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ArtFest Fort Myers Selects Artists for 2010 Festival

WHAT: A juried fine art festival featuring 200 national artists, a high school art competition, interactive arts, children’s crafts, fine food and entertainment
WHEN: February 6 & 7, 2010, Saturday and Sunday, from 10 am to 5 pm.
OPENING NIGHT PARTY February 5th from 5 pm to 9 pm.
WHERE: Downtown Fort Myers on Edwards Drive between Monroe Street and Lee Street
COST: Free Admission
PARKING: Adjacent parking lots, street parking, and City Garages. Look for directional signs to convenient parking with trolley service

This season, eight hundred and fifty-two artists applied to participate in ArtFest Fort Myers, Southwest Florida’s premier fine art festival. These hopeful artists were willing to travel from 45 states, Canada and Israel to bring an unparalleled art experience to our community.
The best-of-the-best, the top 200 artists, have been selected by a panel of five art professionals and they are sure to delight ArtFest Fort Myers attendees. The artists and their artwork can be previewed at the festival’s website – ArtFestFortMyers.com by clicking on Artist Gallery. Representing 36 states and Canada, the artwork at the upcoming ArtFest Fort Myers reflects the excellence that had become a hallmark of this annual festival. “In February, sixty-three percent of the exhibiting artists will be brand new to our festival,” Sharon McAllister, Executive Director, explains “We are very excited to have such a diverse and exciting group of talented artists joining us at ArtFest Fort Myers 2010 – especially since this year is also our 10th birthday.”

ArtFest Fort Myers is a juried fine art festival which means the applying artists’ artwork is reviewed, scores are recorded and the highest scoring artists are invited to participate. In early October, a panel of five art professionals met at Hodges University to review all the applicants’ images and determine the top two hundred artists, who will be exhibiting at ArtFest Fort Myers in February 2010. State of the art technology, generously made available by Hodges University, provided larger-than-life viewing of the spectacular artwork.
Painting, photography, printmaking, drawing, and mixed media, ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, sculpture, wearable, watercolor, and wood are certain to delight all attendees. From decorating your home or office, purchasing a unique gift for yourself or someone you love, or turning a utilitarian item into your home into a thing of beauty, this once a year festival is certain to exceed your expectations. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to talk to the artists to find out how their work is created and what inspires them. This is the weekend designed to bring the excitement of art into your life!

Enjoy the fabulous artists at ArtFest Fort Myers Saturday and Sunday, February 6 & 7, 2010, from 10 am to 5 pm. Join us to celebrate our 10th birthday at the Opening Night Party Palettes & Plates February 5th from 5 pm to 9 pm.
For more information visit us at www.ArtFestFortMyers.com or call 239-768-3602.

ArtFest Fort Myers Volunteers Make a Difference in Art in the Schools

WHAT: A juried fine art festival featuring 200 national artists, a high school art competition, interactive arts, children’s crafts, fine food and entertainment
WHEN: February 6 & 7, 2010, Saturday and Sunday, from 10 am to 5 pm.
OPENING NIGHT PARTY February 5th from 5 pm to 9 pm.
WHERE: Downtown Fort Myers on Edwards Drive between Monroe Street and Lee Street
COST: Free Admission
PARKING: Adjacent parking lots, street parking, and City Garages. Look for directional signs to convenient parking with trolley service.

ArtFest Fort Myers, Southwest Florida’s premier juried fine art festival, invites you to join our volunteer team. There are a variety of opportunities to volunteer with ArtFest Fort Myers and on-site training is provided. From working behind-the-scenes in advance of the art festival to assisting with our many weekend activities, every volunteer is important to the art festival’s success.

The volunteer’s contribution of time and talent to our community’s largest 2-day event helps raise money to support the arts in Lee County schools. Did You Know – youth who participate in the arts each week for one full year are: 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement • 3 times more likely to be elected to class office within their schools • 4 times more likely to participate in a math and science fair • 3 times more likely to win an award for school attendance • 4 times more likely to win an award for writing an essay or poem and 50% less likely to be delinquent or truant?

Now more than ever in this economic time of tight school budgets ArtFest Fort Myers is committed to increasing its funding to support art programs. We ask for your support to reach our goal of providing $20,000 in support from ArtFest Fort Myers 2010.

For more information on how you can become a member of the ArtFest Fort Myers Volunteer Team, qualify for a FREE festival T-Shirt and make the arts a priority in your community while having fun visit us at ArtFestFortMyers.com or call 768-3602 or email info@ArtFestFortMyers.com.


News Release: ArtFest Fort Myers Selects Artists for 2010 Festival

WHAT: A juried fine art festival featuring 200 national artists, a high school art competition, interactive arts, children’s crafts, fine food and entertainment
WHEN: February 6 & 7, 2010, Saturday and Sunday, from 10 am to 5 pm
Preview Party “Palettes & Plates” Friday, February 5th from 5 – 9 PM (ticketed event)
WHERE: Downtown Fort Myers on Edwards Drive between Heitman and Lee
COST: Saturday & Sunday Free Admission
PARKING: Adjacent parking lots, street parking, and City Garages. Look for directional signs to convenient parking with free trolley service

This season, eight hundred and fifty artists applied to be a part of ArtFest Fort Myers, Lee County’s premier fine art festival. In early October, a panel of five art professionals met at the local campus of Hodges University to review all the applicants’ images and choose the top two hundred artists who will be exhibiting at ArtFest Fort Myers in February 2010. State of the art technology, generously made available by Hodges University, provided “larger than life” viewing of all the spectacular artwork images.

The images were reviewed, scores were recorded and tallied and the highest scoring artists have been invited. Representing 33 states and Canada, the artwork at the upcoming ArtFest Fort Myers reflects the excellence that had become a hallmark of this event. “This February, forty-one percent of the exhibiting artists will be brand new to our festival,” Sharon McAllister, Festival Director, explains. “We are very excited to have such a diverse and exciting group of talented artists joining us at ArtFest Fort Myers 2010.”

Sculpture, painting, ceramics, photography, printmaking, drawing, mixed media, ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, wearable fiber and wood are certain to delight all attendees. From decorating your home or office, purchasing a unique gift for yourself or someone you love, or turning a utilitarian item into your home into a thing a beauty, this once a year event is certain to exceed expectations. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to talk to individual artists and find out how their work is created and what inspires them. This is THE weekend designed to bring the excitement of art into your
life!

ArtFest Fort Myers is the annual juried fine art festival that takes place on Edwards Drive in downtown Fort Myers on February 6 & 7, 2010. This event brings 200 professional artists to downtown Fort Myers from across the county, hosts the largest high school art competition and exhibit in Lee County, and provides free interactive art experiences for children of all ages. To find out how you can enjoy ArtFest Fort Myers with all the celebrity VIP perks, contact us at info@ArtFestFortMyers.com/www.ArtFestFortMyers.com

Contact: Sharon McAllister
239-768-3602
email: info@ArtFestFortMyers.com
www.ArtFestFortMyers.com

ArtFest Fort Myers 2010

WHAT: A juried fine arts festival featuring 200 national artists, high school art competition, interactive arts, children’s crafts, fine food and entertainment
WHEN: Preview Party Feb 5, 2010, 5 – 9 PM Ticketed Event
ArtFest Fort Myers Feb 6 & 7, 2010, Sat. & Sun., 10 am - 5 pm
WHERE: Downtown Fort Myers on Edwards Drive between Heitman and Lee
COST: FREE admission
PARKING: Adjacent parking lots, street parking and City Garages are open. Look for our directional signs.

Bring the entire family to this fun free event and enjoy a day filled with inspiring art and so much more! ArtFest Fort Myers, Southwest Florida’s premier fine art festival, takes place in beautiful downtown Fort Myers on February 6 & 7, 2010. Every year, Fort Myers’ waterfront and green spaces are transformed into a beautiful, stress free, open air art gallery overflowing with exceptional artwork, great entertainment and fun children’s art activities.

Over 200 artists gather from across the country and around the world, to dazzle, inspire, delight and entertain you. Majestic palms, continuous background music and savory food make the perfect backdrop for this fine art festival. Convenient and well-marked patron parking is abundant in adjacent city streets, parking lots and multi-story garages. It’s easy to find the art you love.

Be sure to arrive early to view some of the best art to be seen in Southwest Florida this season. Take time to visit with the artists, who are always on hand to discuss their work. Find out what inspires them and learn about their techniques. Unique sculpture, original oils, vibrant watercolor, dazzling jewelry, decorative ceramics, glittering glass, imaginative mixed media, fabulous metal, vivid photography, inspiring metal, wonderful wood and remarkable fiber created by 200 talented artists provide something for everyone’s collection and budget. The quality of art is extraordinary, as only the best of the best are invited, after a panel of independent artists reviewed the work of the artists who applied for the festival.
Exciting components of ArtFest Fort Myers include:
• Art Under 20, the largest Lee County high school art competition and exhibition, provides talented student artists the unique opportunity to exhibit their work to 60,000 ArtFest Fort Myers patrons. $6,000 in cash prizes will be awarded to the best student artists.
• Kids@Art, a collaborative effort of ArtFest Fort Myers and The Alliance For The Arts, helps eager “weekend artists” of all ages to tap into their best creative selves. We provide the supplies and supervision to all who wish to make an artistic treasure to take home.
• The Young Art Collectors Gallery is the perfect place for children ages 6 to 12 to purchase artwork for only $5. Filled with wonderful items donated by festival artists, our “kids only” shopping zone fosters the development of future art patrons with an emphasis on fun.
• Visit the Youth Stage to enjoy a variety of free performances throughout the weekend. Among others, Florida Rep Theatre, Colours Dance School, Southwest Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra, and Celtic Arts dancers will be showcasing their talent.
• Have you been wondering if your youngster has a calling to be a violin virtuoso or a trumpet player in the marching band? The Southwest Florida Symphony will be on hand with their Petting Zoo, and getting bit by the music bug is your only worry. A variety of musical instruments will be available for all to play, with expert instruction on hand, courtesy of the Youth Symphony members

ArtFest Fort Myers supports the visual arts and literacy in Lee County through a variety of special exhibits and programs:
• The Art Supply Grant Program invites Lee County public elementary school art teachers to apply for funds that can be tailored to each classroom’s specific need.
• The News-Press “Newspaper In Education Program” is supported through ArtFest Fort Myers Commemorative Poster sales. In 2009, over 246,000 local newspapers were delivered to Lee County classrooms as a direct result of festival poster sales.
• The Visiting Artist Program places festival artists in middle school art classrooms for a day, either before or after ArtFest Fort Myers, where they share their talents and life experiences with our students.
• The “Best of the Next”, gives a select number of FGCU emerging art students an opportunity to pursue a career in the arts. This program is designed to promote up-and-coming artists, giving them the real world experience of displaying, and marketing their work in an outdoor art festival venue.

Some masterpieces take a lifetime to acquire. Find yours in a weekend at ArtFest Fort Myers, February 6th and 7th - 10am to 5pm - Edwards Drive, along the riverfront, downtown Fort Myers. Admission to ArtFest Fort Myers is FREE due to the generous support of its sponsors. Enjoy the show!

CALL FOR ARTISTS – ARTFEST FORT MYERS 2010

What: ArtFest Fort Myers 10th annual downtown Fort Myers juried fine art festival showcases the work of 200 fine artists and fine craftsmen and also includes great food, continuous entertainment, children’s Art Yard and Art Under 20, a high school art competition.

Festival Dates: February 6 & 7, 2010

How: Find out how to apply, on-line, for ArtFest Fort Myers 2010, by emailing: info@ArtFestFortMyers.com or go to our web site at www.ArtFestFortMyers.com

Application Deadline: September 16, 2009

ArtFest Fort Myers, the 10th annual downtown Fort Myers outdoor juried fine art festival, announces a “Call for Artists”. This juried art show features the work of 200 fine artists in an exceptional community effort. All artwork exhibited must be created solely by the displaying artists. Entries are accepted in 16 categories: Ceramics, Digital, Drawing, Fiber, Glass, Jewelry, Metal, Mixed Media 2-D, Mixed Media 3-D, Painting-Watercolor, Painting-Oil/Acrylic, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Wearable and Wood. Artists are selected to participate through a jury rating of artistic conception, originality and workmanship.

ArtFest Fort Myers also celebrates art in the community with:
• Kids @ Art, an interactive arts/crafts area for children, plus a “children only” shopping gallery
• Art Under 20, an exhibition and competition for Lee County high school students, offering cash awards (sponsored by Oswald, Trippe and Company, Inc. and Zurich)

For an Artist Application, contact ArtFest Fort Myers at 239-768-3602, email info@ArtFestFortMyers.com or visit our web site at www.ArtFestFortMyers.com

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