FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS '17
CONTINUES THRU WKEND
AT BICENTENNIAL PARK

The annual Festival of the Arts returns to Bicentennial Park in front of the Civic Center Music Hall, 500 Couch Drive, in Oklahoma City, through Sunday, April 30th with more than 140 of the nation's finest artists, an expanded children's art field, returning food favorites, culinary demonstrations and three performing arts stages featuring over 250 performances. 

The 2017 festival in Bicentennial Park marks the 51st annual event for the Oklahoma City Arts Council. Event co-chairs for this year's festival are Debbie Forshee and Steve Bolton. Festival hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free, and the festival is expected to attract more than 700,000 visitors. 

More than 500 artists submitted visual art for the Festival jury process and 144 were selected with media including oils, water, drawing and printmaking, photography, ceramics, glass, sculpture, fiber, jewelry, wood and two and three-dimensional works. 

Continuing its celebration of the culinary arts, the Festival will feature 31 vendors in International Food Row with proceeds benefiting local nonprofit organizations. 

This year's event features an expanded children's art field where participants can complete three art projects for $3. The face painting area also will include more extensive options in addition to the traditional $1 designs. 

All proceeds from Festival of the Arts support Arts Council Oklahoma City's year-round, free and low-cost programming. 

Festival of the Arts 2017 is produced by Arts Council Oklahoma City. Co-chairs are Debbie Forshee and Steve Bolton.

Arts Council Oklahoma City is a non-profit 501 ©(3) organization dedicated to bringing the arts and the community together through free or low-cost cultural events and a variety of arts outreach activities that impact underserved populations. Each year, Arts Council events, programs and services reach nearly one million Oklahoma City residents and visitors. Arts Council Oklahoma City is sponsored by MidFirst Bank, Devon Energy Corporation, OGE Energy Corporation, Ozarka Water & Coffee Service, Sonic - America's Drive-in, ICG, The Oklahoman and NewsOK.com, Toucan Production and Tyler Media. Arts Council Oklahoma City receives funding from the Oklahoma Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts, and is an Allied Arts member agency. For more information, call 405-270-4848 or visit www.ArtsCouncilOKC.com.