Media Information
For Immediate Release
Contact: Joann Reeves, 458-4069
FESTIVAL 2003 REGIONAL ARTS EXHIBITION OPENS EARLY AT THE GRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM
Festival of the Arts, Grand Rapids, MI - The community-wide celebration of the arts Festival 2003 fills downtown with art, creativity and community sprit on Friday, June 6, Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8.
The Festival Regional Art Exhibit will open early this year at the Grand Rapids Art Museum beginning May 13 at and continuing through June 13, 2003. The exhibition showcases West Michigan artists in a variety of mediums including; photography, sculpture, painting, metalwork’s, ceramics, printmaking and other multimedia genres.
The Festival 2003 Regional Arts Committee is excited to have Amy Braun Heiney as this year’s juror. Presently Heiney is the Program Director for ArtWorks, a non-profit organization that hires 14-21 year olds to work and gain experiences in the arts. Heiny has a long history of art experience as the Former Associate Curator for Exhibitions at the Grand Rapids Art Museum along with curating numerous exhibitions at venues throughout Michigan. Currently she is serving a second term as a reviewer for the Michigan Humanities Council Touring Arts Program and recently assisted with the development of sculpturesitesgr.org, a web-site devoted to public sculpture in metropolitan Grand Rapids
Cash awards between $175 - $1,000 will be given to artists in a variety of genres. Regional Arts winners will be recognized Saturday, June 7 at 7:00p.m. on Calder stage. A People’s Choice Award based on votes submitted by exhibit attendee’s throughout the Festival weekend will be given Sunday, June 8 on Calder stage at the close of Festival 2003.
The Regional Arts Exhibition is open to the public during regular museum hours. For more information call 616/459-1300 or go to the Festival website at www.festivalofthearts.com. The Festival 2003 Regional Arts Competition is sponsored by Festival of the Arts in Grand Rapids, The City of Grand Rapids and the Grand Rapids Art Museum.