WashtenawNon-Profits

Policies & Rules

The rules every booth agrees to.

These nineteen policies govern nonprofit participation at the 2026 Ann Arbor Art Fair. Each organization designates one accountable person who knows and follows them. When in doubt, ask us before the fair.

Single booth
6 ft × 6 ft space
$200
Double booth
10 ft × 10 ft space
$300
Participation deposit
Fully refundable
$100
  1. 1

    Non-profit status required

    Only legitimate non-profit organizations may participate. Applicants must provide federal IRS identification — 501(c)(3) or 527 — or meet non-profit revenue thresholds. Organizations must operate an office within Washtenaw County, satisfying at least four of seven criteria: regular published meetings, a local mailing address, a phone bill in the organization's name, a local bank account, commercial office space, IRS/state documents showing a county address, or 50%+ local membership.

  2. 2

    Donations & items

    Organizations may solicit donations exclusively for their own cause. Promotional items such as buttons or posters are permitted if they feature the organization's name, logo, or mission-related content and remain predominantly noncommercial in nature and content. The phrase "Ann Arbor Art Fair(s)" may not appear on any distributed materials.

  3. 3

    Raffles & prohibited items

    Raffles must comply with the government regulations that govern them, and the organization assumes full responsibility. Food, drinks (except sealed bottled water and factory-wrapped candy), alcohol, and drugs are prohibited at booths.

  4. 4

    Space allocation & boundaries

    Participants receive a standard 6×6 ft space (maximum 10 ft height) or a limited 10×10 ft space. All materials used to construct or connect the booth must be participant-provided. Displays may not extend beyond designated boundaries, and the extension between sidewalk and booth must be kept clear of materials and bodies per the fire marshal.

  5. 5

    Fire-retarding materials

    All booth construction materials must comply with NFPA 701 fire-retarding standards. Participants should consult their local fire marshal for clarification, and may review the WNP Fire Rules document for specifics.

  6. 6

    Set-up & breakdown schedule

    Construction must be complete by midnight before opening, with booths ready by the 10:00 a.m. opening. Breakdown happens immediately after the 8:00 p.m. Saturday closing, with complete removal by 9:00 p.m. Items remaining at 9:30 p.m. face security-deposit penalties.

  7. 7

    Parking & vehicles

    There is no dedicated parking for non-profit participants. Vehicles must leave Liberty Street by 8:00 a.m. daily and may not return until 15 minutes after closing. Set-up and breakdown vehicles enter via Fifth Street and exit on Division Street, displaying the required passes.

  8. 8

    Designated accountable person

    Each organization designates one responsible person who knows all regulations and ensures compliance. Rule violations incur $25 deductions from the $100 participation fee. A third violation can result in being banned from future fairs.

  9. 9

    Booth attendance

    Booths must remain staffed throughout all fair hours. Unattended booths face penalties or disqualification, and waiting participants may be allowed to fill a vacant booth.

  10. 10

    Shared booths

    Up to three registered nonprofits may share one 6×6 booth (10×10 booths cannot be shared). Each organization applies and is approved individually — there are no joint applications — and WNP links the group after approval. The booth fee is split evenly among the sharing organizations, and each pays its own refundable $100 security deposit. A sharing organization may not also hold its own booth that year. Material changes to the arrangement during fair hours incur penalties and security-deposit deductions.

  11. 11

    Insurance

    Organizations provide their own insurance for their materials if desired.

  12. 12

    Sales tax

    Participants collect their own sales tax. Tax-exempt numbers must be available for state inspection during the fair.

  13. 13

    Booth fees

    Booth fees are $200 for a 6×6 space or $300 for a 10×10 space, due after the application is approved. A refundable $100 participation fee also applies.

  14. 14

    Participation-fee refund conditions

    A full refund requires attending the mandatory meeting two weeks before the fair, providing volunteers for assigned trash, recycling, or parking duties, cleaning your booth space at closing, and staffing your booth all fair hours.

  15. 15

    No subletting

    Organizations may not sublet or assign their space to any other entity.

  16. 16

    Liability disclaimer

    Washtenaw Non-Profits, the City of Ann Arbor, The State Street Art Fair, The Michigan Guild of Artists and Artisans, the Summer Art Fair, and the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair disclaim any responsibility or liability for damages or theft. Organizations must secure their materials nightly.

  17. 17

    Violation consequences

    Rule violations can result in forfeiture of application and participation fees, loss of the security deposit, and exclusion from future fairs.

  18. 18

    Withdrawal deadline

    July 1, 2026 is the final withdrawal date that allows full reimbursement without penalty.

  19. 19

    Governance

    Washtenaw Non-Profits operates as a confederation using simple-majority decision-making. Annual winter meetings elect two spokespersons and a steering committee empowered to propose provisional rule amendments, subject to membership approval. All meetings follow open-meeting provisions.

WNP Fire Rules Document

NFPA 701 details and Fire Marshal stipulations.

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