Elevate the Arts is an outdoor community arts festival and fundraiser for Arts Alive on August 13th from 12-4PM. The event will be hosted in the commercial lot on Gilbo Ave. in downtown Keene and will include free lawn games and arts activities for kids and families, live music, food trucks, an artist market, and a bake sale. The event will close with a raffle of large and small prizes.
“We’re so excited to be bringing this festival to downtown Keene, right where we’ve been dreaming of an Arts Corridor for downtown,” says Jessica Gelter, Executive Director of Arts Alive.
A VARIETY OF FUN ACTIVITIES
Entertainment is geared towards families and individuals with a wide range of creative interests. At no cost, festival-goers may participate in several do-it-yourself art activities including collaborating on a pop art mural, making mini terrariums, creating dried flower bouquets, and exploring creativity in the WakaDoodles art area. There will be a face-painting station, a body-paint station, and a Guided Light Photography booth. Local company Games 2 Go will provide giant lawn games for attendees to play. These include cornhole, tic tac toe, chess, jenga, and checkers. Keene-based yoga and fitness studio Everglow Wellness will provide a rest space for quiet time and light stretching.
Festival Committee Member and Arts Alive Board Chair Jennifer Paone says, “We want to show folks that anyone, ANYONE can be an artist. So we hope you come on down and get creative, or at least get inspired!”
LIVE MUSIC & PERFORMANCES
From 12-2PM, the radio station WKNE will be live streaming. Afterward, Nancy Saalwen and Forest Seymor of the band Touch the Ocean will perform and host an open mic on an outdoor stage. A variety of local musical acts will take the mic, including participants from Keene Pride Youth. At 3PM, MoCo Arts will perform.
In addition to the festivities, Arts Alive will host an artisan market of over 25 vendors of various handmade art pieces and products including jewelry, wood engravings, felted art, embroidery, watercolors, prints, stickers, and pottery. While some artisan market vendors may be able to take card payments, all will accept cash.
Several local businesses, restaurants, and arts organizations have contributed to the raffle. We are excited to offer a total of over 40 large and small prizes. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase at the event via cash. We will also use GiveButter, an online charity fundraising app that takes Venmo, Paypal, and credit cards.
Food trucks will be adjacent to the festivities. These include Charcoal Charlie Productions, Yahso Jamaican Grille, and Frisky Cow Gelato. Arts Alive will also be hosting a bake sale.
