May 29, 2021

Summit Art’s Board of Directors announced that the Summit Art Festival, held annually during the second weekend of October on the streets of downtown Lee’s Summit, has been cancelled for 2021, due to continued circumstances related to the ongoing pandemic.

“This was an incredibly painful decision, made for the second year in a row, for our organization. Our members and volunteers have worked tirelessly since 2007 to grow this high-quality, fine art event to a nationally-recognized level, attracting artists from all across the country, and over 20,000 patrons throughout the three-day weekend,” stated Jody Fristoe, Summit Art Director.

Summit Art began hosting its annual signature event as the Longview Art & World Music Festival in 2007 in the New Longview area of Lee’s Summit. In 2013, the weekend event moved to downtown Lee’s Summit and was renamed the Summit Art Festival, and grew to cover three city blocks, with 100 artist booths, a Student Art Pavilion, food trucks, live musical performances and the StuckOnArt live competition for students.

Teddy Jackson, Summit Art Board Director, Past Chair, Juried Artist Member and Signature Member of the Missouri Valley Impressionist Society, said, “Postponing this event affords us time to plan an even more exciting and extraordinary art fair for next year!” Summit Art will continue to explore creative options that support visual art and artists, and remains committed to providing exceptional art experiences for the community.

The Summit Art Festival provides necessary funding for all other programs that Summit Art offers to the local community such as workshops, art education, and scholarships to area high school students pursuing degrees in art-related fields. Summit Art encourages art lovers everywhere to support local visual art and artists, and to consider making a tax-deductible gift to Summit Art. This can be done on their website at summitart.org.

Share