Visual & Performing Artists Sought for 2012 North Charleston Arts Festival

The City of North Charleston's Cultural Arts Department is now accepting applications from artists in music, theatre, dance, visual art, crafts, photography, media arts, and literary arts to participate in the 2012 North Charleston Arts Festival to be held May 4-12.

A variety of individuals and groups are being sought to represent national, regional, and local arts professionals, cultural organizations, community programs, and schools.  Artists may apply for inclusion in the Main Event Weekend, held May 5 and 6 at the Charleston Area Convention Center Complex, as well as for Individual Events, which take place at various locations throughout North Charleston during the festival week.

Visual artists should note that this particular application should be used to apply for events and presentations such as installations, exhibitions, workshops, demonstrations, film screenings, lectures, etc., and not for participation in the Festival’s Juried Art Competitions. Applications are available on the web at www.northcharleston.org under Cultural Arts. The deadline for Artist Applications is Wednesday, January 4, 2012.  

The North Charleston Arts Festival is one of the most comprehensive arts festivals in the Lowcountry, providing thousands of residents & visitors with a fabulous array of performances, exhibitions, and activities. The Main Event, held the first weekend in May, offers free admission and parking to over 40 performances on four themed stage stages; General Audience, Cultural Heritage, Youth Entertainment, and Bands. Other Main Event activities include judged art, photography, youth art, and fine craft exhibitions, a gem & mineral show, an antique show, children's activities, art & craft booths, and an outdoor food courtyard.  The Arts Festival continues with numerous free or moderately priced ticketed events throughout the week at various locations around North Charleston and concludes with fireworks over the Cooper River at the Grand Finale at North Charleston Riverfront Park.

For information, visit the North Charleston Arts Festival page or download an application.  Call the Cultural Arts Department office at (843) 740-5854 for additional information.

CALLING ALL ARTISTS! 2012 North Charleston Arts Festival design competition underway

The City of North Charleston is calling all artists to participate in the 2012 North Charleston Arts Festival design competition. The winning piece will become the official design of the 2012 Arts Festival and will be featured on promotion materials and merchandise, including advertisements, brochures, posters, apparel, online, and more. The 2012 North Charleston Arts Festival will be held May 4-12, 2012. 

The winning artist will receive $500, have their piece become part of the City’s Public Art Collection, and be given an opportunity to exhibit other works at the North Charleston City Gallery during the Arts Festival.

Applications will be online starting November 15, 2011 with a deadline of Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 12:00 noon. There is NO entry fee to participate. The competition is open to South Carolina residents ages 18 and older. Categories of work accepted are: acrylic, oil, drawing/pastel, watercolor and mixed media.

Applications Here 

Call the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department for more information at (843) 740-5854.

The North Charleston Arts Festival is organized and presented by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department and numerous volunteers. The nine-day celebration of the arts is one of the most comprehensive arts festivals in the Lowcountry, providing over 30,000 residents & visitors with an array of performances, exhibitions, and activities. The festival maintains the spirit of a community celebration with the mission of presenting a comprehensive, multi-discipline event schedule that provides an array of performing, visual, media, and literary arts events for people of all ages and backgrounds. The festival is accessible to all with numerous free and moderately priced events.

Boosting State Economic Growth: Five roles of Arts, Culture, and Design

Join the South Carolina Arts Commission Wednesday, June 22, for a free webinar to hear how the arts community and its partners can take leading roles in strengthening our state's economy. The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices will preview findings of a new report demonstrating how creative industries, creative place-making and arts education can help states address their most pressing economic challenges.

Presenters

Laura Scanlan, director of state and regional partnerships at the National Endowment for the Arts; Mary Jo Waits, director of the economic, human services and workforce division at the NGA Center for Best Practices; and Kelly Barsdate, chief program and planning officer, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies.

Who should participate

Arts organizations, artists and their partners; chambers of commerce representatives; city and rural developers; elected officials, city and county staff members; the education community; etc. -- anyone interested in working toward a stronger South Carolina. 

When

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Time

3:00-4:00 pm  

Where

Felix C. Davis Community Center

4800 Park Circle

North Charleston, SC 29405

(843) 740-5853

Host: Donna Jones, North Charleston Cultural Arts Department