Salem Arts Festival Now Accepting Applications

SALEM, MA - The 2016 Salem Arts Festival has announced an invitation to local artists to submit their work for festival participation consideration. The deadline for submission is set for April 8.

“Salem is busting at the seams with visual artists, musicians, poets, dancers, and creative individuals from all walks of life,” said Kylie Sullivan of Salem Main Streets, organizer of the Salem Arts Festival. “We want our festival to reflect the diversity of artists and artisticorganizations in our community. We’re especially committed to having increased community involvement and representation every year.”

Now in its eighth year, the festival will take place from June 3-5.. Thousands are expected to attend this free family-friendly festivalwhich lights up Salem’s downtown corridor with an art show, street fair, and live performances. Last year’s festival welcomed over 5,000 visitors. All events take place in downtown Salem, within walking distance of public transportation.

The 2016 festival will consist of:

• a gallery of juried artists’ work in Old Town Hall
• outdoor stage venues for performance and dance at Derby Square and Artists’ Row
• a juried street fair on Essex Street Pedestrian Mall and Derby Square
• this year’s collaborative public arts project – “Move With Me”

Artists selected for the Old Town Hall gallery will have an opportunity to sell their work at (with 20% of proceeds going to Salem ArtsFestival). All performers are given a small honorarium.

Applications should be completed and submitted by April 8th via the Salem Arts Festival website, www.salemartsfestival.com. While the festival prefers electronic applications, applicants are welcome to pick up and drop off hard-copies of the form at Salem Arts Festival/SalemMain Streets, 265 Essex St., Salem, MA 01970.

The Salem Arts Festival is organized by Salem Main Streets and a collaboration of Salem organizations and volunteers, including CreativeSalem, Salem Arts Association, Salem State University’s Center for Creative and Performing Arts, and the Peabody Essex Museum. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Salem Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

For more information, please see www.salemartsfestival.com or contact Kylie Sullivan at kylie@salemmainstreets.org or (978)744-0004 (x15).