Art at the Park began in 1960. The Appleton Artists Guild, now the Trout Museum of Art, set out to show the community the quality of art that’s available to them right here in Wisconsin. Those first years, the festival drew around 15 local artists and about 200 attendees.

Today, Art at the Park is the Fox Cities’ largest arts festival with over 200 artists, 20,000 attendees, and over one million dollars in community impact.

In 2021, Art at the Park kicked off our first year as a TWO-day festival instead of just one. Now travelers can find an entire weekend of art in Appleton.

On top of artists, we highlight Mile of Music performers both days on the soundstage, nearly 20 food trucks and vendors, three local breweries, and many youth and family art activities spread throughout the Park.

Returning July 22 & 23, 2023 for our 63rd year, Art at the Park will be a must-see. Thousands of people converge on downtown Appleton stretching throughout City Park and the surrounding streets. Filled with fascinating sights and sounds as more than 200 fine artists, musicians, art projects, and food vendors take part in the two-day celebration.

The heart and soul of our festival has always been the world class art. Of the over 400 applicants, we choose between 180-200 through a jury process to join us in July. Thousands of dollars in art is sold during the festival with prices ranging from low to high for quality reproductions to limited editions or one-of-a-kind treasures.

One of the most important elements of the festival’s success has been the strong show of support from the community, volunteers, and sponsors. Trout Museum of Art staff and Art at the Park committee work year-round to ensure the smooth running of the festival. Corporations, area businesses, and local residents give resources and time during the festival, providing much-needed support and volunteers to help out during the two-day operation. Because Art at the Park is free to the community, it further relies on the generous contributions by sponsors and supporters.

In the 1960s a group or artists set out to find a place to display their work and learn from other artists. It was then that the Trout Museum of Art began, though at that time we were called the Appleton Artists Guild. The mission of the Trout Museum of Art is to inspire and connect all people through creative experiences and the visual arts.

Set in the thriving Fox Cities community for over 60 years, we continue to be all about art! Our three floors of galleries host 12-18 exhibitions a year, sharing work from local, national, and international artists. We offer hundreds of classes and camps throughout the year, free educational programming to those who need art to heal and feel inspired, and community events like TMA’s 63-year Art at the Park festival, exhibit celebrations, and community art projects. Everything we do and the choices we make are guided by our mission, vision, and values.