Oxford's Festival of Arts, Culture and Entertainment This Weekend

OXFORD, CT - This year the Oxford Cultural Arts Commission again proudly presents our annual Oxford’s FACE (Festival of Arts, Culture and Entertainment) with lots of exciting FREE activities for the whole family scheduled to for the whole weekend of May 20, 21, and 22.

At the Oxford Town Hall at 486 Oxford Road (Route 67), events include the 7th annual major juried OCAC Showcase Art Exhibit, a Gala Opening Friday May 20th from 6 to 9 PM featuring 24 artists and 70 works of art in a verity of styles and mediums competing for Art Awards of over $1200 donated by the Valley Community Foundation, Oxford Grange #194, Heritage Benefit Consultants, Inc.,The Soucy Family, Laura Maksymiw, RAD ART, Colonial Tavern, Cat’s Corner Veterinary Hospital, Woodbury Pewter.

A display of children’s art from the Friends of Oxford Library competition will also be in the Meeting Room and awards will be presented. Music will be performed by Martin Ear and Linda Peck will create moving statues. A Silent Auction of donated art will continue all weekend to fund the OCAC Caryl Soucy Memorial Scholarship for an Oxford High School Student pursuing a career in the Arts.

Saturday and Sunday the fun continues at Town Hall with the Showcase Exhibit, adult and kids creative workshops and Gallery tours all at the Town Hall Meeting Room. The Oxford Library will be open from 10 AM to 2 PM where volunteers will read to children and have crafts available. This year the Crafter’s Exhibit & Sale on the Town Hall Lawn will be on both Saturday and Sunday with non–profit organizations also promoting their causes. There will be programs for Kids with clowns and other special surprises.

At the Oxford Grange at 482 Oxford Road, on Saturday starting at 11 AM there will be cultural events and fun programs for kids. “Opps Open Mic ” Music programs with performers starting at 1 PM Saturday followed at 6:00 PM by Hiroya Tsukamoto an internationally acclaimed guitarist and composer and at 8 PM International Recording Artists The Claudettes in concert with their own fanatical fusion of blues and soul-jazz .

On Sunday 10 IS Theater Improvisation adult Workshops and a “Learn About the Grange” event. Victoria Munoz is very excited to be again coordinating the Sunday Poetry Salon in coordination at Oxford’s FACE Festival from noon to 4 PM at the Oxford Grange with Featured poets: Tom Nicotera/Co-Host, Susan Allison, Andy Weil, John Basinger, and Ameen-Storm Abo- Hamzy .Oxford's FACE is delighted to have this afternoon of word power at the Grange just a few steps down the road from Town Hall.

Then at 5 PM a performance by The New England New Music Ensemble (N.E.N.M.E.) a chamber music group that performs both unique and daring original compositions along with arrangements of songs you wouldn't normally associate with chamber music.

This exciting Festival is a really special event for the Town of Oxford and the local area and has plenty of opportunities for everyone to participate. Artists, musicians, theater performers, poetry readers, cultural organizations, local volunteers, Friends of Oxford Cultural Arts members, food vendors and also businesses and non-profit groups, our sponsors and anyone who want to join the fun.

The Oxford Cultural Arts Commissioners, Friends of OCAC, volunteers, Town Hall staff, Public Works staff, sponsors and local businesses work to produce programs such as this arts event. There are opening on the Commission for both Commissioners and Alternates for any Oxford Resident who would like to be part of this organization. Volunteers from the local area are also welcome. For information Phone 203 881-6085 or email: info@oxfordculturalarts.org, face@@oxfordculturalarts.org or see the website at www.oxfordculturalarts.org.