ArtsQuest To Find A New Home In Seaside

Jennifer Steele Saunders · 08-05-2009, 10:28 AM

ARTSQUEST JOURNEYS BACK TO 30-A

22nd Annual Festival to find a new home in Seaside

Walton County, FL – The Cultural Arts Association of Walton County announces that the ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival will have a new home in May 2010. The Festival will move to The Town of Seaside next year, just two miles down Scenic Hwy. 30-A from Grayton Beach where in 1989, the event was founded and lived for seven years. ArtsQuest then spent seven years in Eden State Park and another seven years in the Village of Baytowne Wharf in the Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort.

The ArtsQuest committee began searching for a new home for the festival when the future at its current venue in Sandestin became uncertain. Several interested communities, including Seaside were explored, and Seaside emerged as the best venue for the relocation.

Seaside’s general manager, Pam Avera, explains her enthusiasm behind becoming the new host of this wonderful community festival. “Seaside is privileged to be selected as the new host for this wonderful event, and we welcome it back to 30A,” stated Avera!

ArtsQuest Chair Nan Ream says she is excited for ArtsQuest to have this opportunity to “return to our roots” along 30-A. “CAA considers this move to have great potential for festival growth,” says Ream. “Seaside welcomes artists and art lovers alike into a community spirit that provides terrific shopping, dining and accommodations along the greatest beaches in the country.”

“The CAA is extremely grateful to Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort and the Village of Baytowne Wharf for supporting ArtsQuest for seven years and allowing it to flourish,” adds Executive Director Jennifer Steele Saunders. “We are optimistic about the Festival’s move back to Scenic Hwy. 30-A, where it began nearly 22 years ago, and look forward to working with The Merchants of Seaside, the Seaside Community Development Corporation and Cottage Rental Agency, to continue to evolve ArtsQuest and fulfill the CAA’s vision to enrich lives, stimulate economy and strengthen community through the arts.”

The 22nd Annual ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival will continue to be held Mother’s Day weekend each year with the 2010 date set for May 7 – 9. There will be room for over 100 local and national artists, along with four stages of music, theatre performances, KidZone and a Walton County student art exhibit.

The ArtsQuest Fine Arts Festival, sponsored in part by the Beaches of South Walton, is the largest of the many events and programs produced by the Cultural Arts Association as part of its mission to support the arts in Walton County through leadership, advocacy, funding, programs and education.

For more information about ArtsQuest or the Cultural Arts Association of Walton County, visit CulturalArtsAssociation.com or call 850.622.5970. For more information about The Town of Seaside, visit SeasideFL.com.

ABOUT THE CULTURAL ARTS ASSOCIATION OF WALTON COUNTY
The Cultural Arts Association is Walton County’s Local Arts Agency that supports the arts through leadership, advocacy, funding, programs and education. Established in 1992, the CAA produces the 30-A Songwriters Festival, ArtsQuest, Designer Showhouse for the Arts, the Beaux Arts Ball & Artist Market and Flutterby Children’s Festival, along with many other cultural events, fundraisers and art workshops. The CAA’s Educational Giving Program provides ongoing funds to Walton County teachers, need-based students, and college and continuing education students. The CAA works in partnership with Beaches of South Walton to promote Walton County as a tourist destination for arts and culture.

ABOUT SEASIDE
The Town of Seaside is a gulf front community located on Scenic Highway 30A between Destin and Panama City Beach, Florida. Founded in 1981, this renowned New Urbanist town is the flagship cultural center of The Beaches of South Walton. Seaside has over 400 homes and cottage rentals, and The Merchants of Seaside boast more than 50 specialty retail shops and restaurants. Seaside’s thriving town center includes civic, cultural and educational institutions; a public charter school, an inter-faith chapel, a repertory theater and The Seaside Institute. Parks, a swim and tennis club, and an amphitheatre provide year-round recreation and entertainment.

nowgirl · 08-05-2009, 11:10 AM

I think this is the best CAA news/decision EVER

I might even volunteer after a seven year vacation:)

Tootsie · 08-05-2009, 11:51 AM

I love this! ArtsQuest just belongs in the heart of SoWal. As much as I loved the festival location at Eden State Park, Seaside is an important "hub" of this community - and a perfect venue for a beautiful arts festival. Congratulations to CAA and Seaside!

Yzarctoo · 08-05-2009, 12:13 PM

Only thing I wonder about is the parking...just going to post office or bank and finding a spot to park is a nightmare...so with a 100 tents, plus the vendors' cars and those attending cars, plus those folks and their cars that are already staying in Seaside
...imagine the parking problems....Think Seaside garage sales then think Art Quest.

Susan Horn · 08-05-2009, 12:49 PM

I hope that as the festival continues to evolve and mature, the jurying-in process will be refined and improved. Not having been volunteered with in ArtsQuest since the EdenPark era, I don't really know what the process is these days, who the judges are, what their guidelines are for selecting the artists in the show. But back then, I remember being surprised that some of the artists who were allowed in the show brought mass-produced items, while some very talented local artists producing good quality original work were not selected.

I would love to see ArtsQuest's offerings broaden, from its longstanding concentration of paintings and prints (stuff to hang on walls), towards inclusion of really good fine crafts, along the lines of the very successful and long lasting Kentuck festival held every fall in Northport (Tuscaloosa), Alabama.

If necessary to achieve the next notch or two up in quality, I would rather see a smaller show with better all around quality and variety, frankly.

cp · 08-05-2009, 01:17 PM

I used to come down for this when it was still in Grayton and have several posters hanging in my house. So this is grayt news.

T.Cline · 08-06-2009, 07:54 AM

really great news!

BDM · 08-06-2009, 08:05 AM

I agree with you Susan, there are so many other art forms and mediums besides paintings or wall art. Regional and local artistists abound.

hnooe · 08-06-2009, 08:49 AM

Nothing against Baytown Wharf per se, but the place has an "inauthentic" feel to it and that is not the background or locale for such and event. I can see how mass produced items could make their way into it, but that needs to be avoided at all cost in Seaside-- Smaller and better juried would be ideal.