Astra Arts Festival Announces Inaugural Event, July 3 – 13, 2014 (Independence: theater, schools)

[chelsea_oneill]

The Astra Arts Festival (AAF) has announced its inaugural festival will launch July 3 – 13, 2014. The organization is a 501(c)3 non-profit, and has been awarded the coveted “Our Town” national grant and a second grant from the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission (KCAIC) in order to host the regional festival and increase cultural tourism to southeast Kansas.

The multidisciplinary festival is comprised of four committees; literary, music, theatre and visual art. Attractions range from performances and art workshops to exhibitions and concerts in both traditional and nontraditional spaces. It seems the whole town of Independence, KS will be taken over by the Astra Arts Festival, with these attractions held in the local theaters, schools, retail spaces, museums, parks, the library and even the streets.

Major headliners of each discipline will be in attendance, offering one-of-a-kind experiences for guests. Jim Brickman, America’s piano sensation, The Gatlin Brothers, and the Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra are a few of the acclaimed musical sensations that will perform. For the visual arts, can’t-miss opportunities will include GEAR’s graffiti art demonstration on the wall of the young adult section in the Independence Public Library, and younger children will love the artistic recreation of Eric Metaxas’ Yankee Doodle Mugsy, the story of a loveable, patriotic bulldog and his family’s celebrations of Independence Day. With so many events and artistic categories, there’s sure to be an event or two to please every attendee.

The festival will not only expose local residents to artists from various parts of Kansas and the United States but also give them an outlet for artistic expression. AAF committee member Hoite Caston believes the event will capitalize on the city’s long history of supporting the arts and will “add opportunities for creativity by all our citizens and increase personal, artistic and intellectual interaction with artists and visitors to Independence.”

“The Astra Arts Festival shines the spotlight on our community as well as rural Southeast Kansas,” said Deb Puryear of the Independence Convention and Visitors Bureau. “This will be a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate our sense of community and volunteerism, by presenting our locals and visitors with a one-of-a-kind and artistic event for all ages.”

The Astra Arts Festival will be held from July 3 – 13, 2014, at varying times and locations. For a full schedule of events, please visit [url]http://www.astrafest.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/AstraSchedule.pdf[/url].
For more information about Astra Arts Festival, visit [url=http://www.AstraFest.org]Astra Arts Festival[/url].