Sparta Art Walk Program Is Back for 2025

The Sparta Art Walk program, hosted by the West Michigan Arts Council (WMAC) and sponsored by the Sparta Chamber of Commerce, will begin on September 1^st and continue through October 31st. This art program, launched last year, features original art from local Michigan artists placed inside Sparta businesses throughout the downtown Sparta area. Each Sparta venue with a work of art displayed inside will be featured on a map provided free to Sparta visitors.

This program was very successful last year in bringing visitors into local businesses to view local artists’ work increasing interest and sales for those businesses. WMAC Executive Director Linda Humbert said, “With so many tremendously talented local artists in the west Michigan area, this program is another way to show their work in local communities, build interest in these artists and increase traffic and sales for local businesses.”

For 2025, the program is still being concentrated in the downtown Sparta area surrounding Sparta’s Social District but is also beginning to expand to businesses just outside this boundary. Each participating business will receive a sign to place in view of passers-by to encourage foot traffic to stop in, view the art and potentially make purchases while at that business.

Participating artists work with the West Michigan Arts Council, which is collecting the works for display and maintaining replacement pieces if the original selection sells during the program period. All unsold art after the program ends on October 31 will be returned to the artists. Many of these artists have provided images of their work in the highly successful calendars produced by the arts council during the past few years.

There is no charge to local businesses to display a work of art and Sparta vendors are encouraged to select and maintain a location inside their business to display the art while encouraging shoppers and art lovers to spend time in the businesses.

More information about this annual Sparta Art Walk program is available on the West Michigan Arts Council website: wmartsc.org.