Vote for your favorite movies!

Will it be Dirty Dancing, Forrest Gump or Ghostbusters? You decide with Pick-a-Flick!

Now through March 1, the festival is asking the community to choose the movies that will be screened at Top of the Park this summer. Participants can select their favorites films within different genres, as well as write one in for the Wild Card choice. The ballot includes titles ranging from classics and cult favorites to more recent blockbusters. Vote as many times as you want, and encourage your friends to do the same. The winning line-up will be revealed later this spring when the full Top of the Park schedule is announced.

As an added perk, voters can enter a sweepstakes to win a $100 gift certificate towards tickets to the 2012 Ann Arbor Summer Festival. Plus, five lucky runners-up will receive Top of the Park goodie bags full of coupons for FREE popcorn and other movie treats from the festival.

So click the button below and tell us if it shoud be Stallone, Streisand or Stuart Little… or your personal favorite.

Help us grow and thrive

The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is one of Ann Arbor’s greatest treasures, brought to you by the generosity of the entire community. We owe our continuing success to the many individuals, businesses, and partner organizations that support our mission.

As an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, the average cost of producing the Ann Arbor Summer Festival each year is $1.4 million. Earned revenue from ticket and beverage sales covers only 60 percent of total expense; support from corporate sponsors, foundations, government agencies, and individual donors makes up the balance.

Whether you have donated before, volunteered your time, attended an indoor performance, or enjoyed Top of the Park, you are part of the engine that keeps the festival going. So in the spirit of community that we hold at the center of our mission, we urge you to consider making a contribution to the festival to help us maintain the highest quality programs and preserve this vibrant celebration for future generations.

To learn more about individual and corporate giving, estate planning, endowment, donor recognition, and partnership opportunities, please click here.


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The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is the recipient of the Guidestar Exchange Seal satisfying all the transparency and validation criteria from Guidestar, the online standard for nonprofit accountability.  Click here to review our profile with IRS 990s, audit reports, and evaluations of key programs.

Submissions now closed

The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is no longer accepting performer submissions for the 2012 season. Please check back in September for information to be considered for our 2013 season.

Thanks to the hundreds of artists who submitted to be part of 2012 lineup. We are in the process of making selections for the season and will be in touch with all applicants soon.

If you are a teen musician interested in applying to Rock the Mall, the festival's teen music competition, please see information below.

The festival’s curatorial period occurs from fall through spring. Please see the information below outlining performance opportunities, application process, and selection criteria for the various stages and programs.

MAINSTAGE SERIES (ticketed, indoor performances)
Hill Auditorium, Power Center, and Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre
Artists considered for our ticketed indoor season must be solicited by our programming staff or be represented by a national agent. If an artist is of interest to the festival for this series, the staff will contact that artist’s representatives directly.

TOP OF THE PARK (admission-free, outdoor performances)
Rackham Stage, The Grove Stage, Street Performers and Rock the Mall Teen Music Competition

Top of the Park admission-free outdoor programming is broadly accessible to the general public, and highlights a wide range of local, regional, and national talent. The festival receives hundreds of applications annually from performers who are interested in appearing at Top of the Park.

Each year, both new and returning artists are selected to play the admission-free outdoor event, which averages an attendance of 2,000 per night. Submissions are evaluated based on type of performance, content, quality, diversity, and potential audience appeal. Multi-year submissions are not criteria for inclusion. A curatorial matrix that changes every year guides programming.

In an effort to be more environmentally friendly as well as manage the hundreds of submissions received, the festival no longer accepts any physical (mailed or delivered) press kits, CDs, DVDs, photos, or letters. Physical press kits are not acceptable forms of submission and will not be considered. If these materials are sent, the festival does not return materials as a matter of policy.

All applicants will be notified of their status by or before June 1st. Please do not contact the office to check on the status of your application.

To Apply

Top of the Park artist submissions are accepted September 1st – February 1st for each season. Rock the Mall teen artist submissions are accepted September 1st – April 1st each season.

Interested performers have two methods of application, indicating the opportunity to which they are applying. If an artist is unsure of where they fit in the stage designations, the programming staff will adjust the application as needed.

1. Our preferred method of application is through our online music submission partner Sonicbids, which offers an efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional press kits and full EPK options for artists. Sonicbids applications should be submitted each season for each year's application process (each year is different).

Please note: Choice consideration is given to artists who fully fill out the annual application and submit via Sonicbids, not simply forwarding a page link and not answering submission questions.

2. Electronically submit a complete electronic press kit (EPK) via email which MUST include: band/performer audio clips, web links, contact name, phone number, booking email addresses, physical mailing address, video/youtube links (if available), press info, high resolution images (above 300 dpi), tech riders, current tour dates, and other information on band availability during the dates of the festival. Please send the EPK with all of the above and any other helpful booking details to: arnesbit@umich.edu. Please do not contact the office to check on the status of your application. 

Stage Details

TOP OF THE PARK: Rackham Stage (full ensembles of 3 or more; submissions closed for 2012)
Top of the Park admission-free outdoor programming is broadly accessible to the general public, and highlights a wide range of local, regional, and national talent. The festival receives hundreds of applications annually from performers who are interested in appearing at Top of the Park.

Each year, both new and returning artists are selected to play the admission-free outdoor event, which averages an attendance of 2,000 per night. Submissions are evaluated based on type of performance, content, quality, diversity, and potential audience appeal. Multi-year submissions are not criteria for inclusion. A curatorial matrix that changes every year guides programming.

All genres are accepted including; Acoustic, Adult Contemporary, Alternative, Americana, Avant-garde, Bluegrass, Blues, Celtic, Children's Music, Classic Rock, Comedy, Contemporary Classical, Country, Cover Band, Electronic/Dance/DJ, Folk, Funk, Gospel, Hip-Hop/Rap, Jam Band, Jazz, Latin, Novelty/Variety, Pop, R&B, Reggae, Rock, Ska, Singer/Songwriter, Soul, Standards, Zydeco and World. All performances must be family appropriate (PG-rated).

Full sound, stage, lights, technical staff, merchandise sellers, and festival promotion are provided for band performance sets ranging from 30-120 minutes. Bands on this admission-free stage are paid a modest flat fee.

Please note: Although we consider Top of the Park submissions from national artists who have routing through our area, we are primarily looking to book talent from Southeast Michigan. Please do not contact the office to check on the status of your submission. 

TOP OF THE PARK: The Grove Stage (solo/duo acoustic ensembles and DJs; submissions closed for 2012)
The festival seeks both acoustic performers (solo or duo) and DJs (using digital formats only) for The Grove Stage in the beverage garden. This 21+ area of the admission-free event is a more intimate space for 200+ featuring select performers in a shaded, sociable setting.

Genres of interest for this stage include; Acoustic, Adult Contemporary, Alternative, Americana, Avant-garde, Bluegrass, Blues, Celtic, Classic Rock, Comedy, Contemporary Classical, Country, Cover Band, Electronic/Dance/DJ, Folk, Funk, Gospel, Hip-Hop/Rap, Jam Band, Jazz, Latin, Novelty/Variety, Pop, R&B, Reggae, Rock, Ska, Singer/Songwriter, Soul, Standards, Zydeco and World. All performances must be family appropriate (PG-rated).

Artists on this stage are paid a modest honorarium. Minimal technical production, small audio kit, speakers, audio technician, stage risers and merchandise sellers are provided. Performers are expected to self-promote their own shows.

TOP OF THE PARK: Street Performers (submissions closed for 2012)
The festival accepts submissions from strolling and street performers such as: stilt walkers, jugglers, acrobats, sidewalk chalk artists, unicyclists, clowns, face painters, go-go dancers, hula hoopers, costumed strolling characters, contortionists, tumblers, magicians, balloon artists, storytellers, one-man bands, solo un-amplified musicians, and more. Some restrictions apply, including: no fire or pyrotechnics, no "busking" within one block of event footprint, and all performances must be family appropriate (PG-rated).

Select performers are paid a modest honorarium for their participation and are expected to self-promote their own shows.

TOP OF THE PARK: Rock the Mall Teen Music Competition (submissions open until April 1, 2012)
Rock the Mall is a teen music competition at Top of the Park produced by the Ann Arbor Summer Festival. The program is designed to encourage and support a new generation of musicians by offering young artists an opportunity to perform at the festival as well as educating them about the music business.

The winner of the one-night competition, taking place during the festival and determined by a panel of guest judges along with online votes from community, will receive a comprehensive artist development package with the tools necessary to take their musical aspirations to the next level. This grand prize includes access to and services from Ann Arbor’s leading creative professionals and industry insiders.

Judging criteria includes, but is not limited to: overall talent, entertainment value, stage presence, originality, musical creativity, and crowd response. Online voting will begin the night of show and continue for one week, with the winner being announced at Top of the Park on Sunday, July 8th prior to the final music set of closing night.

GUIDELINES & ELIGIBILITY:

• Amateur teen musicians based in Washtenaw County, Michigan
• All performing participants must be 18 years old or younger
• No fee to register or submit to be considered for the competition
• No financial compensation for performance or winners of the competition
• All genres of music are welcome
• Applicants must have a 15-30-minute performance set of material if selected.
• All performances must be family appropriate (PG-rated) in language and appearance
• Contestants can perform original material or cover songs
• Six to eight groups and one alternate will be chosen from the RTM submissions.
• Artists should expect to share some equipment with other artists (such as drum kit)
• All artists must be available at the site during the entire evening’s event (apx 4-11 pm)
• The competition will take place on one weekday night during the 2012 festival season (date TBA) on the Rackham Stage at Top of the Park.
• Interested teen performers MUST apply through Ann Arbor Summer Festival’s standard artist submission process by submitting an electronic press kit (EPK) for consideration by or before April 1, 2012.
• Applicants will be notified of their status directly by the festival staff, do not contact the office to check on the status of your submission.
• A decision will be made no later than a May 1st as to who will perform in RTM 2012.
• Performers are expected to self-promote their own show.

Throw a party at Top of the Park

The Ann Arbor Summer Festival offers exciting hospitality opportunities if you're looking for a unique venue to host your special event from June 15–July 8, 2012. From employee appreciation nights and business celebrations to birthdays, anniversaries and class reunions, Top of the Park offers an ideal venue to throw your party. Special event locations include two private party tents and the wooded space, known as The Grove.

Reservation requests for the 2012 season will be accepted beginning January 1 for returning groups and February 1 for first-time groups. Reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis. No requests submitted prior to these dates will be honored. Although payment is not due when a reservation is placed, the date must be confirmed with receipt of the rental fee and a signed agreement by April 1 or the reservation will be released. 

We look forward to working with you to create a spectacular and memorable occasion.

Join our dynamic team

We appreciate your interest in the festival as a potential employer. The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is committed to building an inclusive work environment that is as stimulating, inspiring, and diverse as the many artists and programs we present. 

Current openings include:

Festival Internships

The festival seeks motivated, enthusiastic candidates for production internships. These are year-round, unpaid opportunities that allow candidates to get practical, hands-on knowledge in arts and entertainment and the production world. Hours are flexible and adaptable.

Internships are shaped to work with the mutual benefits of matching the festival’s needs with the candidate’s areas of interest. Select candidates can apply internship work towards select accredited college programs (as available). A successful candidate will be responsible for numerous production activities and participate in the dynamic environment of festival production.

Candidates should have an interest in event production, the arts and nonprofit organizations. Candidates must have exceptional communication skills and be able to work independently as well as with a team. Positive, productive and self-motivated individuals will fit successfully within our team.

Please submit cover letter with resume, weekly hours available, ideal areas of focus, and internship duration sought to Amy Nesbitt at arnesbit@umich.edu.

Candidates are asked not to request submission status updates.

Resumes are kept on file for future consideration.

If your qualifications match current openings, you will be contacted directly. Thank you.
 

The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate against employees or applicants on the basis of any characteristic protected by law, such as race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, height, weight, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, or disability as defined by law.

Let's get social

What's your festival experience? Get social and share it online.

Why not join our Facebook group and post a comment on our wall, check out artist YouTube videos, follow festival tweets, or share your thoughts on our MySpace page.

Be a part of the festival's online community at these popular social media sites: