2021-evanston-art-big-fork-festival/
Gold Coast Art Fair: Chicago, Illinois
Friday and Saturday, August 21 and 22
Hours both days: 10 am to 6 pm
https://amdurproductions.com/event/2021-gold-coast-art-fair/
Port Clinton Art Festival: Highland Park, Illinois
Saturday and Sunday, August 28 and 29
Hours both days: 10 am to 6 pm
https://amdurproductions.com/event/2021-port-clinton-art-festival/
Third Ward Art Festival: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Saturday and Sunday, September 4 and 5
Hours both days: 10 am to 5 pm
https://amdurproductions.com/event/2021-third-ward-art-festival/
Oakbrook Art Festival: Oak Brook, Illinois
Saturday and Sunday, September 11 and 12
10 am to 6 pm Saturday – 11 am to 6 pm Sunday
https://amdurproductions.com/event/2021-oakbrook-art-festival/
Art on the Fox: Algonquin, Illinois
Saturday and Sunday, September 11 and 12
Hours both days: 10 am to 5 pm
https://amdurproductions.com/event/2021-art-on-the-fox-algonquin/
Artfest Michigan Avenue: Chicago, Illinois
Saturday and Sunday, September 18 and 19
Hours both days: 10 am to 5 pm
https://amdurproductions.com/event/2021-artfest-michigan-avenue/
Fall BAYSHORE Art & Artisan Fair: Glendale, Wisconsin
Saturday and Sunday, September 25 and 25
10 am to 5 pm Saturday – 11 am to 5 pm Sunday
https://amdurproductions.com/event/2021-bayshore-art-and-artisan-fair/