ArtFest in the West

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22 IS SEVENTH ANNUAL ARTFEST IN THE WEST, SUPPORTING ARTS PROGRAMS IN WESTERN ALBEMARLE SCHOOLS

Community Event Celebrates Students, Teachers and Families with an Evening of Performances,
Arts Exhibits and Silent Auction

ALBEMARLE, (VA)–Mark your calendar for the evening of February 22, 2019! ArtFest in the West will be held from 6 p.m.-9 p.m., in the Western Albemarle High School (WAHS) cafeteria, which will be transformed for a special evening of live music, dance, theater and song. More than 75 K-12 students will participate in performances that both showcase their creative talents–vocal and instrumental music, fine arts, photography, creative writing and drama¬–and celebrate their teachers and supportive families.

“It’s an incredible event and unique because it is a fundraiser for arts programs in our schools, a showcase of student talent and an entertaining evening for families,” said Michelle Jennings, President of Arts in Western Albemarle Education (AWE), the non-profit group organizing the event. The event is free of charge and families can expect an evening featuring hands-on children’s art activities and a silent auction with items donated from local restaurants, boutiques and a variety of other community businesses. “We also offer a wide variety of foods donated from local restaurants and bakeries in support of our fund-raising goal and that makes for a very affordable family night out,” Jennings said.

AWE’s fund-raising goal for ArtFest in the West is $10,000 to support arts programming in the six Western Albemarle County public schools: Murry, Meriwether Lewis, Crozet and Brownsville Elementary Schools, Henley Middle School and Western Albemarle High School. The organization was born out of a community desire to expand funding for arts programs.

As is tradition, the event will culminate with a preview of the WAHS upcoming spring musical “The Sound of Music.” Families with children of all ages will be able to take part in a broad range of activities including ceramics, hands-on arts and crafts and performances by student groups that include:

• Meriwether Lewis Elementary Music Students
• Henley Middle School Jazz Band
• WAHS Jazz Band
• WAHS Choir
• WAHS Orchestra
• WAHS Ceramics
• Preview of the WAHS Musical “The Sound of Music”

During the silent auction, families will be able to bid on music lessons, original art, gift certificates to local restaurants, services and more.

ArtFest in the West is sponsored by Western Albemarle County Schools’ Fine Arts Departments and Arts in Western Education, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Any businesses interested in being a business sponsor for ArtFest or donating to the Silent Auction are urged to contact Val Newcomb at the number or email below.

About Arts in Western Education (AWE)
AWE is a non-profit organization created to bring support, awareness, and celebration of the arts in the Western Albemarle feeder pattern schools.* AWE is a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization. ArtFest in the West is held annually in February or March and teachers in the visual and performing arts are encouraged to submit grants in the fall of each school year. Learn ore at ArtsInWesternEducation.org.

Media Contact: Val Newcomb, 434-806-1159, [email protected]

NOTE: if in the case of inclement weather, the event will move from February 22nd to March 1st.