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35 Years of Celebrating Art Leesburg is home to the 35th Annual Leesburg Art Festival, where festival-goers can stroll down the street and mingle with 100 of some of the most accomplished artists and rising stars from all over the country. The juried fine arts show runs 10am to 5pm, March 3 and 4 on Main Street between 9th and Elk Streets, and will feature nearly $6,000 in prize money for the winners. “The artists are among the best in the country,” said Amy Painter, Executive Director of the Leesburg Center for the Arts, the organization that presents the festival. Festival-goers will see a wide array of art: ceramics, glass, jewelry, mixed media, paintings, sculptures, photography and more. Billed as a family friendly festival, the event will feature entertainment, food, and a Kids Zone area filled with art activities for children to enjoy. Among the new activities for 2012 will be a special section spotlighting new, emerging artists and a “Walk with the Expert” program, sponsored by Anytime Fitness, where festival goers can learn more about art from experts in the art festival field. Artists tell Painter that they love the southern hospitality and small town charm that the Leesburg Art Festival provides. “Artists love our show,” Painter said. “The main thing that I hear is how friendly the people of Leesburg are, from our volunteers to the visitors. They say this is one of the friendliest places and that it’s nice to be greeted with smiling faces.” Those words of praise please Painter, who first attended the Leesburg Art Festival as a child. She remembers it was thrilling to meet international artists and view artworks commonly found in art galleries and museums of metropolitan cities. “We are offering an opportunity for people to see artists that they wouldn’t necessarily get a chance to see any other way,” she said. |
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