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    GCAC Presents: Columbus Arts Festival Returns to the Riverfront

    Imagine the perfect afternoon scenario: peruse a stunning al fresco gallery with a dazzling array of artwork in every conceivable style and medium. Listen to an artist tell a great story about a work of art they’ve created that just so happens to be that one-of-a-kind piece you’ve been searching for to add to your collection. Learn something new and creative—engage in some hands-on art activities like throwing clay on a potter’s wheel, or flame-working glass canes into a beautiful bead. Take a stroll along a lovely Riverfront promenade. Then spread out a blanket, take in some sunshine and enjoy a delicious lunch while you listen to live music from some of Columbus’ best entertainers.

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    Enjoy these experiences and more at the 2012 Columbus Arts Festival presented by Time Warner Cable and produced by the Greater Columbus Arts Council as we celebrate our long-awaited move back home to the Downtown Riverfront, June 1, 2 & 3. The Festival will transform the heart of the city into an outdoor celebration of the arts as 230 of the nation’s top artists display their work and attract art fans from all over the country.

    Photo of Bicentennial Park by Randall L. Schieber.

    Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to convene at the Riverfront in the heart of downtown to enjoy artwork, continuous entertainment on the ColumbusArts.com Bicentennial and BP Community Stages, hands-on art activities and homegrown art from some of our most creative indie artist collectives. Plenty of delicious food will satisfy every appetite—from classic festival fare to gourmet offerings from several community-favorite Dine Originals restaurants. Local food trucks will also be onsite serving everything from specialty crepes to Venezuelan-style street food.

    Our state is well-represented at the event—more than 40 of the artists juried in are from across Ohio. Be sure to seek out up-and-coming local artists participating in our Emerging Artist program. The program was designed for talented artists from Franklin and surrounding counties who are brand new to or have very little experience participating in outdoor festivals.

    Come meet the Art Shark at the Columbus Arts Festival at the Bicentennial Park Fountains. Saturday and Sunday, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m..

    Don’t miss singer/songwriter and roots-rocker, Tim Easton, on Friday night at 8:30 p.m. on the ColumbusArts.com Stage. Since getting his start as a musician in his college days at Ohio State, the Nashville-based Easton has enjoyed a highly acclaimed career that has taken him around the world—and the Columbus Arts Festival is always one of his favorite gigs.

    The place to find homegrown art will be the Big Local Art Tent. Experience art demonstrations and a gallery of works for sale by local artists, and make-and-take projects led by indie artist collectives like Columbus Crafty Cotillion, Columbus Artmobile, Cap City Creatives, Etsy Team Columbus, Columbus Idea Foundry and Mother Artists at Work.

    Each year, we honor Columbus’ reputation as a national leader for spoken word poetry on the Ohio Magazine Word is Art stage. You won’t want to miss the high impact, high energy performances from some of the city’s best poets at the 8th annual Columbus Arts Festival Poetry Slam on Saturday night.

    Neighboring the Festival site just to the west, Franklinton is home to a growing community of artists. A new event, Columbus Local at Franklinton’s 400 West Rich, a warehouse housing a gallery and several artists’ studios, will feature tours and artwork for sale during Festival hours. They’re also hosting a Festival After-Party on Saturday, June 2 from 10 p.m.–2 a.m.! We’re glad to be home!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xKsC0Gu04o

    Be sure to experience the Festival online! Check out behind the scenes action on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ColumbusArtsFestival and and participate in our #tweetandgoseek scavenger hunt through our Twitter account, @ColsArtsFest. More than $3,000 in Tweet and Go Seek prizes are up for grabs this year!

    The festival runs from June 1–3. Hours are Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m., and on Sunday from 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. More information can be found at columbusartsfestival.org.

    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.

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