The Turner Center for the Arts, in partnership with the City Center Arts District (CCAD) and the newly-created Regional Artist Community (RAC), will host ARToberfest 2018 on Saturday, October 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the art center’s campus at N. Patterson and Webster Streets.

In their current campus that spans three facilities, two large parking lots and a multi-use green space, the Turner Center seeks to bring back the ARToberfest tradition that was celebrated nearly 20 years ago—when the Lowndes/Valdosta Arts Commission was located in the N. Patterson Street building that currently houses the Valdosta State University Bursary.

“We are particularly excited to host this event on October 6, as it also marks the two-year anniversary of the Valdosta City Council’s Resolution that created the CCAD and acknowledges the district as an incubator for art business, art creation and economic development in the art industry,” said Executive Director Sementha Mathews.

The combined efforts of the CCAD and RAC, as well as the participation of more than 20 regional artists who have already signed up as event vendors, is to celebrate fine arts and the creators of fine arts in our community.

“We are so proud of the artists that work with us here at the center,” said Debi Davis, Art Education Administrator. “Our goal with ARToberfest and the Regional Artist Community is to better promote and support regional artists by giving them a platform to be recognized at the center and in the community.”

ARToberfest 2018 will kick off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony of the newly-renovated Annex, located at 601 N. Patterson Street. Over the past two months, the first floor of the former Valdosta Optical building has been transformed into two large classroom spaces to meet the expanding needs of the center.

Following the ribbon-cutting and open-house of the Annex at 10 a.m., the festival will feature a variety of fine arts for sale by regional artists, several artist demonstrations, and entertainment. Attendees may also purchase lunch on site, which includes sausage dogs provided by Sunset Farm Foods.

Regional artists may continue to register for membership in the RAC, as well as a booth at the event. For more information, contact the Turner Center at 229-247-2787, visit www.turnercenter.org or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.