Nine-day celebration of the arts offers something for everyone
Now in its 29th year, the North Charleston Arts Festival will take place April 29 through May 7, 2011. The nine day event is one of the most comprehensive arts festivals in the state, providing thousands of residents & visitors with a fabulous array of performances, exhibitions, and activities featuring national, regional, and local artists and performers.
Organized by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, the festival strives to maintain the spirit of a community celebration with the mission of presenting a broad, multidiscipline event schedule that provides a wide range of performing, visual, media, and literary arts events for people of all ages and backgrounds. Many of the offerings are free, and those that are ticketed are moderately priced. Recognized by the Southeast Tourism Society as a Top 20 Event, the North Charleston Arts Festival truly offers something for everyone.
“The Arts Festival unlocks our imagination and gives an opportunity to all residents and visitors of the City of North Charleston to participate in high quality entertainment, exhibits, and programming,” says North Charleston Mayor, Keith Summey. “It is a time of the year that we are joined by thousands throughout the Southeast to celebrate the importance of art within our world.”
The Arts Festival Main Event, held on Saturday, April 30, and Sunday, May 1, at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center and Charleston Area Convention Center, offers free admission and parking to over 40 performances from national, regional, and local performers on four themed stages: Cultural Heritage, Youth Entertainment, Bands, and General Audience. Other features include judged art and photography exhibits; the 9th annual SC Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Exhibit; Youth Art from Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester county students; the Lowcountry Gem & Mineral Show & Sale; the Village Antiques & Collectibles show; children's activities at Box City and Creation Stations; arts & crafts vendors, and much more.
The Festival continues with over 50 events throughout the week at various locations around the City of North Charleston. An exciting array of free and ticketed events include street dances, a murder mystery dinner theatre, concerts, literary gatherings, children’s events, film screenings, theatre presentations, art workshops and demonstrations, an Art Walk, an Art & Fine Craft Co-Op, the 6th annual National Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition, and a Grand Finale at the beautiful North Charleston Riverfront Park. This year’s Grand Finale features children’s activities, performances by school groups, dance troupes, and spoken word poets, an evening concert featuring The Fowl Play Band, and fireworks over the Cooper River.
Applications are now being accepted for participation in the Festival’s Judged Fine Art, Judged Photography, and Tri-County Youth Art exhibitions. Volunteer applications are also being accepted. Application forms are available on the Cultural Arts section of the city’s website at www.northcharleston.org.
For more 2011 North Charleston Arts Festival information, including detailed event schedules and venue information, visit www.northcharleston.org, email culturalarts@northcharleston.org, or contact the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department office at (843) 740-5854.
Organized by the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, the festival strives to maintain the spirit of a community celebration with the mission of presenting a broad, multidiscipline event schedule that provides a wide range of performing, visual, media, and literary arts events for people of all ages and backgrounds. Many of the offerings are free, and those that are ticketed are moderately priced. Recognized by the Southeast Tourism Society as a Top 20 Event, the North Charleston Arts Festival truly offers something for everyone.
“The Arts Festival unlocks our imagination and gives an opportunity to all residents and visitors of the City of North Charleston to participate in high quality entertainment, exhibits, and programming,” says North Charleston Mayor, Keith Summey. “It is a time of the year that we are joined by thousands throughout the Southeast to celebrate the importance of art within our world.”
The Arts Festival Main Event, held on Saturday, April 30, and Sunday, May 1, at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center and Charleston Area Convention Center, offers free admission and parking to over 40 performances from national, regional, and local performers on four themed stages: Cultural Heritage, Youth Entertainment, Bands, and General Audience. Other features include judged art and photography exhibits; the 9th annual SC Palmetto Hands Fine Craft Exhibit; Youth Art from Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester county students; the Lowcountry Gem & Mineral Show & Sale; the Village Antiques & Collectibles show; children's activities at Box City and Creation Stations; arts & crafts vendors, and much more.
The Festival continues with over 50 events throughout the week at various locations around the City of North Charleston. An exciting array of free and ticketed events include street dances, a murder mystery dinner theatre, concerts, literary gatherings, children’s events, film screenings, theatre presentations, art workshops and demonstrations, an Art Walk, an Art & Fine Craft Co-Op, the 6th annual National Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition, and a Grand Finale at the beautiful North Charleston Riverfront Park. This year’s Grand Finale features children’s activities, performances by school groups, dance troupes, and spoken word poets, an evening concert featuring The Fowl Play Band, and fireworks over the Cooper River.
Applications are now being accepted for participation in the Festival’s Judged Fine Art, Judged Photography, and Tri-County Youth Art exhibitions. Volunteer applications are also being accepted. Application forms are available on the Cultural Arts section of the city’s website at www.northcharleston.org.
For more 2011 North Charleston Arts Festival information, including detailed event schedules and venue information, visit www.northcharleston.org, email culturalarts@northcharleston.org, or contact the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department office at (843) 740-5854.
