Agora Art Fair

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courtesy Agora Art Fair

A group of children at a past Agora Art Fair.

A group of children at a past Agora Art Fair.

The Agora art fair attracts great artists and craftspeople, and it’s big — more than 100 booths with paintings, woodworks, jewelry, fiber arts, pottery and lots more — including upcycled sculptures made from rusty metal parts, and intricate fish mobiles in styles from shark to sturgeon. The rest of the marketplace is loaded with food options from local restaurants, a beer tent sponsored by Hop Haus, bands, and the kite show Art in the Wind.

media release: More than 100 Wisconsin artists will gather for the 16^th Annual Agora Art Fair on Saturday, August 17 amid the architecture and natural prairie landscape of Agora Center in Fitchburg, WI. The event will include local and regional artists from every medium including painting, ceramics, jewelry, photography, glass, metals, woodwork, mixed media, fiber, and sculpture. Featured artists include Steven Wagner, Will Schueler, Jon Walton, Kerri Shannon and many other familiar names.

The Agora Art Fair runs 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., is free to attend, open to the public and takes place rain or shine.  Plenty of free parking will be available. Volunteer opportunities are available as well. The Agora is located two miles south of Highway 12/18 (Beltline) off Fish Hatchery Road at 5500 E Cheryl Pkwy, Fitchburg, WI.

Madison Public Art Project for ALL– The MPAP’s exciting free public art exhibitions strengthen and educate communities while supporting social justice and fostering local arts and culture. Their art installations inspire civic participation and encourage artistic imagination.  Their booth will have a gorgeous tapestry that our crochet artist made which features the flowers that will be in the mural installation showcased at the Fair.​ They will have art activities to match both of our goals. At our three art stations you will be able to create a project that highlights sustainability.

MMoCA Art Cart for KIDS is coming to the Agora Art Fair in 2024! Children ages three and above are invited to drop in with an adult for an awesome array of art-making activities. Everyone is invited to participate in activities which bring expert instruction and a relaxed attitude to art projects tailored for children. Organized by the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Art Cart for KIDS travels to communities surrounding Madison, providing materials, instruction, and project ideas for children to create custom artwork to take home.

Cycropia Aerial Dance - Fostering artistic expression and creative movement through aerial dance, education, and performance, and is returning in 2024. This Madison based aerial dance troupe combines modern dance and athleticism with their use of single-point trapeze, bungee, lyra, aerial fabric, and custom steel apparatus. Find them performing under the Agora Pavilion from 1:30-2:00 pm and walking throughout the festival beginning at 11:30am.

Art, entertainment and more

Besides the art, other activities include live music on two stages, a Wisconsin Craft Brew & Wine Garden, a Children’s Art Yard, local food and beverage choices, and retailer specials.

• Live music lineup: The Madison Flute Club (9:30 a.m.), playing under the Agora Pavilion, will be opening the fair in the morning. Red Hot Horn Dawgs (10:00 a.m.), and Frank Busch & the Names (2:00 p.m.), will be playing on the Main Stage. Slipjig (10:30 a.m.), and the CT & the Breeze Duo (2:00 p.m.), perform on the Art Stage.
• Local restaurants: Expanded and diverse food offerings including vegan and gluten free options: Chippy’s Kettle Corn, Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream, Curd Girl, The Good Bowl, Jakarta Café, Kona Ice of Madison, Pancho’s Tacos, RMN Mini Donuts, Rolling Pin Bake Shop, Soho Gourmet Cuisine and Travelin Toms Coffee.
• Wisconsin Craft Brewery Beer Garden: Wisconsin brews and wines will be flowing next to the stage with live music all day. Operated by the Fitchburg Chamber Business and Visitors Bureau offering selections from Hop Haus Brewing Company. Table seating will also be available in this area.
• Art in the Wind: Returning by popular demand, kite enthusiasts will color the sky over the Agora prairie. Some of these kiters build their own masterpieces and travel the world with their creations.

Sponsors: The 16th Annual Agora Art Fair is sponsored by Promega Corporation, Hop Haus Brewing, Minuteman Press, Connect Fitchburg, BMO Harris Bank, Madison Locally Sourced, Fitchburg Chamber Visitor and Business Bureau, Magic 98, and Agora Retailers.