By Elizabeth Coss
The Summer Festival of the Arts will be returning in July to Wean Park with collaboration between Youngstown State University and the city of Youngstown. The festival combines a juried art show with the performing, theatrical and visual arts and will also showcase nonprofit vendors.
Lori Factor, director of community engagement and events for the Cliffe College of Creative Arts, said the two-day event allows nonprofits to get their names out there.
“We have about 20 different nonprofits that deal with the arts. They will set up shop in a tent, and they can put their schedules out, they can do a performance within their booth, they can do giveaways,” Factor said. “Mostly, it’s information giving so people can come and learn about all the different art organizations out there.”
The festival is also partnering with many local organizations and companies, according to Factor.
“We will partner with St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, they will have their summer fest that same weekend,” Factor said. “We’ll reach out to the [public] library and the historical society and the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor and OH WOW! — all of those are a part of the art.”
Artists who enter in the juried art contest of the festival can be awarded cash prizes based on their work in several categories. Best of Show, Best Individual Piece and Best in each of the three major categories – 2D, 3D and Fine Arts – will be judged by Susan Russo, former chair of the art department, and Angela DiLucia, assistant director of the McDonough Museum of Art.
Musical acts have yet to be announced, but Factor said a variety of well-known and beloved acts are expected.
“You can absolutely be sure that there is a total melding of acts that are all types of different music or different types of theater, whether it’s choral singing or some groups you would absolutely know,” Factor said.
The event will take place from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. July 10. The festival is free and open to all.
For those interested in participating in the juried part of the festival, visit ysu.edu/sfa and fill out the artist application form.
