The City of Marquette’s Office of Arts and Culture will host the 10th and final edition of Art Week from Monday, June 23, to Saturday, June 28, 2025. This free, community-wide celebration of local creativity features over 60 events, ranging from concerts and gallery exhibits to outdoor installations and storytelling programs. With the fitting theme of “Stories,” this final chapter invites residents to reflect on a decade of arts-driven collaboration.
To share more about the week’s significance, Marquette's Arts and Culture Manager Tiina Morin joined us in the studio. For Morin, who has held the position for nearly 13 years, the journey has been transformative—not only for herself, but for the entire creative sector in Marquette.
“It’s been an incredible ride,” she shared. “When I started, the city was focused on programming. Over time, our role shifted to being a resource—a hub for fostering the creative economy and empowering the community. Art Week became a key piece of that.”
Click here for the full schedule of Art Week 2025 events
Originally inspired by a desire to connect artists, organizations, and residents, Art Week has evolved into a platform that amplifies emerging voices, explores nontraditional venues, and encourages interdisciplinary collaboration. According to Morin, one of the week’s lasting impacts is the relationships it has helped spark: “Some artists met at Art Week and went on to form collectives. We’ve seen entire programs and festivals grow from those first encounters.”
The theme of “Stories” underscores this legacy. “Making art is sharing stories—that’s what we do as humans,” Morin said. This year’s events include original poetry by Marty Achatz at a sunrise ceremony, gallery talks from local artists, performances by Anishinaabe rock band Waawiyeyaa, and storytelling walks along the new Cultural Trail, a multi-year initiative culminating in the installation of eight 10-foot story markers throughout the city.
A highlight of the week is Stories of the Shoreline, a Saturday program spanning all eight trail sites, featuring music, drumming, environmental storytelling, and even paddleboard-accessible programming at the Dead River. “It’s a way to bring people to the landscape and engage with the stories—both human and more-than-human,” said Morin.
Kurt Hauswirth spoke with City of Marquette Office of Arts & Culture Manager Tiina Morin:
While this marks the end of Art Week as a single event, Morin emphasized that its mission lives on. “The goal to grow and empower our community through arts and culture remains. We’re shifting how we do that—year-round, collaboratively, and with intention.”
For the full schedule of Art Week 2025 events, visit www.mqtcompass.com.
