The Holly Springs Cultural Center will be the venue for the first Holly Springs Community Arts Festival.
Excitement is building for the first Holly Springs Community Arts Festival. The event is a collaborative effort of the Holly Springs Arts Council and the Holly Springs Cultural Center. The event will encompass a variety of programs for both children and adults and will offer a venue for local artists to showcase their talents in many areas of creativity including painting, sculpture, photography and the performing arts. The five-day event will include a full range of classes, art exhibits and performances and will culminate with a Gala Fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 9 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Don Briscar, director of the Holly Springs Cultural Center, approached the Arts Council about making the Cultural Center an arts destination instead of a one-time attraction destination.
“I came up with the idea of a Community Arts Festival but needed another vehicle to pull it together and it was natural to extend an invitation to the Arts Council,” said Briscar.
Brenda Priest, president of the Holly Springs Arts Council, says the goal of the festival is to make the community aware of the cultural arts in Holly Springs and to give local artists a place to display and sell their art.
“Every piece of art that is sold locally, the money stays in the local economy and helps the community. We call it local centric,” says Priest.
One of the main programs created for this festival will be the juried art exhibition of young artists’ work from the five area schools. Each school will select the five best pieces from among their student populations to enter in the competition. These works will be on exhibit during the festival and on the evening of the Gala. Awards will be given out in three catagories – most promising young artist, best emerging young artist and young artist of the year.
Classes are scheduled for the afternoons at the Cultural Center and will run from Tuesday, Feb. 5 through Friday, Feb. 8, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 9 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Class costs are $10 for residents and $15 for non-residents and pre-registration is required. Some classes also will include a small supply fee that will be collected at the class. Classes will include writing, calligraphy, digital photography, e-publishing and a clown antics class.
Art vendors will sell their work on Thursday and Friday from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. In addition, there will be a writer’s room where local published authors will sell their books.
The week-long event will be capped off with the Gala that will include hors d’oeuvres provided by the Little Hen Restaurant in Holly Springs and a cash bar. Attendees will be able to preview the Young Artists’ Exhibit and vote for their selections. The evening also will feature a presentation and exhibit of local wire artist Jonathan Daniels and a silent art auction of Arts Council members’ work.
The Holly Springs Arts Council applied for a grant from the Town of Holly Springs for $500 which they were awarded for the festival.
“It is confirmation that the town is pleased with the way we are proceeding,” says Priest.
The Holly Springs Arts Council was formed in early 2011 with the help of Bob Crowley who also is on the Board of the Apex Arts Council. Crowley was instrumental in helping get the Holly Springs Council launched and has served on its board.
“Without Bob Crowley and the Apex Arts Council, we would not be where we are today,” says Priest.
With the anticipated success of this year’s festival, the Council hopes to expand and attract even more participants and volunteers next year.
Tickets for the Gala are $10 prior to the event at the Cultural Center desk or on e-tix.com and $15 at the door the evening of the Gala. All events are open to anyone in the community.
For more information on class registration or event details, visit www.hollyspringsartscouncil.org or contact the Cultural Center at 919-567-4000.
To contact Nancy Catrine, email ncatrine@civitasmedia.com or call 919-552-5675.
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