Starting next Friday, Akronites will have 23 days to check out and vote on visual art, music and film, as venues around the downtown showcase artists’ entries during the High Arts Festival 2017.
Formerly known as Akron Art Prize, the High Arts Festival runs Sept. 15-Oct. 7. The contest kicks off with an opening night party at Summit Artspace from 5:30 to 10 p.m. at 43 S. Broadway St. in downtown Akron.
This year, the High Arts Festival was expanded to add music and film through a $154,000 Knight Arts Challenge grant designed to elevate Akron’s arts community and connect new audiences to local art. The Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation and the Burton D. Morgan Foundation also support the event.
Artists submitted entries and paid a fee to have their work displayed at the fest.
Here’s how it works:
Attendees can vote for various artists at kiosks set up inside participating venues. You also can use the new High Arts Festival app, available from the Google Play Store/iTunes Store. Through the app you can register to vote, explore the entries and vote on art, music and film until Oct. 7 at 4 p.m.
Works will be showcased in these downtown Akron venues:
Hear: 34 musical entries with performances at Jilly’s Music Room, Musica and Uncorked Wine Bar Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Watch: Up to 60 60-second film entries at The Nightlight Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 7:30 p.m.
Through public and juried votes, $24,000 will be distributed to winners, with one top vote-getter in each discipline receiving $5,000. Awards will also be made for runners-up and juried prizes. The finale reception and awards presentation on Oct. 7 will be held at the Akron Art Museum.
Follow the High Arts Festival on Facebook and share your experience using #HighArtsFest17 on Twitter and Instagram.
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