Help us grow and thrive

The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is one of Ann Arbor’s greatest treasures, brought to you by the generosity of the entire community. We owe our continuing success to the many individuals, businesses, and partner organizations that support our mission.

As an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, the average cost of producing the Ann Arbor Summer Festival each year is $1.2 million. Earned revenue from ticket and beverage sales covers only 65% of total expense; support from corporate sponsors, foundations, government agencies, and individual donors makes up the balance.

Whether you have donated before, volunteered your time, attended an indoor performance, or enjoyed Top of the Park, you are part of the engine that keeps the festival going. So in the spirit of community that we hold at the center of our mission, we urge you to consider making a contribution to the festival to help us maintain the highest quality programs and preserve this vibrant celebration for future generations.

To make learn more about individual and corporate giving, estate planning, endowment, donor recognition, and partnership opportunities, please click here.

Throw a party at Top of the Park

The Ann Arbor Summer Festival offers exciting hospitality opportunities for your next special event. From employee appreciation nights and business celebrations to anniversaries, wedding receptions, birthday parties and class reunions, Top of the Park offers an ideal venue to throw your party.  Special event locations include two private party tents and the wooded space, known as The Grove.  

We look forward to working with you to create a spectacular and memorable occasion.

Click here for Hospitality & Private Party Info (PDF)

Tent reservations are accepted beginning in March each year. Please call (734) 994-5999 to confirm availability, as dates fill up quickly.

Share your smiling face

Volunteering for the Ann Arbor Summer Festival is a rich and rewarding experience that allows individuals, friends, co-workers, and families to participate by ushering, greeting guests, distributing information, collecting donations, and performing other helpful tasks.

People of all ages and abilities are welcome to volunteer. In addition to an invaluable behind-the-scenes festival experience, all volunteers are eligible with each completed shift to earn complimentary tickets to select Mainstage performances and other insider perks, including special hospitality areas, a volunteer appreciation party, and more.

The festival welcomes corporate and community volunteer groups as well as individuals. You can reserve dates for 15-25 individuals per night from your company or group to volunteer at the event. Volunteering is a great team building activity, as well as a way to build company awareness and community exposure.

Top of the Park Volunteer Greeters

Volunteer greeters serve as the first line welcome for visitors entering the festival grounds. Responsibilities include answering questions, giving directions, distributing festival guides, collecting patron donations, and most of all, making our guests feel welcome! Greeters typically work in pairs, so it’s a great opportunity to help the festival while making new friends or sharing the experience with old friends. Questions?  Please contact our volunteer coordinator.

Click here to download a Volunteer Greeter Application (PDF)

Mainstage Volunteer Ushers

Volunteer ushers are a valuable part of the festival team and are critical to making sure our patrons have a pleasant experience in the theater. Usher responsibilities include greeting guests, helping them find their seats, passing out programs, and directing guests to restrooms and concessions.

Interested individuals must fill out an annual usher application form, and will be contacted by the Festival Usher Coordinator directly. Typically, there are far more requests for usher positions than spots to fill. However, there are many other positions within the festival’s general volunteer program that can use your help, so we encourage you to consider other opportunities in addition to ushering. Questions? Please contact our usher coordinator.

The deadline for usher applications for the 2010 season has expired. Please check back again next year to submit an application. 

The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate against employees or applicants on the basis of any characteristic protected by law, such as race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, height, weight, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, or disability as defined by law. 

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Support for the Ann Arbor Summer Festival’s volunteer program is generously provided by the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation.

Join our dynamic team

We appreciate your interest in the festival as a potential employer. The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is committed to building an inclusive work environment that is as stimulating, inspiring, and diverse as the many artists and programs we present.

Please note that we are fully staffed for our 2010 season. If you are interested in a fall internship, we are currently accepting applications for the following positions:

PRODUCTION INTERN
The festival seeks motivated, enthusiastic candidates for production internships. These are year-round, unpaid opportunities that allow candidates to get practical, hands-on knowledge in arts and entertainment and the production world. Hours are flexible and adaptable.

Internships are shaped to work with the mutual benefits of matching the festival’s needs with the candidate’s areas of interest. Select candidates can apply internship work towards select accredited college programs (as available). A successful candidate will be responsible for numerous production activities and participate in the dynamic environment of festival production.

Candidates should have an interest in event production, the arts and nonprofit organizations. Candidates must have exceptional communication skills and be able to work independently as well as with a team. Positive, productive and self-motivated individuals will fit successfully within our team.

Please submit cover letter with resume, weekly hours available, ideal areas of focus, and internship duration sought to Amy Nesbitt at arnesbit@umich.edu.

Candidates are asked not to request submission status updates.

Resumes are kept on file for future consideration.

If your qualifications match current openings, you will be contacted directly. Thank you.

The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate against employees or applicants on the basis of any characteristic protected by law, such as race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, height, weight, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, or disability as defined by law.

Let's get social

What's your festival experience? Get social and share it online.

Why not join our Facebook group and post a comment on our wall, check out artist YouTube videos, follow festival tweets, or share your thoughts on our MySpace page.

Be a part of the festival's online community at these popular social media sites:

Tell us what you think!

The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is committed to serving our community. By answering these survey questions, you can help us understand who our audience is and how we can best meet your needs.

Please take a moment to complete this brief survey. Thank you.