YSU arts fest seeks submissions

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The 17th annual Summer Festival of the Arts is now accepting submissions for the juried fine-arts show.

The festival will be July 11 and 12 at and around Youngstown State University.

Artists are encouraged to apply by the April 3 early deadline, although applications will be accepted until the event is full. Each application must be accompanied by the $20 jury fee. If accepted, the booth fee is $100. The SFA does not rent tables; all artists must submit an application and materials and be accepted by a panel of professional jurors.

Go to ysu.edu/sfa for information and an application.

The SFA is a celebration of fine and performing arts, which also includes an ethnic festival, jazz concert and family activities. A variety of local and regional arts groups, cultural institutions, and ethnic and civic groups participate in it.

More than 80 artists were included last year.

“The Summer Festival of the Arts has become a cornerstone of activities for a weekendlong series of events in our community,” said festival coordinator Lori Factor.

“Artists from near and far travel to our area to participate in this event. We are grateful to the community for supporting the arts over the years as well as to the artists who have exhibited and sold their artwork.”

The Summer Festival of the Arts originally began as the Walk on Wick, an event sponsored by the Youngstown Area Arts Council.

In a unique partnership between the then-Arts Council and YSU, it became a department of the university in 1999, expanding into a weekend juried arts event on and around the campus.

Applications for fine artists who want to sell their work in the Artists’ Marketplace are also available.

Those interested should email Factor at lafactor@ysu.edu or download an application.