MIDLAND Midland Arts Council is hosting its biggest fundraising event of the year this weekend with its annual arts festival.
Now in its 38th year, the fundraiser includes an artist booth with over 60 interactive artworks, performances by local groups and organizations, and art-themed lectures.
The event kicks off with its main party at 7 p.m. Friday at the Chaparral Center and then from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday for the public and noon-5 p.m. sunday
In the past, the event has been held at the Bush Convention Center in downtown Midland. However, due to work being done at the convention center, this year’s event was moved to the Al G. Langford Chaparral Center at Midland College.
“We’re using the Chaparral Center instead of a convention center,” said Danny Holeva, executive director of the Midland Arts Council. “It’s going to be great. We’ve got a lot of nonprofits that will be there and they’ll be introducing themselves. I’m sure they’ll have handouts and literature and stuff like that.”
The event has been a cornerstone of fine arts and crafts in the Permian Basin. Last year, more than 7,000 people attended the event.
Although this year’s event will be held at the Chaparral Center, it will still be the longest running event in downtown Midland.
“It means a lot to us because not only do we have people who have participated and volunteered in the past, but now their children are doing it, so it’s really a continuous cycle,” Holeva said. “But it’s important to Midland Arts Council because not only is it our showcase activity, it’s also our fundraiser. It’s our biggest fundraiser of the year, so it gives us the opportunity to do things year-round with the activity grant.
Holeva says the celebration of the arts will be back at the convention center next year.
“We had over 6,000 people attend (last year) and I thought we’d be home forever,” Holeva said. “We plan to go back to the city center next year. It’s just the circumstances of the flooding in their building.”
Local entertainers, non-profit organizations, family activities and special events are featured throughout the weekend.
“On Saturday and Sunday, we have a large area that we call our art activity area,” Holeva said. “There’s something for everyone. It’s aimed at kids, but everyone is welcome and hopefully will take advantage of it. We’ve got lots of different stations for people to take away.”
The event will also feature a potter named Jesse Trejo, who will be doing wheel-throwing demonstrations throughout the weekend.
“He’s given us classes at the Arts Council and has agreed to do it for us, so we think it’s going to be exciting and different,” Holeva said.
The main party on Friday is a sponsored ticketed event.
“We have entertainment and a lot of the same things,” Holeva said. “It gives people a crack at the artists and their work and talking to them. There’s a silent auction of items from each participating artist. There’s music and food, so it’s a good event for people to enjoy.
How much money the Midland Arts Council makes from the event has changed over the past couple of years due to COVID, but Holeva is confident they can reach their goal of $100,000.
In 2020, the event did not take place due to the pandemic.
“In an average year, it’s a little hard to say the last few years with COVID and everything, but we’re hoping to break the $100,000 mark this year, and that’s a long way in terms of our administrative costs. It’s definitely significant.”
