Here comes the MdW 2026 Summit!

This June, we hope to explore questions like: What is an artist organizer? In which ways can we explain, record, and share our practices? How do we build networks of support?  

We’re gathering 300 artist organizers from over 150 platforms and projects to build camaraderie, spark new collaborations, and make lasting friends. Each day we will explore the Detroit Arts ecosystem through tours and workshops from local artists. We’ll sit in conversation with presenters from across the Midwest with our new attendee-led programming. 

The gathering will shapeshift between a “professional” conference, region-wide exhibition, artmaking residency, book fair, activist summit, and whatever else the participants want to make it. Because we are bringing together artists and culture-bearers whose role in their regions is to connect people, we celebrate that the most vital (and urgent) aspect of our gathering is gathering itself.

Is it open to the public? If so, when?

Friday, June 26th MdW attendees will exhibit work on the 4th floor of the Boyer-Campbell building and highlight the artist behind the organizer in a free-to-the public exhibition.

When you’re done checking out the show you can check out zines, books, prints, and more from over 60 independent printers and publishers across the Midwest at the Books and Multiples Fair the same day!

Check out the attending orgs and artists for this year’s Summit using this directory:

Check out our past summits down below!

Summits convene groups of artist-run projects, platforms, and spaces dedicated to growing our shared ecosystem of interconnected art and organizing scenes across the Midwest. We invite other folks doing work like ours to collaborate with us to build lasting coalitions of purposeful, artist-led action through workshops, programs, exhibitions, print exchanges, and art builds. 

So far, we’ve held Summits in Itasca, MN and Kansas City, Missouri. Check them out down below!