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Three-Day Celebration Promises to ‘Unify’ the Arts

The Phoenix Festival of the Arts, the City’s first signature arts festival, will take place in the heart of downtown Phoenix at Hance Park December 7-9, 2012.

Hosted by Phoenix Center for the Arts and sponsored by Lou and Evelyn Grubb, this free festival will become an annual tradition in the Valley of the Sun.

“Our goal is to unify the Phoenix arts community and to show how accessible the arts really are,” said Joseph Benesh, director of Phoenix Center for the Arts. “The arts aren’t just a weekend activity. Phoenix has a huge cultural landscape, where people can find things to do any day of week – and we want everyone to know that.”

The Center, operated by Phoenix Center Arts Association (a 501c3 nonprofit), is a historic facility dedicated to making the arts truly unique, affordable, and enjoyable since 1975.

“Unifying the Arts” The festival will unite the arts and arts organizations through a cross-pollination of artistic markets in a way Phoenix has never done before. Just as First Friday’s have become a destination for citizens throughout the valley due to cooperation from galleries, retail, food, and performance venues, the festival will similarly serve to stimulate economic growth within the community. Furthering this model, the festival will act as an added tourism attraction in the winter.

Event highlights include nearly 90 hours of live arts entertainment on THREE stages! Plus dozens of arts vendors, food trucks, a beer & wine garden, a children’s play area, flash performances and more!

Phoenix Arts Guidebook: This take-home guide to all things arts-related in Phoenix will feature information on the participating arts organizations, with coupons to help you enjoy the arts in the months to come. A minimum of 5,000 will be handed out at the festival…for free!

Community Participation: Mayor Greg Stanton is the honorary chair and will participate in the ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, December 7.

The inaugural Phoenix Festival of the Arts is made possible through the contribution of Lou & Evelyn Grubb, and sponsored by APS, Hensley Beverage Company and SM Moving Systems.

Members of the arts community around the Valley are invited to participate, including:
Arts vendors who produce locally made original art.
Valley arts organizations large and small!
Performing arts groups (ex: poetry, choirs, dance, hip-hop, symphony, folk, etc.)

All applications can be found on phoenixfestivalofthearts.org. Applications must be submitted by Friday, September 28, 2012.

Event Facts at a Glance

What:

The Inaugural Phoenix Festival of the Arts

Dates:

December 7-9, 2012

Hours:

Friday, December 7 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday, December 8 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, December 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(Art exhibitors will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. all three days)

Admission:

FREE

Anticipated Attendance:

20,000

Where:

Hance Park, 1202 N. 3rd Street, Phoenix AZ 85004

Parking/Transportation:

Limited street parking available. Avoid the hassle and take METRO Light Rail to the McDowell/Central Ave or Roosevelt/Central Ave. Bike racks are also available.

Produced by:

Phoenix Center for the Arts, operated by Phoenix Center Arts Association (a 501c3 nonprofit). Our mission is to provide the community with opportunities to participate in the visual and performing arts through creative and affordable quality programming.

Supported by:

Made possible through the contribution of Lou & Evelyn Grubb, and sponsored by APS, Hensley Beverage Company and SM Moving Systems.

Event Highlights:

Nearly 90 hours of live arts entertainment on THREE stages. Plus dozens of arts vendors, food trucks, a beer & wine garden, a children’s play area, flash performances and more!

Phoenix Arts Guidebook:

This take-home guide to all things arts-related in Phoenix will feature information on the participating arts organizations, with coupons to help you enjoy the arts in the months to come. A minimum of 5,000 will be handed out at the festival…for free!

Information:

About Phoenix Center for the Arts Phoenix Center for the Arts is a historic building located in downtown Phoenix well suited to provide art, music, and performing art classes and programs. This facility, known to most as the Phoenix Center for the Arts or The Center, is now managed by the Phoenix Center Arts Association, a nonprofit organization. Our mission is to provide the community with the opportunities to participate in the visual and performing arts through creative and affordable quality programming. The association now offers online registration for classes year round. Summer classes include the Summer Extravaganza, and arts program for youth 6-14. For more information, visit phoenixcenterforthearts.org.