Celebrate the Start of Summer at the Milwaukee Art Museum’s Lakefront Festival of Art

MILWAUKEE, WI—April 25, 2024—Lakefront Festival of Art returns to the Milwaukee Art Museum’s campus this summer, June 14–16, as the destination to enjoy, experience, and acquire art; listen to live music; and engage in art activities. Named one of the top art festivals nationwide, the three-day event showcases 120 jury-selected artists from across the country.

“Lakefront Festival of Art brings an amazing vibrancy to the Museum’s grounds,” said Scott Schwebel, Chief Experience Officer at the Milwaukee Art Museum. “It’s a must-experience festival that kicks off the summer season along the lake in downtown Milwaukee.”

For nearly six decades, Lakefront Festival of Art has welcomed festivalgoers of all ages to the Museum’s picturesque lakeside lawns to mingle and connect with artists—both new-comers and returning fan-favorites—and shop bespoke works of art from ceramics to paintings to jewelry and more. This year, after its triumphant return in 2023, the outdoor festival—curated by a jury of experts—will spotlight 120 artists from across the United States. Along with eye-catching art and views of downtown Milwaukee, the Museum’s architecture, and the lake, festivalgoers will enjoy food and beverages from local vendors, hands-on art projects and drop-in tours, and live music.

“Friends of Art is delighted to welcome artists and art enthusiasts from all over to this annual, renowned festival,” said Will Belke, President of Friends of Art. “We look forward to another fun and lively weekend on the Museum’s lakefront campus, engaging with festivalgoers at artist booths, beer and wine gardens, and art-making activations.”

Founded in 1963, the festival is the largest fundraiser organized by Friends of Art, the Milwaukee Art Museum’s longest-running volunteer support group. Through the fundraising efforts of its 400+ annual volunteers, Friends of Art has supported exhibitions, such as Idris Khan: Repeat After Me, and acquisitions, including Carousel Merge 2 (1971) by Sam Gilliam, Right After (1969) by Eva Hesse, Edge of England (1999) by Cornelia Parker, and Chocorua III (1966) by Frank Stella. To see these and other artworks acquired with support from Friends of Art, join a Museum docent for a drop-in tour at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 15, and Sunday, June 16.

In addition to the festivities outside, festival tickets include access to the Museum. While inside, festivalgoers are encouraged to explore the Museum’s collection galleries and the exhibitions Idris Khan: Repeat After Me, Arresting Beauty: Julia Margaret Cameron, and 50 Paintings.

For more information about Lakefront Festival of Art, visit mam.org/lfoa.

LFOA Hours

Friday, June 14, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
Saturday, June 15, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
Sunday, June 16, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Members at the Art Advocate ($250) level and above enjoy free festival admission and a complimentary beverage when they visit between 10 a.m. and noon on Friday, June 14.

LFOA Admissions
Tickets are available for purchase online in advance or at the gate. Advance ticket sales close at 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 13.

• $27 for general admission ($22 online in advance)
• $10 for Members (free for Member kids under 18)
• $20 for seniors (65+) and students
• $45 for 3-day pass ($40 online in advance)
• Free for kids 12 and under
• Free for military, veterans, Wisconsin K–12 teachers

Receive free Lakefront Festival of Art admission when you join or renew your Museum membership at the entrance gate. Join or renew at the Family/Dual ($115) level and above and receive two drink vouchers.

Sponsors

Leadership Sponsor
The Couture

Contributing Sponsors
Beer Capitol
PNC
Morgan Stanley

Media Sponsors
MKE Lifestyle Magazine
Radio Milwaukee

About the Milwaukee Art Museum

The Milwaukee Art Museum is an essential destination for art and architecture and a vital cultural resource that connects visitors to dynamic art experiences and one another. Housed in iconic buildings by Santiago Calatrava, Eero Saarinen, and David Kahler on a 24-acre lakefront campus, the Museum is Wisconsin’s largest art institution and home to both broad and deep collections, with exceptional holdings in American painting, sculpture, and decorative arts; conceptual and minimalist art; prints and drawings; European art from the Renaissance through the nineteenth century; photography and new media; modern and contemporary design; folk and self-taught art; and twentieth-century Haitian art. A bold symbol of Milwaukee’s ambition and forward-thinking vision, the Museum is a place for community building, education, and celebration that fosters creativity and critical discourse for audiences of all ages and backgrounds. For more information, visit mam.org.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.