The calendar says summer begins on June 21, but for artists and arts lovers throughout the country, summer officially arrives three weeks earlier, June 7-9, with the opening of the Columbus Arts Festival, presented by Time Warner Cable and produced by the Greater Columbus Arts Council.
Now in its 52nd year, the nationally acclaimed Festival offers something for everyone in a spectacular city-within-the-city located on the scenic Scioto Mile. With its water features, green spaces, and easy access, the venue is perfect for the event, says Festival director Scott Huntley. “The Columbus Arts Festival is a celebration of all the arts, and our location makes it possible to showcase not only the finest in art and craft, but also in music, dance, and the spoken word.
The Festival is a place of discovery and excitement. The littlest visitors and their parents often make a beeline for the Hands On Arts Activities This year, varied activities will tempt younger artists: they can make tie-dyed flowers with friends from the Firefly Play Cafe, sculpt unique handmade paper with Dan Colvin of Cobenick Studios and more. Children 12 or younger may buy art generously donated by the artists who participate in the Festival. After they select their artwork at the Children’s Art Gallery, children are welcome to come to the Artist Market to meet the artist who donated the piece.
The Big Local Art Tent is the place to find work by Columbus artists, see art demonstrations, and talk with members of area artist groups and collectives. Adults also can test their own artistic skills with some make-and-take projects.
Also focusing on central Ohio artists is the Emerging Artists Program. All artists in this program have limited or no experience exhibiting and selling work in large outdoor settings. This year, eight of these artists were selected. Their work is found among the other artists at the Artist Market.
On the Stages
The ColumbusArts.com Bicentennial Stage is booked for the entire Festival, featuring all music genres including the only 2013 performance by Watershed, on Saturday night.
The FlyColumbus.com Community Stage features music ranging from funk to folk to rock – and even choral music! Several community group performances include theatre, ballet, hip hop dance and more.
Twenty-nine poets—and for the first time fiction and nonfiction writers as well—will read from their works on the Ohio Magazine Word as Art stage throughout the Festival. Saturday night, visitors will flock to the popular Poetry Slam that’s been a Festival highlight for many years.
Open Wide
Take advantage of Dine Originals’ fine fare, or drop by a food truck for inventive and delicious dishes. Beverage stations throughout the Festival serve beer, wine, and Jose Cuervo light margaritas, as well as smoothies and fresh-squeezed lemonade.
Volunteers Bring the Columbus Arts Festival to Life
“Without the volunteers, the Columbus Arts Festival simply couldn’t happen,” Huntley said. The volunteer Coordinating Committee and the 300 onsite volunteers really understand this Festival, and they make it work.”
Sixteen-year volunteer Patty Matthews, Chair of the Artist Market Committee, is one of the volunteers Huntley depends on. “The committee has nine members and we are the ‘go-to’ for artists,” Matthews said. “We take care of jurying, checking in every artist for set-up, presenting awards, and monitoring art and booths and the Children’s Gallery. I love meeting the artists and being part of my favorite Columbus event.”
A Greener Festival
“An event this big with this many people can leave quite a carbon footprint,” Huntley said, “but we’re taking steps to mitigate the environmental impact. We want to make this the greenest event of its kind in the United States. Wouldn’t it be terrific if when the Festival is over, the area looks even better than it did when we moved in?”
The Festival will feature recycling program, a stage that will use a generator powered by solar and wind energy, composting by food vendors; and encourages Festival-goers to bike or take a COTA bus to the site.
You Can Be a Friend
Be a Friend of the Festival! Give back to your favorite festival and your donation will help defray general operating expenses. Friends of the Festival members receive perks such as free onsite parking near the exclusive VIP Lounge at the Cultural Arts Center and more.
To learn more about the Columbus Arts Festival, visit columbusartfestival.org, join us on Facebook, Twitter (@ColsArtsFest and @cbus_artshark) and on Pinterest!
GCAC Presents is a bi-weekly column brought to you by the Greater Columbus Arts Council – supporting art and advancing culture in Columbus – in partnership with the Columbus Arts Marketing Association, a professional development and networking association of arts marketers. Each column will be written by a different local arts organization to give you an insiders look at the arts in Columbus.
