5th Annual Free Arts Fest returns Saturday, June 9, 2012
To West Fairmount Park

Philadelphia, PA  -  A kick-off to another summer of fun begins at the 5th Annual West Park Arts Fest on Saturday, June 9, 2012 from 11:00am - 5:00pm at 40th and Parkside Avenue.  The festival, featuring performances & activities by a wide range of artists, community organizations, and featured guests is free and will occur rain or shine.

Our theme for the 2012 festival, "Friends Across Cultures" is about celebrating the unique multicultural richness of art, nature and community in and around the Centennial District and bringing together arts and cultural organizations from throughout the city of Phialdelphia with more than 100 artists nad 200 children and youth performing.  We are inviting everyone to a day of exciting performances and interactive activitieson the grounds and inside the School of the Future with performances, workshops, arts and craft vendors, food vendors and more.

Some of the scheduled activities include:

• An outdoor Independent Artist Stage hosted by LDB10.com
• Film screenings
• Universal Dance and Drum Ensemble sponsored by The Mann
• Dancin' On Air talent search
• Children's Pavilion with drawing and theatre workshops, art making, storytelling, book give-a-way
• Youth Chess Tournament hosted by Afters School Activities Partnership
• Poetry Slam hosted by Greg Corbin of Philly Youth Poetry Movement

Additionally, this year the festival is expanding even further into the park with a free trolley tour to five other festival activity locations at Concourse Lake, Please Touch Museum (outdoor plaza), Shofuso Japanese House and Garden Sakura Pavilion, Belmont Mansion and Cedar Grove.

Participating and partnering in the festival this year are The Franklin Institute, The Mann, Please Touch Museum, Philadelphia Zoo, Phialdelphia Museum of Art, Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, Kyo Daiko, Urban Suburban Film Festival, International Opera Theatre, CAMERATA Philadelphia, Fairmount Park Conservancy, Setlement Music School/West, School of the Future, LDB10.com, Chosen Dance Company, Dancin' On Air, Tangle Movement Arts, Dollarboyz, Mutya Philippine Dance Company, Tree House Books, Arts Rising, Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY), Philadelphia Parks Alliance, West Philadelphia Senior Community Center, Consulate General of Italy in Philadelphia, Belmont Mansion, Cedar Grove, Federation of Neighborhood Centers/Teens 4-Good, Viola Street Residents Association, West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, Parkside Historic District Coalition, East Parkside Residents Association, Parkside Stakeholders Committee and Office of Sentaor Vincent Hughes.  Click for more festival information. 

Planning and coordination for the annual festival is led by the West Park Cultural Center which promotes a thriving West Park environment by using arts and culture as a central tool that helps youth tap their creative and academic potential, and where residents can access the arts, education, and other support programs that contribute to their personal development, helping them come together as a strong community.

We are proud to have The Franklin Institute and Parkside resident Michael Burch as a key planning partner for this year's West Park Arts Fest.  Sponsors for the event are Brown's ShopRite, Dunbar Community Counseling Services, Universal Sports and Corporate Apparel, Zerflin, Lowe's, Rockland Capital, LDB10.com, Guitar Center, Zakian, Greater Phialdelphia Tourism and Marketing Corporation, and Edizioni Edilingua.

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