All area artists are invited to submit applications for consideration and possible inclusion in the Artisans” Village, sponsored by the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, for the 16th annual Cotton District Arts Festival Saturday, April 23 (Easter weekend), in Starkville”s Historic Cotton District.
Named in the FYI 2010, “A Golden Triangle Directory,” as a top “Fun Stuff” event must-do in the Golden Triangle, the Cotton District Arts Festival is a day filled with art, food, music and fun for everyone.
Participating artists will receive unparalleled exposure to thousands of festival attendees, with opportunities to increase sales, meet potential customers and make important contacts. The 2010 festival saw more than 40,000 attendees.
The number of Artisans” Booths has increased for 2011, as has the number of awards. And, budding authors this year will have the opportunity to share booth space with other authors in the Literary Village, with space to sign and sell books.
Awards are given each year in recognition of outstanding artisans. Decided by the Artisans” Village Committee, these include a Best of Show award of $250, one Award of Excellence of $150, a new Spirit Award of $100, and two Honorable Mentions of $75 each.
To apply
To be eligible as an artisan, items offered for sale must be original artwork of the artist. Entries must be postmarked by Monday, Feb. 28, to be considered “on time” and be included in the festival program. Entries received after this date will be considered for acceptance based on available space.
There is a $65 booth fee for “on-time” entries, $75 for entries received after the Feb. 28 deadline.
Entries submitted must include a completed Artisans” Village Application, booth fee, and a photograph of the artist”s work or booth. Special consideration in the form of automatic acceptance is given to previous Cotton District Arts Festival award winners in the Juried Art Competition and the Artisans” Village, as well as to Mississippi Craftsmen”s Guild members, when their applications are received by the Feb. 28 deadline.
Find applications and information for the Artisans” Village on the Starkville Area Arts Council website, www.starkvillearts.org. Prospective artisans can also contact Laurie Burton at 662- 694-1107, or e-mail [email protected].
For information on participating in the Juried Arts Competition, contact Linda Lee Lodato at 662- 648-8245, or e-mail [email protected].
Something for everyone
Honoring artisans of all genres, including dance, theatre, music, and literature, the Starkville Area Arts Council”s festival is a celebration of all things artistic.Festival-goers can enjoy artisan villages, including villages with children”s art, local restaurant vendors and music stages, as well as a variety of events including a juried art competition and exhibit, a students” art competition and exhibit, food competitions, a songwriting competition (new this year), a 5K run, pet parade, Easter parade and an all-new Friday night bandstand.
Not an artist? You can still join in the fun by becoming a sponsor or by volunteering to help on the day of the festival. For more information, contact Candy Crecink with the Starkville Area Arts Council at 662-324-3080, or e-mail [email protected].
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