United Arts of Central Florida's Blog

The Center for Contemporary Dance

2011-12-14T04:37:00.000-08:00

It is important to remember that February is not only All Arts, All Month, All Free with ArtsFest...it is also Black History Month, which gives us a unique opportunity to appreciate our history and reflect on how far we have come as Americans. The Center for Contemporary Dance presents Moore Dance Project in Sacred Slave Stories, a history-inspired contemporary ballet that unfolds as a series of living memories from African-Americans who once lived as slaves. Don't miss this incredible performance, taking place in two locations:

Friday, February 3 @ 7pm

at Tavares High School, 603 N. New Hampshire Ave, Taveres, 32778

(open to the public, no tickets required)

Thursday, February 2 & Friday, February 3, 11 am - 12:30 pm

Sunday, February 5; 3-4:30 pm

at The Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center

203 S. Magnolia Ave., Sanford, 32771

(tickets required, visit ArtsFestFL.com to enter the ticket lottery)

Art and Music and Anything You May Have Missed.

2011-12-07T08:26:00.000-08:00

With the help of the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of Modern Art and the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, Park Avenue celebrated their Christmas in the Park event this past Thursday. Did you miss the hypnotizing sounds of the Bach Festival Society? Maybe you didn't have enough time to step into Origins to see local artist, Robin Maria Pedrero's awe-inspiring display? This was not your last opportunity to embrace the creativity of all of these amazing artists. During ArtsFest 2012, in February, you will be able to enjoy a relaxing outdoor concert with the Bach Festival Society and see the "Emotive Art" of Robin Maria Pedrero, of course all for free! Keep checking the ArtsFest website for the anticipated release of the full schedule of events.

ArtsFest At the Library.

2011-11-18T08:09:00.000-08:00

The Orlando Public Library has been a huge supporter of ArtsFest for years. They are continuously spreading the word about ArtsFest and hosting numerous events for children and families. This year United Arts is proudly teaming up with the Orlando Public Library for ArtsFest again to offer a wide range of performances, workshops and activities for children, parents and the whole family. You can expect to see organizations like The Wondermakers, International Folk Dance Ensemble and the UCF Opera all at the library, every weekend of ArtsFest. Look for the ArtsFest 2012 Schedule of Events, coming soon on our website to see these events. Bring the family to the Library every weekend in February and immerse in to art, dance, music and culture, all at your neighborhood Downtown Public Library.

Tree Of Light--Exercise Your Creativity

2011-11-09T11:39:00.000-08:00

Cole NeSmith has discovered the power of collaboration in the arts and is sharing it with ArtsFest 2012. On Kickstarter, a website dedicated to supporting new, creative projects, Cole talks about his inspirations for his Tree of Light project and his desire to encourage people to band together and become participants of the art versus just viewers. Standing over 20ft, this original, interactive sculpture, will bring visual and audible art to life by the pull of a string from your own hands. Illuminate Orlando together this February by experience Cole NeSmith's Tree of Light for ArtsFest 2012.

Post on our wall and let us know where you would like to see the Tree of Light sculpture during ArtsFest.

DRIP : Watch Art Come Alive

2011-11-07T07:11:00.000-08:00

DRIP! Is going to create big buzz come February. This arts entertainment company formulates a unique blend of performing and visual arts that will heighten all your senses. If you're a fan of performances like Blue Man Group and Cirque du Soleil, you will undoubtedly enjoy DRIP's combination of dance, music and messy mediums. Leave the kids at home, these late night performances will be a perfect date night come February.

Jazz Meets Hip Hop at the Eden Bar!

2011-11-02T12:15:00.001-07:00

Who doesn't love the feeling of discovering new music and talented artists? Although The BLU-TET is no stranger to the local music scene in Orlando, this energetic, full fledged, jazz quartet is "the new guy" at ArtsFest 2012. Enjoy the "Digital Journey" of unique improvisations along with trance-like beats from The BLU-TET, two separate nights, at the always welcoming, Enzian's Eden Bar. Continue following our blog for more hightlights and insights of the endless, FREE events we have planned for this year's ArtsFest.

Uptown Art Expo joins ArtsFest!

2011-10-27T12:19:00.000-07:00

The Uptown Art Expo has joined forces with ArtsFest! Over 125 Art & Fine Crafts, Chalk Street Art, Children's Activities, Music & Street Performers in beautiful uptown Altamonte. Join ArtsFest and the Uptown Art Expo on February 18 and 19! For more info, click on the logo above!

Schedule released in December

2011-10-27T08:31:00.000-07:00

The full ArtsFest 2012 schedule will be released in December 2011. Stay tuned to the "schedule" tab of United Arts for the release of the new and improved ArtsFest Schedule of Events, which will reveal the 302 events in 87 venues across four counties in Central Florida!

Shine Performing Arts joins ArtsFest

2011-10-26T04:58:00.001-07:00

The Pine Hills Performing Arts Center and Shine Performing Arts will be collaborating with ArtsFest 2012 to host a special dance performance sometime during the month of February. Final plans are in the works and should be posted along with the full ArtsFest schedule in December. Stay tuned to ArtsFestFL.com for details!

Enter-to-Win System for 2012

2011-08-04T12:18:00.000-07:00

ArtsFest has over 300 events each year that are offered to the community for free. A small percentage of these events (roughly 20%) require that you make advanced reservations by getting tickets. Often times these events have a limited capacity and can only hold a certain number of people. During ArtsFest 2012, a new ticketing system will be in place for events that require tickets. Patrons will be able to log on to a new ticketing system to enter-to-win tickets to their favorite top 5 ArtsFest events. The enter-to-win system will be live during a two week period prior to the first day of ArtsFest. Winners will be announced one week prior to ArtsFest and will be notified if they won tickets or (if they did not win tickets) their place in line on the waiting list. It is our hope that this new system will enable patrons to have an easier time reserving tickets for ArtsFest 2012.

All Arts, All Month, All FREE! in 2012

2011-04-27T08:31:00.000-07:00

ArtsFest has over 302 FREE events this year that are offered to the community during the month of February. A small percentage of these events (roughly 20%) require that you make advanced reservations by getting tickets. Often times these events have a limited capacity and can only hold a certain number of people. During ArtsFest 2012, a new ticketing system will be in place for Tickets are Limited events. From ArtsFestFL.com, patrons will be able to access the Ticket Lottery and select up to five (5) Tickets are Limited events that they’d like to attend at ArtsFest 2012. Patrons may enter the lottery during a two week period prior to ArtsFest (January 10-21) at their convenience. Lottery winners will be notified via email on January 25. If patrons that entered the lottery do not win tickets to the event(s) they chose, they will be given their place in line on the waiting list.

New ticket system being researched

2011-04-27T08:24:00.001-07:00

Plans are underway to launch a new ticketing system for ArtsFest 2012. This system, currently being used by theatres across the country, will enable patrons to sign up for the ArtsFest lottery during a two week period, ranking their favorite ticketed events in order of preference. After the lottery closes, names will be selected at random and contacted via email to let them they have won. If you are not awarded tickets to an event that you wanted to attend, you will be given a number for where you are on the waiting list for the show so you can decide whether it is worth your time to drive to the venue and wait for the 30-minute no show policy to take effect. It is United Arts' hope that this new system will increase customer satisfaction with the ticketing process to events with limited tickets, improving the overall ArtsFest experience. ArtsFest 2012 will take place the entire month of February 2012 (1-29th) in celebration of the 10th anniversary for the event.

ArtsFest reaches over 40,000 guests!

2011-04-12T08:18:00.000-07:00

The results are in: this year ArtsFest provided 40,145 FREE cultural experiences in Central Florida. United Arts of Central Florida brought together 92 community organizations in Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties to offer 220 cultural events to the public free of charge. Thank you to our generous sponsors for keeping this festival alive in Central Florida. A special thank you to our presenting sponsor Bank of America. Join us in 2012 as United Arts celebrates 10 years of ArtsFest with 29 days of FREE arts & culture! Save the date: February 1-29, 2012. Stay tuned to ArtsFestFL.com for more information.

Battle of the Sexes II

2011-02-18T11:01:00.000-08:00

The era of philanthropism is not behind us just yet, and supporting evidence of my claim came in form of my newfound friend Diana at the Orlando Ballet Saturday night for the presentation of Battle of the Sexes II. On a whim I had decided to attend the ballet, and thirty minutes before the start of the performance I found myself parked illegally in a poorly illuminated backstreet lot and standing in an extensive line praying for any stray remaining tickets.
I met Diana when she approached me and offered me one of the season tickets she had purchased with her friend, who was ill and unable to redeem her seat for the show. Naturally I leapt at the chance to accept her altruistic proposal and she ushered me inside to the orchestra pit, where we discussed art, school and personal interests until the curtain rose on a sensually rich display of light, color and movement.
Diana truly came to my rescue, because knowing now what I would have sacrificed by foregoing the ballet that evening, I am certain I have advanced my understanding of the mastery of the art by watching the dancers perform.
The control in which several few exemplary dancers commanded their every movement aroused a visceral awe in me. In some moments it was as if the laws of physics materialized into unseen pegs in the contemporary musical beat from which the dancers leapt, propelling themselves into extraordinary inversions that seemed to depart from the natural realm of somatic capability.
The wire of energy between the dancers was taut, and inspired an increasingly centripetal pattern of movement in the exchange of their actions. The tenor of the interactions changed discursively in response to the amalgamation of different couplings, and was coaxed by the distinguished hues of the stage lighting and the tonality of the driving musical composition. Through the unity in motion of the dancers, the audience was lured into an investigation of gender roles by virtue of both the differentiation and duality of the partners on stage.
The Orlando ballet doesn’t amount the sizable audience of which it is deserving, and after witnessing the sheer talent offered in Battle of the Sexes II, I was forced to question the validity of this reality. The unaddressed dejection in Diana’s voice when we discussed the matter was one that resonated. Here was a woman that took the greatest pleasure in sitting in front of a stage before a ballet recital, outwardly expressing her concern for the neglect of her cherished performance art.
Where is the rest of the culture in Orlando that feels as emphatically passionate about art? The success of ArtsFest is indisputable evidence that a niche of sophisticates exists, but where do they go during the rest of the year? Why is there not a resurgence of this mutual identity of Orlando residents on more than just one ten-day annual festival? Why can’t the ArtsFest rush be expanded into a steady flow of artisanship that flourishes daily?
Orlando is one of the fastest growing cities in the state of Florida, and accompanied by this knowledge I raise the question contemplating the future of our city. In the infantile stages of development in the academic region of East Orlando at the University of Central Florida, and in a constant state of growth in the business district, the downtown and Colonialtown, at what point will Orlando make The Arts a priority?
A movement is afoot through the efforts of UnitedArts of Central Florida, but the participation of the enthusiasts of art is integral to the ultimate success of establishing Orlando as a city not characterized by business and tourism alone, but additionally as a cradle for artists and those of us who love and support them.
The arts underpin our society in Central Florida, regardless of whether or not this truth is immediately apparent. What remains to be seen is how we as residents take on the responsibility of entrepreneurs and curators and performers and connoisseurs, and begin expanding the reaches of the budding artistic faction in our area. The Arts of Central Florida are not of an idle nature, nor should we be, and with all of the facets of artistry at our disposal and yearning for recognition, it is incumbent of us, as devoted members of Central Florida, to promote and encourage the enhancement of appreciation of The Arts at home.

A very special thanks to Diana, who made attending this event possible for me.

Clouds of Love

2011-02-18T10:59:00.000-08:00

Steinway & Sons Piano Gallery was buzzing with excitement in anticipation of a special Valentines Day presentation by Clouds in My Coffee called "Clouds of Love", an intimate concert characterized by the velvety voices of performers such as MoZaic and Danny Cassette among a multitude of others.
The heightened romantic sensitivity of the crowd swooned at the sweet, coaxing melodies shaped by the live band onstage, and the musical pieces offered for the pleasure of the listeners pronounced the unabashed romanticism alive within the crowd.
MoZaic delivered a beautiful performance in a voice that mutually gripped and softly enticed the audience into a state of eager yearning that radiated perceptibly from the edge of each of their seats. The connection between the artists who possessed the stage and the ones who obtained the satisfaction from the performance was easily observable, and the exchange of passion from both parties permeated the room with a warm bliss that was stroked by the hum of the electric instruments, the embrace of the hot, reaching lights and the soft caress of the diminished burbles of conversation.
The arts catered yet again to the venture of advancing human happiness, as this was a perfect arena for the celebration of the holiday of love.

Fine Feathers: How the Peacock Came to Winter Park

2011-02-18T08:23:00.000-08:00

peacock (ˈpiːˌkɒk); scientific name : "Pavo cristatus"

Doubtless if you’re lived in Central Florida for more than a year, you’ve become uncomfortably aware of the strange forlorn bird calls that are synonymous with the Peacock. Naturally this raises a lot of questions, for example, ‘where did these birds come from?’ , perhaps, ‘why are there peacocks on my roof?’, and possibly even, ‘why am I pitted with the added responsibility of fretting about my cat hunting peacocks?’.

As a disclaimer, some of the preceding questions may remain forever unrequited.

However, for the more generalized subsumption of peacock-related information into your presumably extensive library of knowledge about this colorful bird, a visit to the Winter Park History Center could satisfy a generous amount of inquiries and concerns related to this magnificent creature.
The vivid and family-friendly exhibition by the History Center is just as fulfilling as a trip to the zoo, and the installation of several peacock-inspired folk art pieces throughout the gala provides some insight into the effect of our fowl neighbors on the community of artists at large.

Anne Frank and Me

2011-02-16T18:29:00.001-08:00

Anne Frank and Me arrived with implications of a playful, educational and family-friendly undertone during its first act. The interactive play capped the quiet mumble of the crowd with a staccato of action between heroine Nicole and her younger sister in the midst of a sibling kerfuffle, the type of emotionally-heightened altercation with which parents of multiple teenagers are doubtless well-acquainted.
I was skeptical at first, because the roles of the characters seemed too exaggerated, too brazen, to really allow for an atmosphere that catered to anyone outside of the high school age bracket. It provided the illusion of simplicity with the manor in which it approached the subject of WWII. But the essence of flippancy quickly unraveled when the curtain rose on the second act.
The tone of the play shifts dramatically from the initial banality of adolescent quandaries to a somber, palpable apprehension that permeates the stage, and suddenly we find that Nicole is forced to suppress her bubbly, candid habits in favor of an adult sensibility that is necessary to navigate her new environment: a tangent universe set in the Paris of 1942.
The grim atmosphere is immediately discernible, and hangs on every breath and gesture of the characters to the point where the belly of every exchange, though underpinned by a steadily maintained burble of hope, seems almost serrated, as if the delivery of every line is unbearable- a vocalized admission of the largely unaddressed hardship faced by every character.
I briefly considered visiting the Holocaust museum during these ten days of ArtsFest, but I decided against it, in large because I could not bring myself to deliver a pithy, diluted summary about a memorial for arguably the most horrific event in the history of the industrialized world. When I attended Anne Frank and Me, I did not enter the theater with the expectation of departing the performance with tears in my eyes, and I was taken aback by the level at which it affected me. But what Anne Frank and Me delivers is a sincere approach to an indescribably heinous period in time, and compacts the subject into a performance art piece that is capable of recapitulating the tragedy of The Holocaust in the way that no assortment of written words could, or should, ever match. Because when we see the pains of humans transcend time and solidify into a form of art- whether it be painting, sculpting, dance or theater- we find that it is possible to examine a commonality of mankind with earnestness, without compromising the nature of the subject matter, while concurrently emboldening the statement with an element of humanity that no other human construct is able to exemplify.

Central Florida Regional History Center

2011-02-09T21:26:00.001-08:00

The faithful patrons of the greater Orlando area are well aware that their City Beautiful is not characterized by mouse ears alone, despite everything the airports, grocery stores and google searches of “Orlando, FL” may imply. As for the tourists who are altogether unfamiliar with the charm provided by the extenuating districts in the region, one can only hope that those visiting our city are at least minimally disenchanted by the stretch of pseudo-“entertainment” that constitutes International Drive.

So for those of us who know that Orlando exists in greater depth than the grinning costumed characters parading around Disney next door, be glad for such exhibits as the Orange County Regional History Center that is offering free admission to all of its displays as a part of these 10 Days of ArtsFest.

From the lobby, peering up through a layered collection of cartoonized historical factoids is enough to draw in a younger crowd, and as for the older generations, each succeeding floor offers an extensive collection of material, each piece conducive to the appreciation of Orlando’s rich history, and gathered by virtue of the museum’s continuously developing labor of love.

The glass cases preserve countless trinkets and memorabilia, attained through the museum’s laborious effort to locate and re-appropriate each piece individually from the homes of previous owners. Some, such as bayonets and family portraits, attest to Florida’s dominant role during the Civil War, and still others prod even deeper into the dark, primordial recesses of Central Floridian history, exploring the eclectic birth of Orlando as a cultural hotspot and tourist destination even before the inevitable monopolization of the area by Disney and Universal Studios.

What the Orange County Regional History Center really has to offer is a comprehensive defense for the true identity of Orlando, one dissociated from the entertainment empire and theme parks that, however enjoyable, don’t serve as an accurate depiction of the ethnic roots from whose influence modern Floridian culture continues to draw.

The History Center provides much needed punctuation in the continuous stream of advertisements promoting the commercialized entertainment industry that has become synonymous with Central Florida, offering residents a relief permanently embossed in the documented experiences of real people, encountering real, historically pivotal conditions, who emerged to cultivate the admirable nature of Central Florida- one accentuated by organic art and artists- that is Central Florida we know to be real.

An Evening of Thunder

2011-02-09T09:41:00.001-08:00

It was back to Stardust last night for a special presentation of Gift of the Magi, a performance brought to us by local marionette troupe Thunder Hag. The experience at Stardust is never an unpleasant one, and the morale this particular evening was amplified by the anticipation of the oncoming folk art performance, regardless of the dismal atmosphere induced by the gloominess outside.

The play had been postponed briefly while the troupe tried to recollect themselves after being chased out of their intended venue for the performance (the parking lot) and the secondary location was a considerable compromise in contrast to the breathing room offered by the troupe’s first choice in stage. Yet ever faithful to their art, the marionette team assembled themselves in front of the expansive collection of DVDs synonymous with the Stardust Lounge instead.

The steady drizzle wasn’t offering anyone much of a choice, so grudgingly everyone in attendance piled inside- including the local growers present to offer their wares at Stardust’s weekly Farmer’s Market- and reluctantly everyone submitted to a mutual unease due to the level of intimacy at which we were all commingling. As soon as I stepped in, I found myself completely submerged in the overlapping of voices, aromas and additional perceptual textures. It was a little stifling.

But a few minutes of slinking around the table corners of vendors propounding cartons of eggs from free-range hens and locally-produced vegan chocolate was enough to encourage a sense of camaraderie, primarily because, in truth, the nature of this event was underscored by a virtue of humanity among both the performers and the attendees. Also partially because the space necessitated us to put forth at least a meager effort to be neighborly.

Incidentally I bumped into Brian Feldman who was looking a little more limber and seemed to be in much higher spirits than he had been during our most recent encounter. I got the chance to ask him the questions I’d been pondering since we last met. For example, what was the worst part about being stuffed inside a skillcrane for sixteen hours? After a moment of reflection, Feldman admitted that the worst facet of the experience was a tie between the tediousness of the endeavor and the inability to visit the bathroom.

The performance was a brief one, but the intricacy of the set design, the fully embodied energy of the cast, and the intrigue of the questions raised by the play and left to the interpretation of the audience imparted nothing less than a warm satisfaction resonating among us, in the fashion that only a genuinely soulful performance can really do.

MicheLee Puppets

2011-02-07T11:48:00.001-08:00

The honest nature of children is something to be admired, and nothing awakens that spirit of candid excitement like an interactive, colorful, melodic performance. Essentially, the latter is what MicheLee Puppet Shows provide for their young audience, with the addition of one other very important distinction: MicheLee Puppets comes with a message woven neatly into the fiber of each of their plays.

A Good Day for Pancake is a cheerful marionette show with an undercurrent of morality. What initially seems to be your typical go-to source for an hour’s worth of quality entertainment for an age group spanning from two years to seven quickly transforms throughout the presentation. The plot that begins as explicit and playful as any nursery rhyme unexpectedly hits a pivotal checkpoint when a bully character is introduced to the pack of silly puppets and begins to pick on one of them, hurting the little lion’s feelings and ostracizing him from the rest of the group. The story takes an unprecedented 180-degree turn, and begins to accrue gravity as the bully injects an alien spirit of mean-heartedness and violence into the dynamic of our beloved fluffy heroes.

Pancake the piglet, in all of the sincerity of a child in the age bracket of the bright-eyed attendees in the crowd is struck with an inherent sense of responsibility and concern, and we follow along with Pancake’s strides in an attempt to denounce the bully and right the wrongs imposed on our favorite lion cub. With the help of Pancake’s mom, who also serves as the puppeteer, Pancake and the young audience learn how to report bullying to an adult in order to bring it to an end.

With the cheerful swing of things restored and the vitality of every cast member revitalized, especially the happiness of the lion cub, a quick review of the material covered in the play is crisp evidence of the resilience of the message in the young minds of its viewers. It was clear to see that several short lessons condensed into a simple cadence were enough to have an effect on the kids seated on the floor in front of the stage, and there is something reassuring about watching the next generation subsume such an important lesson into their freshly-developing sense of morality, because seeing this is very nearly the equivalent of watching tomorrow’s young thinkers dissolve domestic violence. That, along with the simple enjoyment of seeing a puppet show, is all the reason you need to see a MicheLee Puppets performance!

MicheLee Puppets are a non-profit organization who cultivate their shows from the seeds of social concerns. To learn more about what MicheLee Puppets does, where to find them, and how to support their cause, visit micheleepuppets.org/ - And tune in on Tuesday the 8th for a presentation of Somebunny Special as part of these ten days of ArtsFest 2011!

The Skill Crane Kid

2011-02-07T01:07:00.002-08:00

As if Stardust Video & Coffee in Orlando wasn’t already an excellent venue of intrigue and good coffee, the habitually eclectic collection of art was augmented today with the inclusion of one very singular piece: Brian Feldman. Particularly, Brian Feldman inside of a Skill crane.

For someone previously unacquainted with Feldman’s work, stepping over the threshold of the cafe to the immediate sight of a grown man of average height and build tucked up in the corner of a game machine amidst a sea of cheap, plush toys freshly imported from China could come as a bit of a shock. However, spending sixteen hours sitting in a glass container sans bathroom breaks is arguably lower on the list of heinous- and relatively masochistic- ventures taken on by Feldman in the past. A quick perusal through the history of the projects listed on his website adds a layer of perspective to this most recent and gleefully obtuse demonstration.

For instance, one of Feldman’s most notable projects found him spinning a bottle with strangers of the opposite sex, and then entering into legal matrimony with the individual selected by the aleatory indication of the glass.

But why thrust oneself into the limelight when laden with such unfortunate circumstances? For money? For notoriety? Maybe just for fun?

Actually, the Feldman projects are oriented around attracting attention, but the acts are far from being narcissistic. Every installation is a visual argument, intended to promote a cause, or at least direct attention towards a polemical issue dear to Mr. Feldman’s heart.

To accentuate what he propounds to be the absurdity of restrictions on same-sex marriages, Feldman entered into a legally-binding union with a woman he didn’t know: just because it was a heterosexual combination, just because they were allowed. For an entire year the couple remained legally bound to one another, but barely in contact and entirely uninvolved with one another’s personal lives. An annulment inevitably took place, but not before that poignant, defiant note resonated firmly among those supporting and following the event; a bleak tenor of uneasiness, the result of that shadow of doubt cast by Feldman over the morality of the institution of marriage, a law that repels some lovers and encourages others to unite disingenuously, based on the premise that some human unions are inherently ‘correct’, not because of any emotion substance or level of commitment, but solely because they are of the opposite sex.

But if Feldman’s goal is to raise awareness of pressing social concerns, what exactly does stuffing himself inside an arcade game machine accomplish?

In 2004 in Sheboygan, WI, a young boy left to his own devices while grocery shopping with a parent crawled into a Skill crane and managed to trap himself inside. The child emerged unscathed, but regardless the incident was of enough importance to inspire Feldman to reproduce it, imparting upon all us the gravity of ensnaring oneself in a public toy box.

For more information about Brian Feldman and his extensive list of projects, visit his website at www.brianfeldman.com

Spoken Word and Emotions Dance

2011-02-07T01:07:00.001-08:00

“That’s something a stranger should do, is blow into town and point out something that might’ve been overlooked.”

More and more frequently under the influence of technology, the delicate nuances of phonetics are lost to our newfound inclination to abbreviate. To fragment. To shorten. And all of that gentle, measured sloping meter and rhythm of a language cured and perfected by years and years and generations of people is shamefully neglected.

Thankfully for groups like Emotions Dance, the revival of the artistry in verbal communication was the primary focus for at least a few hours.

Paired with the grace and beauty of dance, Trinity Preparatory School served as the venue for a spoken word performance on the second day of ArtsFest 2011. Words took on an entirely new form when issued through the microphone that night for the dozens of attendees waiting anxiously in the crowd. Sentence after sentence fell upon our ears, each out pour of words cresting and falling in gentle lapping rhythms at times, and snapping and popping and flickering quickly at others.

If art is a force intended to alter the way we perceive the world, then art emerged in true form tonight. We should be thankful for artists like those who invest their passion into the performance of spoken word, because it is through their endeavors that we are able to detect, define and finally grasp that mundane layer of everyday truth, so that we may flip it over and peer at it from the other side.

Without these artists, would we pay any mind to words further than the everyday utility of them during our 9-5 shift as a means to navigate through people in order to get from point A to point B? I’m not so sure we would. Sometimes if it seems our world is void of art, perhaps the problem is not that our immediate surroundings are commonplace, rather that we have become complacent with them.

We should all take a leaf from the book of the spoken word artists and try to peer at that reality in front of us from a new angle. Reevaluate! Overanalyze everything! Try a double-take once in a while. How many beautiful things have you overlooked today simply because they’re included in your routine?

I can be the first to attest to the following: attend a spoken word performance, and language will no longer be one of the arts your attention sails past on a daily basis.

Spoken word was an invigorating reminder that we should all take the opportunity to rub off the callouses once in a while, so that we can have an honest experience with the world around us.

Orlando Philharmonic at Northland

2011-01-25T06:41:00.000-08:00

Friday, February 11th, the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra brings a night of music and fun for the whole family to the Northland Performing Arts Center as part of ArtsFest 2011. Starting at 7 pm, bring the little ones to the Instrument Petting Zoo to interact with the animals and learn more about the four families of instruments in an orchestra. Then at 8 pm, stick around to hear the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra members showcase their talents in various solos at the Concertante Performance. The best thing about is that you do NOT need tickets! Just show up and enjoy. There are over 3,000 seats in the state of the art theatre for you to enjoy this amazing performance. You don't want to miss it!

Thank you to our friends at Northland Church for this opportunity. Visit ArtsFestFL.com for a full schedule of events.

Phantom Takes The Stage

2011-01-20T12:03:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, February 5 and Saturday, February 12th, you can catch a wonderful performance of Phantom by the Bay Street Players during ArtsFest 2011. The Bay Street Players will bring Phantom, The American Musical Sensation to life! Based on Gaston Leroux' novel, The Phantom of the Opera, the play's music and drama have enchanted audiences for decades. The production will be held at the State Theater in downtown Eustis. If you miss this show during ArtsFest, no worries, you can make your own reservation to see the show, which will run through February 27. For more information about showtimes and tickets, call the Box Office at 352.357.7777 or visit www.baystreetplayers.org.

This performance is a "Tickets Are Limited" venue and tickets will go fast. For more information on "Tickets Are Limited" events during ArtsFest, click HERE.

Television PSA released!

2011-01-19T09:17:00.000-08:00

Join us for ArtsFest! The below PSA will be featured on Brighthouse Networks stations thanks to the generosity of Brighthouse Networks! Thanks to our friends at Orange TV for producing this wonderful sneek peek to help promote this event.

The Wondermakers Story Soup!

2011-01-10T11:17:00.000-08:00

Join The Wondermakers on Sunday, February 6 at 2pm at The Orange County Orlando Magic Goldenron Recreation Center located at 4863 N. Goldenrod Rd., Winter Park, FL for Story Soup! Jump into the soup uwith them and have fun creating stories which will be acted out on the spot by professional comedy improvisers. Suitable for all ages!

Thunder Hag Presents "Gift of the Magi"

2011-01-06T04:31:00.000-08:00

Press Release
Thunder Hag & A_Scissors Present "Gift of the Magi" for ArtsFest 2011

Audubon Park Community Market @ Stardust Video & Coffee
1842 E Winter Park Road, Winter Park, Florida 32803

February 7th, 2011 at 9:30pm
Free
"Gift of the Magi" is a tale of doomed love told with marionettes, set to live music by A_Scissors. A stupid girl's flighty nature is exposed by the magical moon while a crocodile is half-transformed by love only to find herself still driven by her animal instincts. Impossibility, anthropomorphism, and a gorgeous electronic score bring the story to life live in a 30-minute, outdoor performance at Stardust Video & Coffee during the Audubon Park Community Market.

Thunder Hag

Hannah Miller is an award-winning puppeteer and artist currently employed by Heather Henson's Ibex Puppetry. This ArtsFest performance is her second recognition from United Arts of Central Florida in as many years. Hannah is also known for marrying stranger Brian Feldman last year in a protest performance and for her prolific local musical performances.

a_Scissors

Brian Cunningham is a Florida-based electronic musician, whose compositions and live performances are lush musical tapestries woven from poignant flowing melodies, coalescing rhythms, delicately placed vocal samples, and ambient soundscapes. Avoiding computers for production and using hardware such as synthesizers, sequencers, samplers, and drum machines, a_Scissors music translates best in a live setting, creating a stage performance as organic as that of a band. a_Scissors is influenced by many different artists, including Aphex Twin, Brian Eno, Nathan Fake, and Boards of Canada.
Audubon Community Market

The Audubon Park Community Market is Central Florida’s source for the best selection of truly local food, from produce and other farm goods to prepared foods, grocery items and meals. We work hard to bring you food that is grown, raised, caught, or carefully made right here in Florida, emphasizing freshness and encouraging sustainable practices. The market is a community of growers, ranchers, fishermen, chefs, artists, handicrafters, musicians and neighbors. This Ourlando-sponsored, volunteer-operated, weekly gathering of food, friends, art, and live music takes place in the Stardust parking lot every Monday from 6pm to 10pm.

Contact for interviews & information:
Hannah Miller, project concept/creation
(407) 342-2755
truthispopmusic@gmail.com

Brian Cunningham, musician: a_Scissors
(407) 443-0893
brianscissors@gmail.com

Gabby Othon, Audubon Park Market
(407) 590-5499
audubonparkmarket@gmail.com

--
Hannah Miller
(407) 342-2755
truthispopmusic@gmail.com

Orlando Ballet brings sexy back again!

2010-12-10T13:54:00.000-08:00

Orlando Ballet jumps into ArtsFest this year with a sequel to their extremely popular performance with Battle of the Sexes II. Don't miss it!

Michelee Puppets for kids!

2010-10-14T08:22:00.000-07:00

MicheLee Puppets was formed in 1985 by Tracey Conner to empower lives through the art of puppetry. Conner got her first taste of puppetry as a theatre student at Bowling Green State University. Upon graduation, she relocated to Orlando and recruited her former puppet partner, Michael Prazniak to help her start the company. They combined their middle names, Michelle and Lee, and MicheLee Puppets was born. MicheLee Puppets is a great family-friendly performance that is both entertaining and educational.

DRIP!

2010-10-14T08:03:00.000-07:00

Performing Arts and Visual Arts are combined to create compelling sensory-stimulated shows, events and atmosphere that excite and move audiences.

Performers create and often become visual art themselves by blending dance, music, artistic mediums and props. DRIP redefines arts entertainment by interacting with paint, charcoal, sand, powder, fabric, culinary arts, blacklight paints, projected liquid light, watercolors and more.

DRIP is sensational and will leave you wanting more. Don't believe me? Here is a sneak peak of what you can expect!

ArTEAsy teapot

2010-10-14T07:11:00.000-07:00

Cup O’ Pottery is a new studio concept developed for curious minds looking for a richer artistic experience. If paint-it-yourself pottery studios grabbed your attention and you are looking for more, but aren’t interested in a formal classroom environment, then Cup O' Pottery studio is for you! They provide you the additional instruction (and fun!) you need to reach the next level for your artistic soul. This fabulous Pottery Studio will be participating in Artsfest this year, so be sure to check them out!

Emotions Dance Company

2010-10-13T14:05:00.000-07:00

It's all about the EMOTION

Emotions Dance Company is a Contemporary dance company in the Orlando area, founded by Larissa Humiston. Emotions seeks not only to evoke emotions within audiences, but to align with organizations to better the community. This up and coming Dance Company has many great performances up their sleeve. Emotions is definitely a performance you will want to check out during ArtsFest!

ArtsFest is Back!

2010-10-13T13:43:00.000-07:00

All Arts. All Week. All Free!

Keep your schedules open for ArtsFest 2011, February 4-13, 2011. The 9th annual ArtsFest will take over Central Florida with more FREE arts and cultural events and locations for you to experience. With over 100 great performances, there is something for everyone! Be sure to keep up with the blog to find out more information on featured performances!

Thank you Bank of America

2010-10-07T05:45:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Bank of America for continuing to support ArtsFest as the Presenting Sponsor!

City of Casselberry supports ArtsFest!

2010-10-07T05:42:00.000-07:00

The City of Casselberry is in support of ArtsFest. Plans are in the final stages to bring a musical performance to the beautiful city's park area behind the City Hall Building in Casselberry. Stay tuned to www.ArtsFestFL.com for details and view the full schedule of events in December.

Magic/Orange County Rec Centers host ArtsFest!

2010-10-07T05:35:00.000-07:00

There are some major events coming to six of the Orange County Parks and Rec buildings in February....ArtsFest events....and they are all FREE! Enjoy events like Orisirisi African Folklore, The Orlando School of Cultural Dance and so many others at the brand new Orlando Magic/Orange County Recreations Centers across Orange County. Stay tuned to www.ArtsFestFL.com for details and updated information. The full ArtsFest Schedule will be available online in December right here on www.ArtsFestFL.com.

Registration closed

2010-07-08T12:25:00.000-07:00

Now that ArtsFest registration is closed, we are excited to be currently working on the 2011 schedule of events, which will be posted this December to www.ArtsFestFL.com and printed for distribution by Christmas. If you are a performing arts organization that missed the deadline for registering for ArtsFest 2011, please contact Cory Warren at Events@UnitedArts.cc or call 407.628.0333 x28. Thank you.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER through June 23!

2010-05-26T12:57:00.000-07:00

Registration for ArtsFest 2011 is now open!

ArtsFest 2011 is set to take place February 4-13, 2011 in various locations throughout Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties. In 2010, ArtsFest offered 43,578 FREE experiences through 205 events in 75 venues across 4 counties in Central Florida. Registration is open to any local arts organization within the four-county area. Registration will close June 23, 2010.

Please click HERE to register for ArtsFest 2011

*please note that submitting registration information does not guarantee your participation in ArtsFest 2011. A member of the United Arts staff will contact you soon to discuss your submission. This information is needed early to set a proposed schedule to assist with gaining sponsorship opportunities for the event.

The dates for ArtsFest 2011 are February 4-13, 2011.

ArtsFest Registration to open June 2nd!

2010-05-19T13:51:00.000-07:00

The ninth annual ArtsFest will open registration on Wednesday June 2nd. Registration will be available for arts group or organization that would like to participate in ArtsFest. To learn more about ArtsFest and how your group might fit in, please visit www.ArtsFestFL.com.

Website facelift!

2010-05-19T11:15:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. Thanks to Marcus Coia, our website designer, ArtsFestFL.com will be receiving a facelift in the next few days. The latest dates, updated movie and more information will be available. Stay tuned throughout the year for further updates!

Artsfest 2011 announced

2010-04-12T14:24:00.000-07:00

Keep your schedules open for ArtsFest 2011, February 4-13, 2011. The 9th annual ArtsFest will take over Central Florida with more FREE arts and cultural events and locations for you to experience. Registration for organizations will open this summer, so stay tuned to ArtsFestFL.com for all the updates.

ArtsFest achieves 43,500!

2010-03-30T07:32:00.000-07:00

From February 5-14, 2010, over 43,500 free cultural experiences were offerred through ArtsFest! This number is gathered from information on attendance received from the participating arts organizations. Thank you to everyone who participated in ArtsFest and save the date for ArtsFest 2011, February 4-13, 2011.

The ArtsFest Finale

2010-02-15T17:29:00.000-08:00

It was the last day of ArtsFest, and I couldn’t think of a better way to bring these ten days to a close than to watch one of the most beloved plays of all time: The Kind and I.

The King and I, a musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, is a tale about an English school teacher named Anna Leonowens as she travels with her young son to Siam to tutor the many wives and children of King Mongkut. I’d heard nothing but good things about the musical, so when finally presented with the opportunity to see it, I knew I couldn’t pass it up!

So off I went to the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center in Sanford. I was excited, I was anxious and I was ready to be dazzled!

I entered the building and took my seat, but as I was waiting I came to be a little bit confused. There was music playing, but the curtain was down. And it stayed down. For a while.

I was beginning to question whether this was a play at all or just a musical performance when finally the music came to an end, and applause erupted. A moment later, the curtain was drawn and the show began.

The first scene was lovely enough; as Anna and her son sailed to Siam, she broke out into the first song in her beautiful voice and I was immediately drawn into the story. But the part that truly amazed me was what came next.

The first second curtain was drawn and the stage was illuminated to reveal what easily rivaled the beauty of any set I had ever seen. The King of Siam’s palace was filled with rich reds and golds and purples and blues, and large curtains draped to the floor behind golden screens. In the middle of the stage stood a tall throne of gold, and on it sat the King himself, dressed in blood red robes trimmed in gold..

The glory of the set was absolutely astonishing. I have never seen anything like it, and I was unable to tear my gaze away for even a second. The live orchestra in front of the stage only added to the richness of the performance. Between the witty, humorous and genuine dialogue between the characters, the beautiful music and the breathtaking set, this was easily the best play I have seen in a long time.

The last event on my to-do list was the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra in Avalon Park. Now, when the location in my ArtsFest pamphlet said “Avalon Park”, I was expecting to arrive in an actual park. Apparently I assumed incorrectly.

I turned into the entrance of Avalon Park and found myself driving not through a wooded glen or clearing or anything quite so quaint, but instead an actual neighborhood. There were apartments and flats on one side, houses on the other and all sorts of little shops in between.

I parked on the lawn next to a long line of other vehicles and was greeted by a group of kids that ran past with squirt guns. This was my first indicator of what was to come...great fun.

I meandered on over to a small amphitheater in front of which countless families sat in lawn chairs, on top of towels and sprawled out across the soft grass. The lazy Sunday afternoon sunlight was filtering down warmly on the audience as children laughed and screamed and soft tunes from string voices filled the air.

All around the edges of the lawn was a sidewalk down which people were walking their dogs and chatting softly. There were booths set up as well, some that served coffee and hot cocoa and others that sold tropical smoothies, knitted hats and everything in between.

When I finally found a seat on the lawn amidst the other concert-goers, I was pleasantly surprised at how soft the grass was. It wasn’t like the stereotypical Florida grass that poked my feet and was filled with fire ants; it was soft and green and cool from the breeze. It was REAL grass!

Things only got better from there as the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra selected the song Green Sleeves as their next number. And as I sat on the cool lawn with the sunlight warming my back, I took the chance to reflect on the last nine days I’d experienced.

I’d had a little taste of everything on my plate, from sculpture to improvised comedy, to symphonies and plays and dance and African folklore and pottery, and if there’s one thing that I can take away from all of it, it’s this:

No one should be intimidated to pursue art in any avenue. There are so many different mediums to try, and there are so many chances every day to create something beautiful. And that’s what is important to remember; it doesn’t matter what you do or how you do it, but it’s crucial that you simply DO. In context of the universe, our time here on Earth is fleeting, and the most significant thing we can do as human beings is to leave behind a beautiful mark upon the world, and the way we do this is simple:

We create Art.

These ten days have been absolutely magnificent, and I’ll be biding my time waiting for next year’s ArtsFest to come rolling around again.

Until then, I hope that everyone has had a happy ArtsFest 2010, because without a doubt, I know I did!

ArtsFest Day 9: Orisirisi and Out of This World Costumes

2010-02-14T18:37:00.000-08:00

From the moment I met Tutu at the kickoff of ArtsFest at the Enzian Theatre, I knew I had to attend her event.

Tutu and her husband, Don, were in charge of Orisirisi African Folklore: Drum Sermons, Folktales, Legends and Myths from the Far Corners of Africa. When she introduced herself to me for the first time, she was dressed in traditional African attire. She was happy to tell me a little bit about her event, then she motioned between her husband Don and herself.

“I am African, and he is American; therefore, we are African American,” she explained with a huge grin on her face. “We’re the real deal.”

The atmosphere in the Orlando Public Library, where Tutu and her husband were set to perform on Saturday the 13th, was just as playful and lighthearted as the drummers themselves. Children were laughing, parents were chattering and everyone seated in the audience seemed to be smiling.

The stage was filled will all sorts of traditional African drums. In fact, they covered so much of the stage that there was hardly enough room for Tutu and her husband to make their entrance. Somehow they found a way, and the couple, along with a guest drummer from Nigeria, started off the event with a traditional African song.

After that, Don shared the African folktale about how music first came to be. That story preceded many more like it, all of which were more fun and interesting than the last.

African stories are different than the Anglo-Saxon tales more of us are accustomed to for one key reason; they require listener participation. If you were intending to slump down in a chair and be lulled to sleep by a storyteller, you‘ve come to the wrong place!

Each story has its own individual song that is broken up into two parts. The first part is sung by the storyteller, and the second is the designated audience response. The way it works is that the storyteller will go through the story up until the point where the song fits in. Beforehand he’ll teach the audience the appropriate response, so when he sings the verse of the song, with a little prompting the audience will sing the next verse, and then it’s a trade-off between singers.

Other than that, African sermons are similar to fairytales in other cultures; they’re filled with magic, humor, and, of course, plenty of talking animals.

Don, whose narration of the African folklore was the equivalent of James Earl Jones', playfully embodied all of the colorful characters in his stories, from the bald, troublesome turtle to the loud elephant, making the children in the crowd squeal with laughter and the adults chuckle, too.

Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for. Tutu invited everyone to grab a drum and beat to their hearts’ content, and the kids didn’t hesitate to rush the stage and claim their instruments. The adults hung back, content with relaxing and watching their children enjoy themselves. But Miss Tutu wasn’t having any of that.

“If you’re not a drummer, that makes you a dancer,” she announced, which sent a good-natured groan echoing through the crowd.

As Don taught the children the beat of the song, Tutu and some African-costumed helpers in the front row taught the audience to dance.

“Always dance as if no one is looking!” Tutu cheered encouragingly.

Far too soon, the event was ending and the audience dissipating. But the Orisirisi Drummers’ good humor and vivacity had been positively contagious, and everyone left the event with a smile on their face.

I spent the remainder of the day in downtown Orlando at the Orange County Regional History Center for Film and Television. I’d heard through the grapevine that the new exhibit there was pretty cool, so I thought I’d go take a look.

From the outside, the building appeared normal enough. It was concrete and conservative like the buildings around it; nothing out of the ordinary.

Therefore I was sharply taken aback when I entered the museum and there were manatees hanging from the ceiling and what appeared to be a red Ferris Wheel peeking out from one of the upper levels. This, I thought, must be what it’s like to set foot in Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium.

It was definitely full of wonder.

I walked past- or under, rather- the manatees and down the hallway that led to the new exhibit: Out of This World: Extraordinary Costumes.

The entire room was dimly lit for theatrical effect, and all around, preserved in glowing, glass cases were some of the most historical Hollywood costumes in existence.

Darth Vader’s black cloak and helmet was there, along with many other of the Star Wars outfits. Indiana Jones’ whip, leather jacket and Holy Grail were one of my personal favorite pieces, along with the jumpsuit worn by Dan Aykroyd in Ghostbusters.

The model of the ship Voyager from Star Trek was there, and so was Luke Skywalker’s severed hand from Star Wars [don’t worry, it’s fake].

I made it through the costume exhibit, but I thought I’d meander on and see what else was in the building as long as I was there. There was an entire exhibit dedicated to Florida oranges, and another on the history of Florida Native Americans. Yet another was dedicated to the plight of pioneers and life on the prairie.

There was even a legitimate courtroom on one floor!

The new exhibit may have been put in the spotlight for ArtsFest, but the History Center will remain open long after the ten days of ArtsFest have passed. You can check out details by visiting their website, www.thehistorycenter.org/
This place was just one adventure after another, and I have to say, I was glad I stopped by!

Day nine has come to and end, and with only one more day left of ArtsFest, I can certainly say that this has been one of the most fun weeks I’ve had in a while.

Happy ArtsFest!

ArtsFest Day 8: The Detroit Symphony Orchestra

2010-02-14T16:29:00.000-08:00

It would not be an entirely unwarranted accusation to say that one of the deciding factors in my going to see Festival of Orchestras present The Detroit Symphony Orchestra was the fact that it originated in Michigan. Because I am a Michigan native myself, I naturally have an unfathomable pride for anything and everything that has to do with my state… except the Lions. But I think my lack of support for the Detroit Lions is justified.
At any rate, when I discovered that the Detroit Symphony Orchestra would be playing as part of the Festival of Orchestras at the Northland Performing Arts Center, I knew I couldn’t miss it for the world.
In all the years I’d lived in Michigan, I had never actually seen the orchestra perform. Next to the automobile, seafoam candy and the Red Wings, the DSO is probably the Mitten’s greatest export.
What’s interesting about the DSO is the fact that it was founded in 1914 by ten society women. To get things running, the women entreated subscribers to donate $10 apiece in order to fund what was, at that time, ‘a little project‘. Little did they know that by the 1920’s the DSO would be one of the most prominent orchestras in the country, attracting guests such as Sergei Rachmaninoff, Igor Stravinsky and Richard Strauss, just to name a few.
So put that at the top of the list of “Reasons Why Women are Awesome”.
I arrived at the Northland Performing Arts Center worrying that I might be slightly underdressed in my Orlando Magic’s Jersey, but when I entered I noticed that many of the guests that evening were dressed casually as well. There were children in the crowd, too. In all, it was a very comfortable atmosphere.
I took my seat in the auditorium and joined in the tumultuous applause as the musical director Leonard Slatkin traversed the stage and took his rightful place on the podium. The orchestra played a long, harmonic chord for the purpose of tuning, and then the room fell silent.
With a bouncing flicker of his wand, Slatkin pulled the first perfect note from the players onstage, and from there, the room was filled with an array of grand, delicate and beautiful tones and trills.
Between pieces, I hurried out to the lobby with the intention of grabbing a pamphlet, but as soon as the door closed behind me I was trapped.
“You’ll have to go up and watch it from the balcony until intermission,” the woman rigidly explained, pointing at a staircase.
She acted like it was a punishment. Watch it from the balcony? As in, take one of the best seats in the entire house and enjoy amazing music?
Well if I absolutely have to...
I hurried up the staircase and was ushered into the upper level of the auditorium, where I spent the rest of the performance enjoying the fantastic view of the stage below.
It’s not easy to describe music with words, but as I closed my eyes and basked in the wonderful acoustics of the auditorium, I had a thought. I came to the conclusion that music is, perhaps, the finest art in world because it is the only medium of art that is untouched by human hands. Artists play the instruments that produce the music, yes, but really, we are only the channel through which music passes.
So in a sense, music is the ‘perfect’ art.
I spent the entire concert thinking deep thoughts like this; I couldn’t help myself. There was something profound about the music that incited ‘big thinking’. That’s probably why parents play Mozart for their babies. Hm. It’s all adding up now.
Eventually the time for intermission arrived, and as I was walking down the stairs I heard the sound of music. It sounded like someone was playing a marimba in the lobby.
Sure enough, as I rounded the corner there was a marimba parked right in the center of the lobby, and a girl with two mallets in each hand was deftly tapping away on the instrument.
The last time I witnessed anyone play that many notes in succession that ungodly fast, it was when a world-renowned percussionist played Flight of the Bumblebee. This girl, and her successor, were amazing!
The lights in the room flickered as a notice that the intermission was coming to an end, so I left the girls to their marimbas and settled down in my seat for the rest of the concert. The lights dimmed down, the instruments went up, and I was thoroughly dazzled for the remainder of the evening.

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra was definitely a good decision; I would see them again in a heartbeat! They definitely made day eight of ArtsFest a success in my book!

There are only two days of The Central Florida ArtsFest remaining, so go out and have a happy ArtsFest!

ArtsFest Day 7: Sculptures and the SAK

2010-02-11T23:13:00.000-08:00

It seems impossible that there could been any form of art absent from the vast multitude of events during this week of ArtsFest, but on second thought, I realized that one medium had somewhat fallen by the wayside:
Sculpture.
Fortunately after consulting my 30-page ArtsFest pamphlet I realized that there was an event that was exactly was needed to fill the gap in my ArtsFest experience where fine arts should be. The City of Orlando’s Sculpture Exhibit was in full force downtown, and I’d be darned if I was going to miss it!
I drove into the city and, after circling what I thought was 400 S. Orange Ave. more than a few times, I managed to find a parking spot… in the scariest, darkest, most decrepit corner of the parking lot across the street. The wind was biting cold and the dead branches of the scraggly trees next to my car stretched up haggardly towards the golden moon, and the sound of my car door slamming behind me was the only sound in the entire, desolate lot…
It was creepy.
I hurried as fast as a could towards the building but was a little bit hesitant to enter when I saw display table after display table of what appeared to be VFW memorabilia. I scanned the area and checked the address to make sure I was in the right place and everything seemed to be correct, so I walked inside to make sure.
I was greeted by the sound of a disgruntled night watchman grumbling into the phone- not the watchman himself. He managed to separate himself from the conversation long enough to bark out “Sculptures?” and then, upon my timid nod, immersed himself in the conversation once more.
I wandered into the sculpture exhibit and silently appreciated the work. The first thing I saw was what appeared the be the shape of dress made out of mesh, with shreds of cloth attached strategically in some places.
Abstract pieces like this always leave me begging the question, “What is art?” And I don’t mean the technical definition that you’ll find in Webster’s.
I mean, what makes something art? What makes something beautiful? What makes something like Starry Night a masterpiece, or the Statue of David, or the Mona Lisa as well?
I don’t think anyone can really say for certain, because the world of art is, really, based on perception and individual interpretation. I could look at the sculpture of the octopus and say that it was angry and terrible and mean, while a stranger could say that it seemed sad and desperate, and evoked a feeling of helplessness.
But that, I think, is the true beauty of art. It’s the ability to create something from nothing, and to stir up feelings in people that experience it.
The beauty in art is doing it. Doing something.
Some people could argue that you can’t just “go do art”. There are rules for art; there are time-tested methods. You can’t just go out and paint a cow and call it “art.”
I would have to disagree.
There are some principles, of course, that come with art and are prevalent in all mediums, such as painting, drawing, film and dance; but I think the real beauty of art comes not from following the technical rules, but instead using them as guidelines to channel feelings into the tangible.
The real beauty of art is when artists capture an emotion and use it to build something that can be shared with the world.
That’s what is beautiful about sculpture, in my opinion, because whenever one looks at a sculpture, they’re looking not only at the creation, but into the soul of the artist who created it. It’s looking at a specific moment in the artist’s life that is perfectly crystallized into something that can be seen and touched.
In my opinion, that is what makes art, art.

The trip to the sculpture exhibit was quiet compared to my other misadventures during ArtsFest, but it was certainly not a disappointment! And there would plenty of time for rowdiness that evening at the SAK Comedy Lab.
I’m sure plenty of people are familiar with the improvisation television show “Whose Line is it Anyway?” Well if that has you laughing, you should definitely check out the SAK!
The SAK’s new show “Dueling of Fools” kept me laughing longer and harder than I have in a very long time!
The way it works is that the players on the show are divided up into two teams of three, and select audience members are given score cards. The teams compete to win points, which are awarded based on how much the audience members like the improvised skits.
The show started with the host, Ron Weaver, sprinting across the stage and up the aisles with a bucket of tootsie rolls in hand. He scattered the candy into the excited audience with all the vivacity of a kid on a parade float, then picked up the mic and welcomed in the players of that night’s show.
Scene by scene, things spiraled into hilarious insanity as the players hopped around stage, climbed on top of one another, improvised their own Broadway musical numbers and ate bunt cakes off the floor.
The show had me laughing from beginning to end!
There will be shows at SAK for the next two days of ArtsFest, so if you’re looking for something fun and interesting to do with your Friday or Saturday night, check out www.sak.com to grab tickets and look at details on the upcoming events.

ArtsFest has continued to provide thought-provoking and entertaining events throughout the entire week, and I’m sure the next three days won’t be any less exciting!

Have a happy ArtsFest!

ArtsFest Day 6: Heritage

2010-02-10T17:39:00.001-08:00

I have never seen a more vibrant display of pride for one’s culture than at the Heritage festival put on by the Orlando School of Cultural Dance on the sixth day of ArtsFest.
The Plaza Theatre was abuzz with excitement last night at 7:15 as vendors outside the auditorium doors cheerfully showed their artwork for all of the incoming guests. I perceived, as I entered the doors, a sort of energy radiating through the air. Although I couldn’t explain why, I knew that this event was going to be vastly different than the previous eight I had attended so far.
The first thing I noticed when I took my seat in the theatre was the unique set of drums set up on the stage. As I am not much of a ‘connoisseur’ of foreign drums, I could only rightly call the drums “bongos”, which I’m sure is incorrect. Nevertheless, there were several of them sitting in a row, and each of them had a silhouette of Africa painted on its front.
The stage was perfectly silent and awash with blue light from the lamps above. The only movement was the sparkling freckles of dust that churned gracefully in and out of the spotlights. There was something about the way the tendrils of azure mist swirled about the stage that gave the scene a feeling of mystery, and I felt a shiver of excitement pass through me as the first hallow knock of the drum echoed around the room.
I was already drawn in, and the show had barely even started!
Suddenly the stage was filled with dancers dressed in traditional African costume of the most vibrant teals and pinks and yellows and reds, and all of them were throwing themselves into the beat of the music, singing at the top of their lungs and smiling from ear to ear.
I can honestly say that I have never watched anyone dance with more vigor and outright joy than the students of OSCD. And that’s to say nothing of the crowd! All around me, women who were part of the Orlando School of Cultural Dance’s adult programs were quick to raise their voices and join in with the beautiful African hymns, and all throughout the performances there were excited yips and trills from the audience members as they cheered on the girls onstage
The Orlando School of Cultural Dance didn’t put on a show last night; what happened at the Plaza Theatre on the 6th day of ArtsFest could only rightly be called a party which all the audience members were a part of.
It was an honor to be involved in such an experience!
At one point in the night Julie Coleman, who founded OSCD in 1989, invited audience members up on stage to learn the moves of an African dance.
“There’s no Simon Cowell out there to judge you,” she assured her pupils as she took her place center stage.
The reason, she explained, for learning a cultural dance is to express yourself and celebrate life. There is just no room for judgment in an environment like this that is so inherently joyful.
I was right when I guessed that this event wouldn’t be like the rest of the ones I‘d attended- in fact it was unlike anything I had ever seen period!
While I was sitting in the audience looking up at the youths onstage who so jubilantly celebrated their life and culture, it was obvious to me how proud they were. Though the costumes were beautiful and colorful, and the dances were energetic and the music was fun, the real beauty of the experience came from obvious joy the students were experiencing as they displayed the arts of their history.
I wish that more people in the world could show just an ounce of the pride towards their own cultures as the students did for their mother Africa last night. In the end, it’s our own responsibility to make sure that the traditions and arts of our past are kept alive, and the best way to do that is to share them with the rest of the world, like the Orlando School of Cultural Dance so aptly demonstrated this ArtsFest.

It’s the 6th day of ArtsFest and things are just becoming more and more interesting! This was one of the most fun events I have been to yet, and there are still four more days’ worth of events to attend. I can’t wait to see what comes next!

Have a happy ArtsFest!

The Grant Norman Experience: ArtsFest Day 5

2010-02-10T06:29:00.001-08:00

For me, one of the first things that comes to mind at the mention of “opera” is The Phantom of the Opera. This was more than fitting for the circumstances Monday night, because Grant Norman, who played The Phantom in the Broadway musical, was set to perform with the Central Florida Lyric Opera at the Plaza Theatre.
I was thrilled to think that I would be watching the show!

The first thing that happened upon my arrival at the Plaza Theatre was that I was shown backstage, at which point I tripped over a cord and sent a four-figure microphone crashing to the ground. The sound technician was friendly enough as he picked it up, but all the same, I hurried downstairs into the dressing room and away from the scene of the crime. I met Sam Reynolds, the self-proclaimed “upping-coming” stars of the Central Florida Lyric Opera, and he cheerfully joked with me for a while about that night’s show. He introduced Jake, a fellow student at the University of Central Florida, and neither one of them could find a bad thing to say about Grant Norman.

Grant Norman is a graduate from the Central Florida Lyric Opera's Training program. It’s where he got his start. In fact, the pianist of the show and Executive Director of CFLO, Maestro Bill Doherty, was the one who taught Grant.
To anyone unfamiliar with Grant, he has become a regular on Broadway. He’s played a variety of roles, from the leading man in Miss Saigon to the "Beast" in Beauty and the Beast, and he even played in London in Her Majesty’s Theatre!
We were so lucky to catch him for ArtsFest!

As I took my seat and waited for the show to start, I didn’t know what I should anticipate. I’d seen some of the girls backstage wearing evening gowns and some serious jewelry, so should I expect to see the rest of the performers in costume as well? As far as I was aware, any sort of opera necessitated some kind of fantastic getup, usually including a cape and possibly even a mask. Turns out that this is just not the case. Grant Norman entered the stage, guitar in hand, dressed normally enough. He candidly addressed the crowd, and then kicked off the show by performing Elvis’s “Hunk of Burnin’ Love”. I was thoroughly impressed, though clearly not as impressed as the elderly woman behind me who I heard remark, “He’s just so sexy.” I couldn’t help but notice the disappointment in her voice when she learned that he was married.

After Grant finished a few sets, current students of the Central Florida Lyric Opera performed numbers from The Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast, Camelot and others. The performance was spectacular. I can honestly say that I’ve never heard so many beautiful voices together under one roof. To end of the night on a perfect note, all of the performers gathered onstage and joined in together in a tear-jerking rendition of Nessun Dorma. They then bowed together, to tumultuous applause and a standing ovation from the crowd, and exited the stage, beaming all the while.
Afterwards I managed to snag Grant Norman for a quick talk. I’d been pondering throughout the performance what I wanted to ask him if given the chance, and I’d finally come up with a couple worthwhile questions.

“What advice do you have for aspiring artists?”
Being the gentleman that he is, Grant was more than happy to respond in full detail. But the just of the message was this: Work hard, be open to criticism, and make sure you’re having fun and learning something along the way. I think that these are words of wisdom that any artist should take to heart.

Day 5 seemed to come and go so quickly, and I still am feeling a little star-struck about talking to Grant Norman. I’ll be back at the Plaza Theatre tomorrow for more great performances, and I can’t wait to experience something new!

Have a happy ArtsFest!

Past-times and Patriotism: ArtsFest Day 4

2010-02-07T21:16:00.000-08:00

The American Racket Cloggers

“Today, in an auditorium filled with spectators, I’m going to grab a stranger in a baseball cap and make him my partner, then hop onstage and let a professional Clogging team teach me how to Barn Dance.”

This was not the first thought that came to mind when I woke up this morning.

I had been flipping through my handy ArtsFest 2010 catalogue, scouting out interesting events to attend on the 4th day of the festival when my eyes fell across it:

American Racket Cloggers: Live and Kickin’.

I had to go.

Without hesitation I hopped into my Kia and shot off towards Kissimmee, excited at the prospect of finally regarding a sport that was much-anticipated in my book: Clogging.

I didn’t know much about Clogging, except that the dancers wore silly shoes and the music was fun. What more could I possibly want out of a dance? It sounded like a win-win to me!

The outside of the auditorium was deceivingly serene, and when I wandered around the premises there were signs posted for some sort of Church gathering. I was halfway convinced that my GPS had mislead me when my ears caught the distant trill of a fiddle, and I hurried towards it.

Inside the building were a few ushers that were quick to welcome me in, so in I went. The moment I set foot inside the auditorium I knew I had made the right decision.

A good ol’ folkie favorite was being blasted over the loudspeakers, filling the large room with the merry hymn of fiddles and onstage was a group of 6 dancers; three guys and three gals. On the way to my seat, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from them as they twirled, “hoo-hah”-ed and vivaciously slapped their steel-plated shoes against the wooden floor to the beat of the song.

I was mesmerized!

When the song was over, a group of traditional Irish Cloggers gamboled onto the stage and performed a lively jig that had the audience clapping their hands in rhythm. If the Flip camera hadn’t been in my hands, I wouldn’t have been able to stop myself from clapping as well!

The American Racket Cloggers returned to perform a few of their favorite numbers, and then came the interesting part.

“For this next dance, we’re going to need some help from the audience.”

The request rang throughout the auditorium and rattled up a wave of mumbling from the crowd. You could tell what was on their minds: ‘Help? From the audience? Where‘s my coat?’ But sure enough, the Cloggers dispersed into their audience and took their pick of innocent bystanders to publicly humiliate. I, for one, was happy to be cozy in my seat and excited to watch the newcomers attempt to dance.

“We need one more female participant.”

... Of course you do.

After shooting a quick glance behind me at the reserved crowd, I knew for certain that the gods of dance were calling upon me, so I pocketed the Flip camera and hustled onto the stage, where I partnered up with the pleasant stranger in the baseball cap and, well, the rest is history.

I’m going to pretend like I didn’t have an absolute ball up there with the Cloggers. Scratch that; I had a Barn Dance. Even better!

After snagging an interview with the Cloggers on the way out the door, I was proud of my spontaneity and the fantastic adventure it had led me to.

Check out more from the American Racket Cloggers by visiting http://americanracket.tumblr.com/

The Hannibal Square Heritage Center

After the Cloggers, I hurried off to Winter Park where I hoped to find my next destination, Hannibal Square Heritage Center.

Ever the observant one, I unwittingly parked directly across the street from the Heritage Center then spent the next fifteen minutes meandering through Winter Park looking for it.

After giving up hope and heading back to my car, I saw ArtsFest flyers adorning the entryway of the building across from me. Sure enough, there was Heritage Center. I hurried inside.

Although beautiful, the interior décor was not what I was expecting. Almost every inch of the wall was covered by a portrait of a local African American resident of the Winter Park area, along with a short story or description about the picture.

These pictures were part of The Heritage Collection: “A unique exhibition of history told by the residents who have lived it”.

Each of the portraits told a unique story about a struggle an African American individual in the Winter Park area had faced. Keep in mind that the walls were covered with portraits. Not a single wall stood blank. This was certainly a humbling experience, and though it was unspoken, I knew that reverence was a necessity within the building

I eventually ran into the events coordinator of the day, and was able to talk to her about the activities that were going on inside.

“It’s an intragenerational activity today,” she explained to me.

She then showed me upstairs to where children, students and adults were all painting either self portraits, or portraits of someone important to them.

Although one of the goals of ArtsFest is to promote arts and festivities, it should not be forgotten that learning and embracing diverse cultures is also important. I definitely urge people to visit Hannibal Square Heritage Center for a chance to learn something new about one of the most important branches of American History.

If a portrait is worth a thousand words, and this building was filled with portraits, that means we have a whole lot of listening to do. So we'd better get started!

Emotions Dance Company

What makes “contemporary dance” any different that a regular dance?

Heck if I knew- up until 6:50 p.m. Sunday night, that is.

I parked my car outside a brown, round-ish building in Orlando at 6:45, entirely prepared to get to the bottom of this “contemporary dance” matter.

I stepped inside the building and was extremely surprised. The room was large and round and mostly empty except for a well-lit section straight ahead. A square, black mat lay across the floor, on the far side of which a sat a man with an acoustic guitar that was plugged into an amplifier. On the near side of the mat were the guests, seated in a hodgepodge array of plastic chairs.

This was certainly a different experience.

I noticed some photographers curled up on the floor between the audience and the mat, and I quickly joined them. Just as I had fired up my trusty Flip camera, the announcement echoed throughout the room, “Flash photography and recording devices are not permitted at any time during the performance.”

I was immediately disheartened, but luckily the photographer next to me seemed to notice. She nudged me.

“That doesn’t count for us,” she grinned, brandishing her “ArtsFest 2010: All-Access Pass” badge for me to see. I couldn’t have been happier!

Now, if a person were to decide, impulsively, to regard a contemporary dance performance, there is one important rule that needs to be established: approach this type of dance with an open mind.

I certainly did not intend to be nearly kicked in the face by one of the dancers, nor did I expect to watch one crawling across the floor directly towards me. These incidents were a bit astonishing at first, sure, but every movement was relevant delivering the underlying message of the performance: the struggle between good versus evil.

Sunday night at approximately 7:30 p.m., I fell in love with contemporary dance. A combination of the traditional grace of ballet and new-age rock, this is type of dance by far one of the edgiest, most passionate and artistic means of self-expression I have ever witnessed!

Day four of ArtsFest 2010 proved to be busier and just as exciting, if not more, than the previous three! From the noisiest of traditional American dances, to a glimpse into the lives of the Americans who have struggled most, today has been a day of Patriotism and Past-times! I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!

Have a happy ArtsFest!

Pottery and Players: ArtsFest Day 3

2010-02-07T18:54:00.000-08:00

It's only the third day of ArtsFest but I already I feel as if I've been on the road for weeks! So much to do and so little time!

My first adventure took me into the heart of Orlando to the City of Orlando's Pottery Studio where I was hoping to catch a couple of minutes of the Kid's Pottery Workshop on camera.

Little did I know that I would have a far more hands-on experience than I had bargained for.

Once I finally located the building- and trust me, its discovery was no easy feat; I spent a good fifteen minutes driving circles around the Amway Arena before I even caught sight of the studio- I hurried inside, Flip camera ready, hoping to talk to the artists running the place and maybe even some of the participants of that day's activities.

I introduced myself to Kim, the manager of the City of Orlando's Pottery Studio, and she was happy to give me a brief history about the studio and some of the classes it offers. Having been in business for nearly 40 years, the Studio offers classes specifically tailored to all age groups from local students to senior citizens.

However, it's no secret that most of the Studio's business stems from young, budding children artists. In fact, one of the most popular events in the Studio is the Kid's Summer Clay Camp, a four-week long program that offers kids a chance to invent everything from pinch-pot animals to vases.

The number one mission of City of Orlando's Pottery Studio ArtsFest event, "Kids Pottery Workshop", is to encourage kids' creativity.

"We don't allow parents back into the studio with the kids," Kim explained to the hovering parents today. "We want the kids to be able to express themselves, and the parents will end up doing the whole project for them."

This was the point at which she turned to me and asked if I wanted to join the class. Join the class? As in, playing with clay for half an hour? Is that a serious question?

One set of paintbrushes and a block of clay later, I was building a masterpiece. I'm not sure who was having more fun, me or the ten-year-olds at my table, but one thing was for certain; this class rocked!

Far too soon the clay had been molded and painted and turned in for firing in the kiln. My new-found friends and I will be returning on the 27th to pick up our clay dishes, and personally I plan on making mine the center of attraction in my future, overpriced Orlando apartment!

Later that evening, I was on my way to attend one of the most anticipated events on my hectic schedule: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead at Mad Cow Theatre in Downtown Orlando.

Wait, they're dead? Do they start off dead in the beginning of the play? Well that certainly doesn't make much of a story if the heroes of the play are already pushing up daisies... maybe they die later in the play? Or maybe they're dead, and we're just watching them at some different level of existence... Are they ghosts?

Confused? I was too.

The entire first act of the play is dominated by the Shakespearean heroes Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as they flip coins, ponder the validity of "chance" in the universe, and try to remember which name belongs to who. To be honest, it's slightly reminiscent of the age-old "Who's on first, what's on second" sketch.

So what's the RGAD play about? It's Hamlet, but with a twist. The epic tale is told from the perspective of Hamlet's quirky, amnesiac friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as they first try to get to the bottom of Hamlet's ailment, then try to remember why they're on the mission at all.

The play is, admittedly, a little difficult to follow. Rosen and Guild even confess in the third act that 'their existence is just one incident after another, rather than a series of actions'... at which point pirates attack their England-bound ship. Just another example of how quirky and unpredictable this play really is; even if you know the story of Hamlet, RGAD will keep you guessing!

The befuddled antics of Timothy Williams (Guildenstern) and Michael Marinaccio (Rosencrantz) are what drive the plot, along with the vagabond tragedians and their ceaseless string of innuendos. The tragic character Hamlet only makes an appearance on the stage 5 times at most throughout the entire 3-hour performance!

In surmise, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead definitely isn't your run-of-the-mill performance, but if you're looking for an eccentric comedy or a new spin on an old classic, look no further than RGAD! It'll be onstage until Feb. 28th, and I highly recommend you check it out!

... Now, which one is Rosencrantz again?

Be sure to stay tuned to Mad Cow Theatre online for more amazing theatre!

Today was definitely an interesting day; from pottery to players, the third day of ArtsFest 2010 was a success in my book! Be on the lookout for video footage from today and the other events on the ArtsFest youtube account.

Have a happy ArtsFest!

Ballet on Magnolia Ave: ArtsFest Day 2

2010-02-07T00:09:00.000-08:00

It was a madhouse at the Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center at 6:59 p.m. as people lined up in the hopes of grabbing tickets to see the Orlando Russian Ballet perform Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The only reason I was able to get in at all was because Cory came to my rescue and managed to pull me past the crowd and through the double doors.

Every single one of the 681 seats in the theatre was filled, which left over a hundred downtrodden people walking back to their cars without tickets. They didn't go home empty handed, though; each of the guests that could not be given a seat for the night's performance was instead gifted with a pass to attend a future show at the theatre.

As I got comfortable on a stairwell stage-left, I began to get excited. The last time I attended a ballet I was young and fell asleep through the entire second half. This time I was ready to be dazzled by the young dancers in tights!

But apparently graceful dance and Miranda Williams just do not mix.

Cory Warren, the head hauncho in the ArtsFest goings-on, invited me onstage to model my Orlando Magic's jersey and, true to my nature, I of course tripped and stumbled down the steps while exiting the stage.

Fortunately, my own clumsiness was in stark contrast to the the beauty and grace of the Russian Ballet. Under the direction of world renowned choreographer Vadim Fedotov, the show was outstanding, breathtaking and, in some parts, just plain adorable.

The next event performed by the Russian Ballet of Orlando will be the International Ballet Gala. Principal dancers will be flying in from Russia, Ukraine, Spain, Czech Republic, and from all around of United States Ballet Companies to celebrate the Russian Ballet of Orlando's ten year anniversary.

I urge anyone interested in dance to check out http://www.russianballetoforlando.org/ for details on upcoming performances, and, as always, have a happy ArtsFest!

T'was the First Day of ArtsFest

2010-02-05T06:19:00.000-08:00

ArtsFest.

Something about the mention of “art festivals” dredges up, for me anyways, memories of row after row of collapsible white tents, sweltering summer heat and far too many meandering old women on the prowl for hand-made, ceramic soap dishes.

Fortunately, the Central Florida ArtsFest is absolutely nothing like what I’ve just described.

Ask any Floridian artist and they’ll be quick to tell you how renowned this festival is. With 205 events spanning across four counties over the course of ten days, it’s be a pretty big deal. Not to mention the fact that it’s sponsored by Bank of America and United Arts.

I, on the other hand, knew absolutely nothing about it until I was chosen to document it.

Therefore I had no idea what to expect when I pulled into the parking lot of the Enzian Theatre for the kickoff of ArtsFest last night.

From the moment I parked, all of my preconceived notions about art festivals were immediately thrown to the wayside.

The outside of the venue was nothing like I expected. It was cool and green and landscaped with meticulously groomed hedges that curled around stone pathways leading to an outdoor bar. The lawn stretched from the bar down across the hill, at the base of which an enormous movie screen was being erected.

While walking towards the entrance, I passed hundreds of hand-made, paper mushrooms. They were sticking out of bushes and poking out of the ground in all directions, and beside one particular patch was a sign that read “Free Mushrooms!”.

I smiled; what an interesting little quirk. That was the moment I knew that ArtsFest was going to be unlike anything I’d experienced thus far.

I met up with Cory Warren, who outfitted me in an official ArtsFest 2010 Orlando Magic jersey that hung past my knees, and then I was loosed on the event with my Flip video camera in hand.

First thing I did was hurry into the theatre itself. Again, I was blown away.

Remember those uncomfortable, squeaking, folding movie theater chairs? You won’t find them at the Enzian.

Instead, the theatre is outfitted with plush sofas and chairs, each with an adjoining table upon which sits a menu, with every option from steak tacos to Bavarian chocolate cake. Plus- a wine list??

I was astounded! But from there, the excitement only grew as guests, volunteers and even some ArtsFest performers began to arrive.

I was certainly surprised when a boy in a black tie blew past me on a unicycle more than once, and every time I’d turn around, I’d somehow strike up a conversation with someone interesting.

Perhaps one of the most memorable events for me was being tugged into the 95.3 Radio Station tent. The guys were quick to teach me the tricks of the trade, and they enthusiastically stood by as I spun disks for the first time in my life.

I trekked all across the venue all day long, side-stepping over paper mushrooms and talking to as many people as I could. I met Tutu and her husband, stars of Orisirisi Drum Sermons: Folktales, Legends and Myths from the Far Corners of Africa, which will be performed on Saturday, Feb. 13th from 1:00-2:00 p.m.. Then I tip-toed through a row of paper mushrooms-

Okay stop. What the heck is up with the mushrooms?

I eventually found the proprietor of the paper mushroom trade, who explained to me that his art had nothing to do with fungus at all. The Spore Project, developed by Doug Rhodehamel, is a worldwide effort to promote awareness for creativity in everyday life. Doug often travels to schools, promoting the importance of art and self-expression. You can visit his website at http://www.dougrhodehamel.com/spore_project.php

Finally it was time for the scheduled events to get started. I plopped down into a red plush sofa and for an hour and a half, I watched Pee Wee Herman be silly on the big screen.

When the movie had ended and the crowd was beginning to disperse, I played back through the footage I’d captured throughout the day and one thing in particular stood out to me.

Even though the theatre was gorgeous and the landscaping was beautiful and the movies were amusing, that’s not what made the day memorable.

It was the people that made ArtsFest such a great event. Their quirky personalities were the forces that drove the festival and made it worth attending.

With that thought in mind, I felt excited for the next nine days to come. All of the artists I’d met at The Enzian were so interesting and fun- imagine the sorts of characters I had yet to meet during the remainder of the festival!

On the way back to my car, I paused for just a moment. I then plucked up a handful of paper mushrooms, grinned, and headed off to prepare for the second day of ArtsFest, 2010.

Miranda Williams has Magic!

2010-02-04T08:52:00.000-08:00

Miranda Williams has been selected by United Arts of Central Florida to be the "10 Days of ArtsFest Magic" blogger. For the entire ten days of ArtsFest, beginning tonight, Ms. Williams, a first year film student at The University of Central Florida, will be covering ArtsFest through video and photo footage and uploading her findings daily to the news tab of www.ArtsFestFL.com. Be sure to check back frequently to find the latest information on Miranda's experiences at ArtsFest 2010, February 5-14, 2010. For more information on this special promotion, please click HERE.

Orlando Magic draft ArtsFest

2010-02-03T08:42:00.001-08:00

(Pictured above, Cory Warren, Events Coordinator for United Arts of Central Florida) In recognition of a special marketing promotion during ArtsFest, the Orlando Magic have printed a special jersey for the UCF Film Student, Miranda Williams, to wear while she visits several ArtsFest events around town during the upcoming ArtsFest 2010 (February 5-14). Miranda will be blogging about ArtsFest every day of the festival through a special partnership between the Orlando Magic and United Arts of Central Florida called "10 Days of ArtsFest Magic." (click here for more info) Tomorrow night, February 4th, Miranda will make her first appearance in the Magic Jersey at the ArtsFest Community Pre-Kick Off Event at Enzian. For more information on the kick off, click here.

Tickets still available!

2010-02-02T09:10:00.001-08:00

4,000 tickts for ArtsFest sold out in 5 minutes, but there are still 2,000 FREE tickets available to the following events:

Fri 2/5/2010
at 7:00 PM
The Center for Contemporary Dance
Trinity Preparatory School - Winter Park, FL

Sat 2/6/2010
at 11:30 AM
Maitland Art Center (Good Knight Theatre)
Maitland Art Center - Maitland, Florida

Sat 2/6/2010
at 12:00 PM
Maitland Art Center (Sketch Club with a live model drawing)
Maitland Art Center - Maitland, Florida

Sat 2/6/2010
at 12:00 PM
Maitland Art Center (Sketch Club with a live model drawing)
Maitland Art Center - Maitland, Florida

Sat 2/6/2010
at 1:00 PM
Rock Lake Community Center
Rock Lake Community Center - Orlando , Florida

Sun 2/7/2010
at 2:00 PM
Central Florida Ballet
The Plaza Theatre - Orlando , Florida

Mon 2/8/2010
at 7:30 PM
Central Florida Lyric Opera
The Plaza Theatre - Orlando , Florida

Tue 2/9/2010
at 7:30 PM
Orlando School of Cultural Dance and OSCD Foundation
The Plaza Theatre - Orlando , Florida

To make your reservation, click here to be taken to the ArtsFest Schedule of events online. Once you are there, simply find the event you would like to attend and click on the "Tickets Are Limited" icon next to it to make your reservation.

Tickets live today at 10am!

2010-02-02T06:22:00.001-08:00

ArtsFest tickets are live today at 10am! To make your reservations, click on the "Tickets Are Limited" icon next to an event that you would like to see after viewing the schedule. You can view the ArtsFest schedule by clicking here.

ArtsFest Banner live in action

2010-02-01T13:18:00.000-08:00

How do I reserve tickets!?!?!

2010-02-01T08:21:00.000-08:00

Once you log on to www.ArtsFestFL.com and click on the
"schedule" tab, click on the flipping schedule icon. That will take you to the schedule of events. Turn to page 8 to begin viewing all of the events offerred for ArtsFest. Keep an eye out for events that have the above "Tickets Are Limited" icon. When you see an event you would like to attend that has this icon, simply click on the icon to make your reservations to the event. Remember that there is a 4-ticket limit per email address to all of the "Tickets Are Limited" events and you MUST have a valid email address in order to make reservations. Thank you for your interest in ArtsFest and we hope you enjoy this event! Tickets go live Tuesday, February 2nd at 10am.

ArtsFest Kickoff Trailer!

2010-01-27T08:41:00.000-08:00

Boys & Girls Club partners with United Arts

2010-01-21T14:00:00.000-08:00

United Arts of Central Florida and the Walt Disney World Boys and Girls Club are teaming up to bring a FREE ArtsFest performance to members of the Pinehills Club during ArtsFest. This partnership will allow for youth and families that are members of the club to enjoy an arts experience like never before! The Center for Contemporary Dance will present a special peformance of Colours of Courage on stage at the Walt Disney World Boys and Girls Club on February 10th! Thank you to Bank of America for their continued support of the arts and for making events like this possible.

Orlando Magic support ArtsFest!

2010-01-21T06:59:00.000-08:00

The Orlando Magic believe in supporting the arts in Central Florida! Thanks to the Orlando Magic, United Arts will present "10 Days of ArtsFest Magic" during the 10 days of ArtsFest (February 5-14). Now until the end of ArtsFest (Feb.5-14), the ArtsFest blog (currently found on the "news" tab of the www.ArtsFestFL.com website has transformed into "10 Days of ArtsFest Magic." Miranda Williams, a UCF Film student, has been chosen by United Arts to cover ArtsFest 2010. Ms. Williams will take video and photo footage of at least two ArtsFest events per day and post them to the blog. You can access the blog by clicking HERE or by clicking on the "news" tab of www.ArtsFestFL.com. Ms. Williams can be seen using a FLIP video camera provided by the Magic and will wear a special Orlando Magic ArtsFest jersey while attending the events. Thanks to the Orlando Magic for continuing to support the arts in Central Florida! BE CREATIVE, BE MAGIC!

The Clouds of Love

2010-01-20T10:41:00.000-08:00

Friday 2/12/2010 From 7 pm-9 pm
Live Jazz and featured actors, poets and singers grace the stage for a night of love. If you are in love, or looking to be in love come to our Valentine Celebration. Bring your special someone or if cruising solo we'll pin you with a vibrant ribbon that says, "Here I am."

How do I reserve tickets?

2010-01-17T05:46:00.000-08:00

On February 2nd @ 10am all "Tickets Are Limited" events will be available for you to make reservations. You make these reservations by visiting ArtsFestFL.com and clicking on the schedule tab. Once you are there, you can make your reservations for any "Tickets Are Limited" event by clicking on the "Tickets Are Limited" icon next to the event you would like to attend.

These tickets will sell out very quickly. Last year they sold out in four minutes. Please know that these events only account for 17% of the FREE offerings during ArtsFest. There are lots of theatrical performances that do not require that you make reservations. We ask that you please understand that the reason these events have a limited amount of tickets is that the theatre or performance space cannot house more than a certain amount of people due to fire code, so we must regulate how many people attend the event.

If you do not have access to a computer or are having difficulty making your reservations, we ask that you call your local Orlando CVB (Convention and Visitor's Bureau) at 407.363.5816. CVB call center staff are trained to answer any questions you might have regarding ArtsFest 2010.

Thank you,

ArtsFest Management

Free SAK Comedy Lab Tickets

2010-01-13T07:07:00.001-08:00

The "Duel of Fools," is a 90 minute, high-energy show that features a professional ensemble of improv actors doing comedy in a competitive format. Every show is unique! It's audience-interactive and all ages are welcome. Come enjoy a night of laughter with SAK!

Remember, this is a "Tickets Are Limited Event." Visit the FAQ section of http://www.ArtsFestFL.com for details on how to make your reservations in advance for this event beginning February 2, 2010 @ 10am.

32' Banner on I-4!

2010-01-07T05:37:00.000-08:00

Thanks to our friends at Express Signs and Graphics of Orlando, we are happy to announce the unveiling of a 32' banner on I-4. Be sure to take a look at the City of Orlando parking garage that faces I-4. The same building that the SAK sign is located. Thanks to parternships through local businesses like Express Signs, United Arts and ArtsFest are able to offer this event to the community for FREE!

"Furry Tails With a Twist" for kids!

2010-01-06T06:03:00.000-08:00

The Florida Children's Repertory Theatre will be presenting a FREE show for kids at the Maitland Civic Center, 641 S. Maitland Ave. on Sunday, February 14 @ 2:30pm. Join them for "Furry Tails With a Twist" by Jennifer Hickok DeFratis. Two bumbling actors try desperately to present a few of the world's most beloved fairy tales. Unfortunately, their script becomes seriously scrambles and they perform Goldisocks and the Three Wolves, The Three Billy Trolls Gruff and The Three Little Bears. In the end, it takes the whole audience to set the story straight for the actors.

Zora Neale Hurston National Museum

2010-01-05T12:42:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, February 13 at 2pm, visit The Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts located at 227 E. Kennedy Blvd. in Eatonville to view the museum's second exhibit, "Zora Neale Hurston: The Legacy of Inspired Reality." This exhibit, which runs from January 23-August 27, 2010, pays tribute to Eatonville's hometown daughter. This distinctive display features the works of numerous artists inspired by Hurston, with images of Hurston and her works woven into the exhibit. Featuring two and three dimensional works, the exhibit includes fine art photography, installation art and mixed media.

Rosie O'Grady's Highlanders at midnight

2009-12-15T05:04:00.000-08:00

On Friday, February 12, 2010 at midnight, join the Rosie O'Grady's Highlanders for late-night quality Celtic entertainment. Listen to the sound of the pipes and the rhythm of the drums as they present traditional Scottish and Irish tunes along with a demonstration of highland dancing. Click on the "schedule" tab on www.ArtsFestFL.com for more information on this and 204 more events that celebrate Central Florida arts and culture for FREE!

Detroit Symphony Orchestra is here

2009-12-14T06:13:00.000-08:00

The Festival of Orchestras is offering a limited amount of FREE tickets to see the Detroit Symphony Orchestra during ArtsFest on Friday, February 12, 2010 @ 7:30 pm.

Be romanced by Rachmaninoff with the world's finest, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, featuring cellist Sol Gabetta and conductor Leanord Slatkin. The performance will take place at Northland Performing Arts Center in Longwood. View the ArtsFest Schedule of events by clicking here.

This event is a "Tickets Are Limited" event. Tickets will be made available for reservation beginning February 2, 2010 @ 10am. Click here for more information on "Tickets Are Limited" events and visit www.ArtsFestFL.com for the most up-to-date information on all things ArtsFest!

Mad Cow offers FREE Rosencrantz

2009-12-11T05:39:00.000-08:00

Mad Cow Theatre is always a very important part of ArtsFest. This year, Mad Cow is offering FREE tickets to six different performances of their February production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead - a comedy by Tom Stoppard. This performance is a "Tickets Are Limited" performance, so make sure that you make your reservations in advance beginning Tuesday, February 2nd @ 10am. Thanks to our friends at RedChairProject.com, reservations are offered on a first come, first served basis and tickets are extremely limited for this particular event.

While there are a total of six (6) performances of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead that you have a chance to attend for FREE, Mad Cow is extremely popular and will probably sell out in a matter of minutes. Visit the "schedule" tab on ArtsFestFL.com to view all of the 205 events offered during ArtsFest.

Pottery workshops for kids

2009-12-09T11:23:00.001-08:00

The City of Orlando Pottery Studio will be giving free pottery workshops for kids on Saturday, February 6, 2010 as part of ArtsFest. You can make your reservations now by calling 407-246-4488. Class sizes are limited to 15 students each, so call as soon as possible. For more information, visit the "schedule" tab on www.ArtsFestFL.com.

ArtsFest is All Arts, All Week, All FREE!

FSYO plays at Northland for ArtsFest

2009-11-24T04:57:00.000-08:00

Some of the most talented young musicians in Central Florida will be playing at Northland Church during ArtsFest 2010. Here's the details:

Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra

Saturday, February 13, 2010

2pm - 4pm

at Northland Church

530 Dogtrack Road

Longwood, FL 32750

407.999.7800 for more information

Naked Pottery

2009-11-16T13:11:00.000-08:00

This year, ArtsFest will have a FREE event called "Naked Pottery" thanks to our friends at Cup O' Pottery Studio in Sanford. On Sunday, February 14, 2010, you will have an opportunity to attend three workshops at 10:30am, 11:20am and 12:10pm to create and customize your own bowl or cup. There are three sessions to choose from and this event is open to everyone, even kids! Parents please be prepared to stay during the sessions with younger potters. You can make your reservations for this "Tickets Are Limited" ArtsFest event beginning Tuesday, February 2 @ 10am.

Power 95.3FM to broadcast live

2009-11-13T20:06:00.000-08:00

Obie & Lil Shawn from The Obie & Lil Shawn Morning Show on Power 95.3FM will broadcast live from the ArtsFest pre-kickoff event an Enzian. Hope you can join us. Here's the details on the pre-kickoff event:

Thursday, February 4, 2010
Enzian; 1300 S. Orlando Ave, Maitland, FL 32751
Join Power 95.3's Obie & Lil Shawn for a special pre-kickoff event at Enzian. FREE admission to two great movies.

5:30 pm
Arts & Cultural Sampler
Early birds can enjoy FREE entertainment and information from a variety of arts & cultural organizations.

6:30 pm
Pee Wee's Big Adventure

9:30 pm
Clue

Parents and kids love ArtsFest!

2009-11-12T20:23:00.000-08:00

MicheLeee Puppets will take their stage to the Downtown Orlando Information Center for three free performances during ArtsFest 2010. Be sure to tell all of your friends with kids that they do not want to miss "SomeBunny Special" and "A Good Day for Pancake." Here's the details:

Tues. 2/9 @ 10:30am Thurs. 2/10 @ 10:30 am
SomeBunny Special
Join Miss Bunny on her forest escapade with mischievous Squirrels, the howling Hound Dog, and the "oh too cool" Raccoon as she discovers that she is SomeBunny Special. Along the way, kids will learn that they are SomeBunny Special too! SomeBunny special is appropriate for ages 2-7.
Fri. 2/12 @ noon
A Good Day for Pancake
A Good Day for Pancake is appropriate for ages 2-7. Open you heart to Pancake Pig. When a friend is bullied at school, Pancake doesn't know what to do. He has to learn that bystanders have a responsibility to report. Pancake helps stop the bullying and teaches everyone a valuable lesson.

FL Travel & Life Magazine

2009-11-10T19:02:00.000-08:00

ArtsFest has partnered with Florida Travel & Life Magazine to help promote ArtsFest across the state of Florida. Check out the magazine's website by clicking here and look for the ArtsFest ad in the January/February issue of Florida Travel & Life Magazine!

Reserved ticket release date!

2009-11-06T10:53:00.001-08:00

Save the date and time that "Tickets Are Limited" events are available for reservation. Thanks to our friends at RedChairProject.com, we are able to offer this special opportunity for you to make your reservations for ArtsFest "Tickets Are Limited" events on Tuesday, February 2, 2010 beginning at 10am. Stay tuned to ArtsFestFL.com for more details, but be sure to save the date.

Emotions Dance Company to perform at ArtsFest 2010 February 6 & 7!

2009-11-04T08:47:00.000-08:00

Emotions Dance Company will be performing at ArtsFest 2010 on February 6th and 7th at the Dr. P. Phillips Performing Arts Center! Here are the event details:

Muddle

Contemporary dance and raw live music come together to illustrate the struggle between good and evil. The seven sins and the seven virtues represent and depict struggles we face in life everyday. Join Emotions Dance and the composition of Damien Simon in this artistic expression as we MUDDLE through these choices.

Stay tuned for more exciting ArtsFest 2010 leaks!

Central Florida Lyric Opera to make it's ArtsFest debut February 8!

2009-11-04T07:49:00.000-08:00

We are pleased to announce that the Central Florida Lyric Opera will make it's ArtsFest debut on Monday, February 8 at The Plaza Theatre! Here are the details for the event:

Encore: Broadway On Tour with Grant Norman

Broadway Star Grant Norman and the Central Florida Lyric Opera (CFLO) ensemble of singers perform as a tribute to the music and drama of Broadway. Enjoy the most memorable and beautiful music of Broadway as Grant Norman shares anecdotes and poignant stories about his illustrious career in musical theater. A "must-see" for any vocal music lover! Mr. Norman began his career in CFLO’s Resident Artist Training Program, studying with Maestro Bill Doherty and has starred in Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon and Beauty And The Beast on Broadway.

This event is a Tickets are Limited event. Tickets for these events are available on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 10 am on Tuesday, February 2, 2010 exclusively on www.ArtsFestFL.com. You must have a valid email address to take advantage of this promotion. There is a four ticket limit per email address to all Tickets are Limited events. There is a 30-minute no-show policy that will be strictly enforced. Please plan to arrive at Ticket are Limited performances early to redeem your tickets. A limited number of tickets will be available to Tickets are Limited venues the day of the performance and will be distributed on a first-come first-served basis.

ArtsFest events revealed!

2009-11-02T06:53:00.000-08:00

As we lead up to December's release of the hundreds of FREE arts and cultural events that will take over four counties in Central Florida, stay tuned to www.ArtsFestFL.com for the leaks on the schedule. : ) A few leaks will be released each week and the only way to know about them is to join our facebook and twitter from the homepage of www.ArtsFestFL.com.

Bank of America headlines sponsors

2009-11-02T06:32:00.001-08:00

Bank of America has once again come on board to support ArtsFest by committing to be the presenting sponsor for ArtsFest 2010. This will be Bank of America's eighth time as the presenting sponsor for the festival. "Bank of America continues to show its support to the arts community through its generous sponsorship of ArtsFest," says Cory Warren, Events Coordinator for United Arts of Central Florida.

Other sponsors committed to ArtsFest include Progress Energy, now in their fifth year of sponsorship and Downtown Avalon Park, who joins ArtsFest sponsorship for the second year in a row. OUC has also agreed to assist ArstFest as an In-Kind sponsor by listing the event in their monthly newsletter to their customers, which is estimated to hit 250,000 households in their Orlando coverage area.

Thank you to the many sponsors that help to make ArtsFest All Arts, All Week, All FREE!

ArtsFest celebrates Black History Month!

2009-10-30T06:37:00.001-07:00

ArtsFest and Black History Month have something in common...They are both in February. In celebration and recognition of Black History Month, ArtsFest will denote the many arts & cultural events during ArtsFest that celebrate African American History. This is just one more reason to get out of your chair and get into ours. Visit http://www.redchairproject.com/ to find out what's going on in your community of arts and culture and stay tuned to http://www.artsfestfl.com/ for more insider information on all this ArtsFest 2010!

ArtsFest partners with The Plaza Theatre!

2009-10-29T17:43:00.000-07:00

United Arts and ArtsFest 2010 are happy to partner with The Plaza Theatre to bring three amazing events to the large venue at the historic Plaza Theatre off Bumby Ave. in Orlando. The full schedule of events for ArtsFest will be released in December, but here is a sneak peek at the three "tickets are limited" events that will be coming to The Plaza Theatre for FREE during ArtsFest 2010. You will be able to make your reservations for this FREE event beginning Tuesday, February 2, 2010 on ArtsFestFL.com. Stay tuned!

Sunday, February 7, 2010 @ 2 pm
Central Florida Ballet
9/11 An American Moment
9/11 an American Moment is Central Florida Ballet’s original production of historic value that captures the poignancy of tested and proven American patriotism; her courage, resolve and pride in response to the World Trade Center attack on September 11, 2001.

Monday, February 8, 2010 @ 7:30 pm
Central Florida Lyric Opera
Encore: Broadway On Tour with Broadway Star Grant Norman
Broadway Star, Grant Norman and the Central Florida Lyric Opera Ensemble of singers bring to the stage a stunning tribute to the music and drama of Broadway in this ALL NEW, special ENCORE performance! Relive the most memorable and beautiful music of Broadway as the charming and talented Grant Norman shares anecdotes and poignant stories about his illustrious career in Musical Theater. A "must-see" for any vocal music lover! Grant Norman began his career in our Resident Artist Training Program, studying with Maestro Bill Doherty. He skyrocketed to fame in New York City starring in Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon and Beauty And The Beast on Broadway among others.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 @ 7:30 pm
Orlando School of Cultural Dance presents: Heritage
Visit the world of African Culture through the eyes of dance and drum.

ArtsFest 2010 Website is LIVE!

2009-10-28T05:40:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I just wanted to let you know that the new and improved ArtsFest 2010 website is now LIVE! We hope you like the new design and that it gets you excited for ArtsFest 2010!!

URL: http://artsfestfl.com/

Social Networking is live!

2009-10-13T13:04:00.000-07:00

We've just set up the Facebook and Twitter accounts for ArtsFest 2010! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter today and stay up to date with the latest news!

Facebook Fan page: http://ow.ly/udFb

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ArtsFest2010

Social Networking Underway!

2009-10-08T12:19:00.001-07:00

ArtsFest is getting ready to explode with a brand new social networking platform and website that will hit be released in just a few days. Stay tuned....

New ArtsFest 2010 Website to Launch in a few days!!

2009-10-08T11:34:00.000-07:00

The totally revamped ArtsFest 2010 website will be launching in just a few short days!! We are so excited for the streamlined navigation and fancy look!

Avalon Park Committed to the arts

2009-08-06T10:52:00.000-07:00

Downtown Avalon Park, which is run by the Avalon Park Group, has committed to once again come on board as an ArtsFest sponsor in 2010. This news came at a wonderful time during a rough economy. We look forward to two major performances at the Avalon Park Amphitheatre including a Latin American celebration and the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra.

ArtsFest Registration Open May 11

2009-04-20T12:32:00.000-07:00

United Arts will accept registration forms for all organizations wishing to participate in ArtsFest 2010. If you are a non-profit arts organization with Lake, Orange, Osceola or Seminole County, please visit http://www.unitedarts.cc/ and click on the ArtsFest icon on the right to begin your registration process. Once your organization registers, you will be contacted by United Arts to confirm your participation. ArtsFest 2010 will be February 5-14, 2010.

ArtsFest triples attendance!

2009-04-15T10:21:00.000-07:00

United Arts of Central Florida was happy to report that ArtsFest 2009 was responsible for providing over 30,000 FREE arts and cultural experiences during the 10-day festival offered this past February. 83 organizations in 75 venues across 4 counties helped to contribute to the tripling of attendance from last year. Thanks to all of our sponsors for helping to make this festival happen for the eighth year in a row.

ArtsFest 2010 dates announced!

2009-04-01T09:55:00.000-07:00

ArtsFest 2010 dates are announced. Save the date for ArtsFest 2010, February 5-14, 2010. We hope you will join us as we offer All Arts, All Week, All Free for the 8th year in a row!

ArtsFest website underway

2009-03-26T05:42:00.000-07:00

A team of wonderful Full Sail students are working to create and design a new website specifically for ArtsFest. This website will enable users to have easy access to everything that ArtsFest provides including:

an enhanced media section with archival photos and logos from past ArtsFest events
pictures of events that happened during ArtsFest
sponsorship details and appreciation
a streaming picture home page that features different arts organizations each week

Keep an eye open for the debut of the website when it hits the web in late April!

New interactive schedule of events makes for easy reservations to ArtsFest events

2009-01-09T18:57:00.000-08:00

Now making reservations to "tickets are limited" performances during ArtsFest is easier than ever. Log on to Redchairproject.com and click on the ArtsFest icon. The icon will take you to a page that will give you an option to download the ArtsFest Schedule of Events from the comfort of your own home right to your personal computer. If you see a "tickets are limited" performance you want to go to, simply click on the "tickets are limited" icon next to that event and you can reserve your tickets easily in just a few clicks!

How to learn more...

2008-07-14T05:39:00.001-07:00

If you would like to learn more about volunteer opportunities, please send an email to events@UnitedArts.cc.

Volunteer Opportunities

2008-07-10T08:08:00.000-07:00

United Arts of Central Florida loves volunteers! In additon to opportunities for ArtsFest 2009, which occurs in February 2009, there are opportunities throughout the year to volunteer for several exciting arts and cultural events around Central Florida. For more information on how you can get involved as a volunteer with United Arts of Central Florida and help spread the word about all that Central Florida has to offer, please email us at events@UnitedArts.cc and a member of our staff will respond to you.

Check http://www.unitedarts.cc/ for information about ArtsFest specific volunteer opportunities coming in September 2008.

ArtsFest 2009

2008-05-22T05:25:00.000-07:00

United Arts of Central Florida is currently planning ArtsFest 2009, which will be held February 6-15, 2009.