ArtsFest 2022 – an exciting weekend-long celebration of the arts -- will take place in New Rochelle and Pelham from October 20th through 23rd . Organized by the non-profit New Rochelle Council on the Arts (NRCA) ArtsFest spotlights the diversity of arts and artists in our community, with open studios, live music and dance, film screenings, pop-up art exhibits, a classic car show focused on design, a spoken word event with the acclaimed READ650, and interactive activities for all ages.
Last year ArtsFest drew hundreds of people to the 36 participating venues, with free art exhibits, demonstrations and performances representing the work of more than 120 artists. Highlights included the ArtsFest Music Festival and ArtsFest Dance Festival as well as the first ArtsFest Artisan Market. This year in addition to those activities NRCA is collaborating with the renowned Copland House to present the world premiere of a new work by composer Steven Snowden, partnering with Bridge Records for a special anniversary concert, and offering a free guided trolley tour of New Rochelle’s exciting street art, the 20 #NRNY Murals. For a complete calendar of events visit www.newrochellearts.org.
Now in its 13th year, ArtsFest 2022 will kick off on Thursday, October 20th with the World Premiere of a new work by award-winning composer Steven Snowden that celebrates the unique culture and history of “the Queen City on the Sound.” The concert will feature Westchester’s renowned “house band,” the internationally-acclaimed Music from Copland House ensemble, performing free at the Ossie Davis Theater at the New Rochelle Public Library.
ArtsFest will continue all weekend with a full calendar of art events and activities, from behind-the-scenes tours of working artists’studios -- including world renowned 3-D artist Charles Fazzino’s Museum Editions studio, where visitors can dabble in interactive arts projects – as well as a visit from ArtsWestchester’s ArtsMobile, a Classic Car Show, a spoken word event curated by READ650, an ArtsFest Dance Festival featuring performances by local companies, and the ArtsFest Music Festival featuring an eclectic group of local musicians playing live at NewRo Parc.
A free concert on Friday night, October 21st will celebrate Bridge Records, a Grammy Award winning label based in New Rochelle; featured Bridge artists are the pianist Steven Beck, playing music by prominent American composers George Walker (the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music, which he received for his work Lilacs in 1996 ) and William Bland (aka C. Damon Carter). Label President Becky Starobin and A & R Director David Starobin will also speak about the music and artwork on display
Also on the menu are art exhibits at the Rotunda Gallery and the New Rochelle Public Library, and “Art in the Gardens,” pop-up exhibits in local gardens. (A collaboration between the New Rochelle Art Association and New Rochelle Healthy Yards, Art in the Gardens will highlight artists work inspired by nature and/or designed to enhance a garden.) There will also be a variety of interactive family-friendly activities, from pumpkin painting at the Hudson Park Children’s Greenhouse and a scavenger hunt sponsored by the New Rochelle Artists Association for painted rocks (with a $50 prize for the person who finds the “golden rock”) to “Pizza with Picasso” at LaRosa Pizzeria, with local artists helping participants create Picasso-inspired portraits.
The ArtsFest steering committee includes NRCA President Theresa Kump Leghorn and NRCA Board members Margaret Chadwick, Barbara Davis, Monica Deane, Selena Evans, Dave Fabris, Charles Fazzino, Beth Feldman, Julie Maner, and Ken Valenti. along with Monica Uhm, Charlotte Mouquin, Scott Seaboldt, Victoria Rolett. Alexi Brock, Lisa Itzkowitz, Kael Littman, Suzanne Nolan, and Catherine White.
An official ArtsFest calendar will be mailed to city residents and available at venues as well as online at NRCA’s website www.newrochellearts.org. “Designing, printing and mailing the calendar, plus the cost of renting the trollies and other equipment really adds up, so we’re very grateful to the generous sponsors who make ArtsFest possible,” says Leghorn. ArtsFest sponsors so far include ArtsWestchester, Gwendolen Appleyard Trust, New Rochelle IDA, Charles Fazzino, Mill Creek Residential, Alvin & Friends Restaurant, Cappelli, L+M Wilder Balter, New Rochelle Downtown Business Improvement District, RXR, The Standard, Town House and in-kind sponsors AJ’s Burgers and New Rochelle Public Library.
ArtsFest is organized by the New Rochelle Council on the Arts. The mission of NRCA (founded in 1975) is to encourage the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts, and over the years NRCA has sponsored art exhibitions, theatrical productions, dance recitals, film screenings, lectures, spoken word events, concert series and public art. Find out more about NRCA at www.newrochellearts.org.
The New Rochelle Council on the Arts is proud to be a grantee of ArtsWestchester with funding made possible by Westchester County government with the support of County Executive George Latimer.