Produced by the Salem Art Association (SAA) as its annual fundraiser, the Salem Art Fair & Festival highlights the work of more than 200 fine artists and craftspeople from across the U.S. and Canada. The Salem Art Association (SAA) is a non-profit corporation with an annual operating budget of one million dollars, with fifteen full or part-time employees. Although there are other sources of revenue, the primary fundraiser for SAA is the Salem Art Fair & Festival.

SAA is valuable to Salem and its surrounding communities because it:

• Sponsors the Salem Art Fair & Festival.
• Provides art instruction in regional schools (over 11,000 local children served annually) through its School Programs.
• Provides the area with a High School Intern Program.
• Provides an Artists’ Services Program for regional professional artists.
• Operates the Bush House Museum and preserves Oregon pioneer culture and history through exhibits.
• Provides exhibitions and programs in the galleries of the Bush Barn Art Center.
• Participates in downtown initiatives through Project Space.
• Provides a “voice at the table” on discussions about art and cultural issues in the city of Salem.

Other attractions include:

• Live music and performances on two stages.
• Hands-on art-making activities for kids.
• Tours of the historic Bush House Museum.
• Art exhibits at the Bush Barn Art Center.
• Food fare and gourmet goodies in two food courts.
• Northwest wines and micro brew beers in two wine and beer gardens.