The following are the guidelines for participation in the Arts and Eats Rural Backroads Tour. Participants must meet the criteria stated below and return their completed application and payment by 5 pm on the posted deadline.

Participant Partner Guidelines: Tour sites must be within the designated areas of Allegan, Barry, Calhoun, Kalamazoo, and Van Buren Counties. Artist and farm sites agree to be open 10:00-5:00 on October 16 and 17, 2021.

For artists: All work must be original and handcrafted. No pieces created from commercial kits, stencils, molds, patterns, or prefabricated forms are acceptable. Participating galleries must represent a significant number of locally-based artists from within the tour region.

For farms: Specialty crop farms must be growing food for sale to local markets OR selling a product made on their farm using local materials. Farms featuring heritage animals are also considered for tour sites.  Michigan-made, value-added agricultural products may be considered for sale at central sites.

For restaurants: Participating restaurants must feature and identify entrée(s) created from Michigan agricultural products.

Participation Fee:
Returning participants: $70
New participants: $85
Hosted artists: $30*

If applicants are not accepted to Arts and Eats, the participation fee will be refunded. No refunds will be given if an applicant is selected as a participant and later withdraws.

*Note: Hosted artists pay a significantly reduced fee for a smaller space in the Map/Guide. This space does not include a photo of their work. Beginning this year, hosted artists can elect to pay an additional $25 fee to have a photo of their work included in the Map/Guide.

Tour Promotion: Each site/participant is expected to promote the Arts and Eats tour through its networks independently of the general Tour promotions. Each participant will be provided with copies of the Map and Guide for distribution. Participants agree to provide the Arts and Eats Committee with information and photographs/video for the website, Map and Guide, and other promotions/promotional activities.

Signage: Each site will prominently display Arts and Eats signs during the tour days to help direct visitors to the site. New artists will be provided with one large sign and two directional signs.

Map and Guide: The Map and Guide gives visitors information about tour locations and serves as a reference after the Tour. The map is given out during the year to visitors through Arts Councils, Chambers of Commerce, and other partners. Participant Partners are responsible for distribution of the Maps they are given for the greatest promotional impact.

Other promotion: Arts and Eats promotion is year round. Participants may send business updates and special event info to the marketing coordinator, who will post throughout the year.