M&T Bank Clothesline Art Festival

September 6 & 7, 2025 | 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Special MAG Member shopping begins at 9:30 on both days

• Tickets
• Artists
• General Information
• MVP Family Fun Zone
• Food
• Music
• Membership

The M&T Bank Clothesline Art Festival has been MAG’s largest annual fundraiser and biggest celebration of the arts for almost 70 years. Over 300 artists from across the country offer their work for purchase at this juried, two-day festival that takes place on the beautiful grounds of the Memorial Art Gallery. Clothesline is also the place to experience all-day live entertainment, sample food from some of Rochester’s favorite food trucks and vendors, enjoy free family art activities, and visit the museum.

Your indoor experience just got better! In addition to exploring the galleries, including the 69th Rochester-Finger Lakes Exhibition, browse even more artist booths and local food vendors, available in both the Vanden Brul Pavilion and the M&T Bank Ballroom.

Order your M&T Bank Clothesline Art Festival tee ahead of time in our new online store!

Tickets

Artists

We’re still accepting artist applications for the 2025 M&T Bank Clothesline Art Festival! NEW opportunities for artists in 2025 include indoor booth spaces, and the $5,000 Luvon Sheppard Award for Creative Excellence. Artists at all career stages are encouraged to apply!

General Information

We want to offer a great Clothesline experience for all while making safety a primary consideration. In addition to our museum guidelines for visiting the art inside, here is some additional information:

• Service Animals are always welcome. Emotional support animals and pets will not be allowed
• Bicycles must be parked at the designated bike parking areas at both admission gates
• Sample Soap donation bins are located at both admission gates
• No skates or skateboards
• Political or religious preaching or campaigning is prohibited

Parking is free at Gleason Works’ south parking lot on University Avenue, and we offer a free shuttle to and from MAG. The shuttle service runs from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm on both days. Parking with shuttle service is also available at East End Garage, but there is a fee. Both shuttle routes have two buses, one of which is wheelchair-accessible.

Headquarters is your place for directions, get help with the website, and festival information. It is located near the Sculpture Park across from Cutler Union, and is marked on our festival map.

There are tables for dining and relaxing located by the blue awning door on the back of the museum and at the stage entertainment area. In addition, there are tables in the B&L Parlor in Cutler Union if you need some quiet or to get out of the weather.

MVP Family Fun Zone

The general public, as well as festival ticket holders, are invited to join the Creative Workshop team for FREE hands-on arts & crafts, games, and sensory experiences. Activities will include a collaborative pennant banner, kids’ make-your-own crown, bracelet making, and card making. The free MVP Family Fun Zone will offer a quiet space for families, including an area for diaper changing, nursing, and shared play area.

Food

• Agatina’s
• Big Papa Tacos
• Eat Greek
• Effortlessly Healthy
• Falangas Gourmet Cotton Candy*
• Frios Pops Rochester
• KO-BQ
• Macarollin
• Melt Food Truck
• Rob’s Kabobs
• Roc Dilla Quesadillas
• Rochester Kettle Corn
• Vasko’s on Wheels
• Wraps on Wheels

*Vendors located inside

Music

Introducing the Luvon Sheppard Award for Creative Excellence

New this year, the Luvon Sheppard Award for Creative Excellence celebrates artists and makers across all media from Rochester, the Finger Lakes, and Western/Central New York. Sponsored by Joy Gallery and Studio and local arts supporter Richard A. Glaser, this $5,000 award honors Sheppard’s lasting impact on the region’s creative community. 

For over five decades, Sheppard has inspired and mentored young artists, leaving an indelible mark on MAG’s history by founding the Allofus workshop,  a satellite community center that operated from 1972 to the late ’70s. He continues to nurture local talent through his work at RIT’s College of Art and Design and Joy Gallery and Studio. This award reflects his enduring legacy of creativity, mentorship, and community empowerment. Sheppard teaches at the College of Art and Design at RIT and supports local artists at Joy Gallery and Studio. The $5,000 Luvon Sheppard Award for Creative Excellence honors the artist’s legacy in the creative community in Rochester and beyond.

Save $15 on MAG Membership

Special MAG Membership pricing will be available online from September 1 through September 7. A $15 discount will also be available in person during the M&T Bank Clothesline Art Festival beginning at 9:30 am on Saturday, September 6, and ending at 5:00 pm on Sunday, September 7. This year, memberships may be purchased at the festival gates on Goodman and Prince Streets at the designated membership tables.

Individual Plus, Individual + Guest Plus, Student, and Out-of-Town memberships are not eligible for this promotion. UR Employee memberships are 50% off for Individual and Family memberships—year-round!

Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor

Contributing Sponsors

Richard Glaser

Fellow Sponsor

Luvon Sheppard

Media Sponsors