44Th ANNUAL OMAHA SUMMER ARTS FESTIVAL TRANSFORMS DOWNTOWN with ARTS for EVERYONE PRESENTED by FIRST NATIONAL BANK, JUNE 8-10, 2018

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44th ANNUAL OMAHA SUMMER ARTS FESTIVAL TRANSFORMS DOWNTOWN WITH ARTS FOR EVERYONE PRESENTED BY FIRST NATIONAL BANK, JUNE 8-10, 2018

(OMAHA, Neb.) May 10, 2018 – Inventive additions, extended hours and new twists on beloved traditions make the 44th annual Omaha Summer Arts Festival (OSAF) one of the most anticipated ever. But the thing that will make this year’s three-day celebration on Farnam Street so unforgettable? People. Colorful, creative, energetic, art-loving people.

As in 135 professional artists who will travel from across the country to present their art alongside the Gene Leahy Mall during the June 8-10 event. As in the tens of thousands of enthusiastic art-lovers who will attend the festival.

Noticing a trend?

The point is, anyone can go to a store and buy a piece of art off the shelf, take it home and hang it on a wall. People flock to the Summer Arts Festival to meet the artists in person and hear the stories behind the paintings and other artwork they take home. It’s called a human connection – and that’s something worth celebrating!

New Hours for 2018 The CenturyLink Artists’ Market will be open this year from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, June 8; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 9; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 10.

Here’s Something Else Worth Celebrating . . . Music After Dark! For several years, we’ve been hearing from festival-goers who say, “We’re having so much fun – we don’t want to go home!” With that in mind, we’re debuting our first-ever “OSAF After Dark.” Join us under the big- top of the World Music Pavilion on Friday at 9 p.m., but don’t expect to stay seated – the foot-moving beats by Kethro and funky grooves of Linear Symmetry will keep festival-goers full of energy and dancing well into the night.

That’s Not All That’s Been Extended Art fans have an extra hour on Saturday and Sunday to browse the artwork of the festival’s 135 exhibiting artists. OSAF will open an hour earlier those days, with times now stretching from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

135 Booths to Shop at the CenturyLink Artists’ Market With more than 300 professional artists applying for the chance to present their art at the OSAF, you can expect to see some of the most imaginative, awe-inspiring art you’ve ever seen. And that’s exactly what you can expect from the 135 visual artists from across the United States – chosen from a discerning group of judges – who will offer a visual feast of fine arts and crafts, including painting, jewelry, ceramics, glass, sculpture and photography. The best part: The price range fits all budgets. This year, artists will travel from all sides of the country to set up shop in Omaha’s backyard. Artists from 26 different states including California, Florida, Montana, Maryland and Texas will entice customers with their original work. There’s plenty of local art, too, with 10 juried-artists hailing from Nebraska and 10 from Iowa.

Did We Mention Free Live Music All Weekend? Throughout Friday, Saturday and Sunday, OSAF will present 15 free concerts at the World Music Pavilion on the Luigi Waites Main Stage. So, sit back, enjoy an ice-cold beverage of your choice, and soak up the music.

Friday’s lineup begins with hot jazz courtesy of the Omaha Musicians’ Association All-Stars, followed by modern indie pop from award-winning songwriter Jocelyn and popular “skariffic” band, The Bishops. Rounding out the evening will be world beat rock-n-jazz band Elektric Voodoo. And stick around for the first- ever OSAF After Dark with local talent Kethro and Linear Symmetry.

Music begins Saturday with singer-songwriter Ro Hempel, followed by musical chameleon Domestic Blend and five-piece jazz ensemble Luigi Inc. Jazz and soul songstress Elle Casazza takes the late afternoon shift, followed by country-rock singer and “American Idol” alum Jessica Meuse, and then the Wesley Pruitt Band, a bluesy funk band rooted in Texas, followed by Memphis blues group the Eric Hughes Band.

And then on Sunday, get ready for a splash of Spanish song and dance with Flamenco Omaha. The Esencia Latina Band follows with a musical bowl of salsa, and closing the festival is Jesus Diaz y su QBA, who will bring a Cuban and Latin vibe to the World Music Pavilion.

Eat, Drink, Be Merry This year’s celebration will feature savory selections from OSAF favorites as well as new food vendors. From Shucks’ fresh seafood and Smoke Is No Joke BBQ, to Julio’s Tex-Mex stylings and the Curry Hut’s Indian cuisine, there is something for everyone’s palate at TasteFest. Festival-goers can also enjoy beer, wine and an expanded selection of ice-cold beverages at the World Music Pavilion. And don’t forget the sweets – with fresh funnel cakes and Italian gelato among the tasty delights.

Street Performers Add to the Atmosphere All Weekend In addition to performers from the World Music Pavilion, those who attend the 2018 OSAF will have the chance to see Morphis Art Live featuring artist Christopher Morphis. The live music-art mash-up is a sight to see, as Morphis creates a painting from beginning to end using energy from the audience to guide him. You don’t want to miss this! The street entertainment continues with one of the top jugglers in the world, Sam Malcolm and award-winning comedy magician Magic Brian sharing the intersection of 14th and Farnam Streets.

Eye Candy for Young Art Fans It’s not the “Kids” entertainment stage, and it’s not the “adults” entertainment stage because the Family Entertainment Stage offers an eclectic lineup that will appeal to all ages. If you see a group of kids and parents with their jaws agape, they’re probably watching the hypnotic beats of the Omaha Street Percussion. If their jaws are moving up and down and producing ha-ha’s one after the other, they are likely taking in one of comedian Bill Robison’s shows. If they’re singing loud and proud, it could be at one of the new features this year – OSAF Karaoke. Or, if they’re bobbing their heads to and fro, it could be the Blues Ed-Vertigo group or the Kids on the Block Puppet Show. They’ll all be performing on Saturday and Sunday this year on the T- Mobile Family Entertainment Stage.

Their Big Break If you’re a budding artist, you want your art to be seen – that’s the whole idea, right? But it can be tough for artists new to the scene to get in front of an art-loving crowd. Meet Gallery One and the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) programs, which will return to the Festival after debuting last year. Gallery One is presented by First National Bank and supports emerging artists who have had limited or no experience exhibiting and selling their artwork at art fairs and festivals. The Gallery One artists will receive mentoring from a professional OSAF artist with tips on how best to exhibit and sell their work to the public. Festival attendees of all ages can explore their own artistic abilities by choosing from a selection of DIY projects offered through local crafting business, The Makery. Participants can harness inspiration from the creative atmosphere and make a masterpiece of their own. Crafts are priced at $15 each and include making a hanging succulent planting, string art, felt flower pen or modern yarn hanging.

Mini-Grants for Mini-Artists For the first time in its 44-year history, OSAF will be providing funds to local non-profits to help underwrite the cost of materials for young attendees to create their own masterpieces in the T-Mobile Children’s Fair. Held on Saturday and Sunday, it’s full of hands-on activities, art projects and entertainment for children ages 3 to 10. Admission is free, as are many of the activities, while some hands-on crafts and activities require the purchase of activity tickets, priced at 50 cents each. Some participants include El Museo Latino, The Durham Museum, Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo and City Sprouts.

And the Featured Illustration Goes to . . . Always highly anticipated, the annual OSAF tradition of selecting a featured illustrator continues in 2018. Commissioned by an artist who captures the spirit of OSAF, this custom piece becomes the annual visual centerpiece for the Festival. Through an application process earlier this year, Omaha artist Grace Gaard was selected as the 2018 Featured Illustrator. Gaard’s piece will be featured on souvenirs, TV ads and promotional pieces. Her education in fisheries and wildlife as well as her experience as a naturalist at Fontenelle Forest aid in her work where she often paints landscapes, wildlife, plant life and people.

Future Picassos on Exhibit Want to see a collection of inspiring art from young artists? Then stop by and see the 300-plus pieces of artwork created by Metro area students in grades 6 through 12 that will be on display at the 23rd annual Young Artist Exhibition in the Michael Phipps Gallery at the W. Dale Clark Main Library during the Festival.

Art Collectors in Training Kids love to collect things – rocks, bugs, dolls, etc. – but what about art? First, they need the opportunity, which is where Art Collectors in Training (ACT) comes in. ACT offers children an opportunity to purchase original artwork donated by professional artists participating in the festival. After their purchases, young buyers and their families are encouraged to visit the artist who created their piece. This program, now entering its fifth year, encourages the appreciation of the arts from a young age.

ArtSeen Offers Local Art Experiences Festival visitors will have the opportunity to watch live artist demonstrations and even partake in various activities like making a custom charm bracelet, candle-making, origami and marble your body with non-toxic paint or watercolor on paper. ArtSeen participants showcasing their own works and hosting activities include Passageway Gallery, Old Market Artists Co-op, Blacksmith Shop Omaha, Benson First Friday and Gotta Have Arts (a collaboration with Gotta Be Me and Why Arts).

Park Omaha Offering Discount for Festival-goers OSAF is proud to partner with Park Omaha to offer information and discounts on parking in the Downtown area. To make parking easier, visitors can download the free Park Omaha app. With the app, users can pay for parking without leaving their vehicles and receive text messages and in-app reminders before meters expire. Exclusive for OSAF attendees, receive $5 off rates at select Park Omaha parking locations. For more details and the discount code, visit www.summerarts.org/directions-parking. Visit parkomaha.com or download the Park Omaha app for a complete list of available public parking downtown.

2018 Sponsors The 2018 Omaha Summer Arts Festival is presented by First National Bank and sponsored by the Douglas County Visitor Improvement Fund, Presenting Media Sponsor WOWT NBC Omaha, Radio Partner NRG Media, Children’s Fair Sponsor T-Mobile, Artists’ Market Sponsor and Official Technology Provider CenturyLink and Youth Arts Presenter The Sherwood Foundation.

About the Omaha Summer Arts Festival Named the 2017 “Best Festival” in Omaha Magazine’s Best of Omaha awards and winner of the festival category for Omaha’s Choice, OSAF is consistently recognized as one of Omaha’s best annual events. OSAF also receives consistent honors in the art fair industry, including being selected as one of 2015’s Top 100 Fine Arts Festivals in the country by ArtFair SourceBook. National honors include being tagged as one of the “Top 20 Can’t-Miss Summer Festivals” by Smithsonian.com in 2014, and as one of the Top 100 Events in North America by the American Bus Association in 2012.