Founded by The Berrien Artist Guild, Inc., in 1962, The Box Factory for the Arts began with the purchase of the historic Williams Bros. Paper Box Mfg. building in 1995. This small group of enthusiastic artists converted the old factory building into today’s multi-use arts facility where all the arts are celebrated.  Three floors of the 55,000-sq-ft multi-use art center includes artist studios, galleries, a performance stage, classrooms, Art Market, meeting space and more.

The Box Factory for the Arts exists to support established and emerging artists and to enrich the surrounding community through a multi-disciplinary, collaborative and vibrant gathering place that nurtures, celebrates and promotes all creative arts.

We visualize a welcoming historic building, brimming with clusters of enthusiastic people who are participating in an abundance of creative, diverse and artistic experiences. This is the Box Factory for the Arts, a popular destination for artistic learning, sharing, socialization and fun.

The Michiana Annual Art Competition, MAAC, is a local juried fine art exhibition intended to recognize, foster, and reward excellence of artists in Southwest Michigan and Northern Indiana. The MAAC is held annually at the Box Factory for the Arts in St. Joseph, Michigan.

For 2025, the MAAC features the works of over 120 Michiana artists representing the mediums of photography, painting, drawing, 3D, fiber arts and mixed media.

We are once again hosting a fundraiser to choose the 2025 MAAC People’s Choice. This award will be given by those voting online and open to all accepted art pieces participating in the MAAC in the Box exhibition from May 16 through July 6, 2025.

• Every accepted art piece as determined by our judge has been automatically entered into the People’s Choice Award Fundraiser.
• Each vote costs $1, and there is no limit to the number of votes one may cast for the duration of the contest. You can place all votes on one entry or divide them among multiple entries.
• All donations from voting are non-refundable.
• Entries and donations must be made via the online contest page. Contest payments online are through a secure site.
• Contest votes are tax-deductible. The email acknowledgment of your online donation serves as your tax receipt.
• You may vote for your own artwork.
• All winners will be determined by electronic vote tabulations under the supervision of GoGo Photo Contests, whose decisions are final and binding.
• Online voting begins at 12:00:00 PM (Eastern Time) on Friday, May 16, 2025 and concludes at 4:00:00 PM (Eastern Time) on Sunday, July 6, 2025.