Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts
Downtown State College during the Arts Fest
Frequency	annually
Location(s)	State College, Pennsylvania
Years active	57
Inaugurated	1967
Website	Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts

The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, often called Arts Fest by students, happens every year in State College, Pennsylvania. It takes place both in the town and at Pennsylvania State University. It's a big celebration of art for everyone!

Discovering the Arts Fest: A Brief History

The very first Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts took place in July 1967. It lasted for nine days. Penn State's College of Arts and Architecture and the State College Chamber of Commerce helped organize it. The Governor at the time, Raymond P. Shafer, officially opened the festival.

Back then, musical shows were held downtown and on campus. The first Sidewalk Sale and Exhibition was quite simple. People hung their artwork on snow fences along "The Wall" near the Old Main lawn. You could buy art from both pros and beginners. You could even buy kittens!

How the Festival Has Changed Over Time

Today, the festival lasts for five days, from Wednesday to Sunday, in early July. The Sidewalk Sale and Exhibition is now professionally juried. This means experts choose which artists can show their work. A big part of the event is in State College, PA. The rest is on the Penn State University campus.

In 2013, Livability.com, a website that ranks cities, named the festival one of the Top 10 Summer Festivals. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic made the festival go completely online.

How the Arts Fest is Organized

A group called the Board of Directors runs the festival. Half of the board members are connected to Penn State University. The other half represents the local town. This team also manages another event called First Night State College.

The Festival's Main Goal

The festival's main goal is to "celebrate the arts." They want to show many different kinds of high-quality visual and performing arts. This happens with help from volunteers from the community and Penn State. The festival aims to teach and enrich people. It also helps artists and visitors connect with each other. About 400 volunteers help make the festival happen each summer.

Children and Youth Day: Fun for Young Artists

The first day of the festival is always Children and Youth Day. It's a special day just for kids and teens!

Activities for Kids and Teens

On this day, there's a Children and Youth Sidewalk Sale. Kids can also join free art and craft workshops. There are performances by and for young people. These shows happen on two outdoor stages and one indoor stage. It's a great chance for young artists to shine!

The Sidewalk Sale and Exhibition: A Huge Art Show

The Sidewalk Sale and Exhibition is one of the best outdoor art shows in the country. Artists and craftspeople from all over the nation come to State College.

What You Can Find at the Sale

More than 300 artists offer many different items for sale. You can find baskets, ceramics, jewelry, and beautiful fabric art. There are also paintings, photographs, and unique clothing.

How Artists Get Chosen

Artists from the U.S. and other countries send digital pictures of their work. In February, a group of experts reviews these images. Only artists with the highest scores are chosen for the Sidewalk Sale.

Supporting Local Artists

The festival also helps artists from Central Pennsylvania. They set aside spaces for artists living in nearby counties. These include Blair, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Huntingdon, Mifflin, and Union. This helps local artists get started in big art shows. All artists follow the same rules and can win prizes. Artists can win over $17,000 in prize money!

In 2012, Sunshine Artist magazine ranked the Sidewalk Sale and Exhibition second in its list of 100 Best Fine Art and Design Shows in America. This magazine is a top guide for art shows.

Performing Arts: Music and Shows for Everyone

Besides the art sale, the festival also has many performers. They play on outdoor and indoor stages. These stages are in downtown State College and on the Penn State campus.

Where to See Performances

Indoor shows happen at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, State College Presbyterian Church, and the State Theatre. Outdoor stages are set up on South Allen Street and on the lawn of Old Main.

What Kind of Music and Shows?

Each July, about 50 different performers come to the festival. Most shows are free! Some might need a special festival button for entry. You can hear all kinds of music, from classical to rock, bluegrass, jazz, and symphonic bands. Performers come from all over the world, the country, and the local area.

Images for kids

The Images exhibition is a special art show. It's held in the Robeson Gallery at Penn State University. This show runs from June through July each year.

Who Can Enter the Exhibition?

Artists living in Pennsylvania and nearby states can enter. These states include Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.. The artwork must be no more than three years old.

Types of Art Accepted

The exhibition accepts many types of art. This includes ceramic, fiber, and paper art. They also show drawings, paintings, mixed media, photography, and sculptures.

Expert Judges

Over the years, famous curators and directors have judged the exhibition. They come from places like the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Carnegie Museum of Art.

Festival Posters: Collectible Art

Many art festivals use special posters to advertise. These posters often become collector's items. For the past 30 years, Penn State Professor Lanny Sommese has designed the festival's posters. Many of these posters are well-known in the community.

The Sue Crowe Memorial Arts Festival Races

The Arts Festival 10K race is the oldest race in Central Pennsylvania. It first started in 1975 as a 10-mile race. In the late 1980s, it became a 10K race.

New Races and a Special Tribute

In 2005, a 5K race was added. The races now combine East and West Campuses. Money raised from the races helps youth running activities in Centre County. It also supports the Nittany Valley Running Club.

In 2006, the races were renamed to honor Sue Crowe. She was a well-known runner in Central Pennsylvania. Sue coached many young runners. She and her family often ran in the Arts Festival races. Sue won the race five times! The race now honors her memory.

Downtown State College Italian Street Painting Festival

Italian Street Painting is a tradition in State College since 1999. It's inspired by the art of Renaissance Europe. This part of the festival is on Hiester Street, a few blocks from the main festival area.

What to See at the Street Painting Festival

The festival features famous street painters. There's also a Young Artists Alley. Here, at least 30 smaller artworks are drawn. These are created by local artists, high school art students, and Penn State art majors.

First Night State College: A New Year's Eve Celebration

The same people who organize the Arts Festival also produce First Night State College. This is an alcohol-free, art-focused festival on December 31st.

First Night Activities

First Night has amazing outdoor ice carvings, including an ice slide! You can also see performances by musicians, dancers, and theater groups. Other fun activities include art and craft workshops for young children, carriage rides, and a 5K run.

BookFestPA: A Celebration of Books

BookFestPA is a part of the festival that focuses on literature. It features local authors and talks by writers. There are also many other book-related activities. The Schlow Centre Region Library hosts this event.