[Archived] Arts Festival Returns to Alexandria Sept. 11-12

City Press Release


	City of Alexandria, Virginia Office of the City Manager Alexandria City Hall 301 King Street, Suite 3500 Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3211 www.alexandriava.gov Telephone: 703.838.4300 Fax : 703.838.6343

For Immediate Release
August 31, 2004
PIO 207-04/bg

ART RETURNS TO THE STREETS OF OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA
Two-day Alexandria Festival of the Arts
Features 200 Artists, September 11-12, 2004

The Alexandria Festival of the Arts is returning to the streets of Old Town, with more artists, extended hours and additional venues. The festival, which kicks off Alexandria's Fall for the Arts season, will line six blocks of King Street from 10 am to 7 pm Saturday, Sept. 11, and from 10 am to 5 pm Sunday, Sept. 12.
King Street, from Washington Street east to Union Street, will be transformed into an outdoor, on-street gallery featuring 200 of the nation's top award-winning artists offering sculptures, paintings, photography, glass, jewelry and more. Enhancing the local flavor are the many local artists featured, including seven artists from Alexandria and more then 20 artists from around the region. In addition this year, many King Street restaurants in the festival area will be offering sidewalk dining.
This year the festival will spotlight Northern Virginia talent with two additional venues. At the foot of King Street, local visual artists will be featured in the festival's Regional Artists Juried Exhibition. It will be made up of one piece from each selected artist. Nearby, on the City's waterfront directly behind the Torpedo Factory Art Center, Northern Virginia performers will offer live entertainment each afternoon.
T-shirts and posters featuring an original graphic design of the City's Market Square sculpture "Brio" will be sold the weekend of the festival. The funds raised will go the Alexandria Commission on the Arts to continue to raise the profile of local artists, both visual and performing, in future festivals. The City of Alexandria's second Alexandria Festival of the Arts is produced by Howard Alan Events, Ltd. under the auspices of the Alexandria Commission for the Arts with support from the Alexandria Convention & Visitors Association, and the Alexandria City government.
During the festival, King Street from the river to Washington Street will be closed to vehicular traffic. Adjacent parking garages will be open, and visitors to the festival are encouraged to use Metrorail and the free DASH About shuttle service from the King Street Metrorail station.
For further information about the festival, contact the City's Special Events Hotline at 703.883.4686 or the Alexandria's Ramsay House Visitors Center at 888-738-2764 or visit www.FunSide.com.

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