ArtFest in the West, a community event with an evening of performances, art exhibits and a silent auction, all to support arts programs in western Albemarle schools, will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Western Albemarle High School (WAHS) cafeteria, which will be transformed for a special evening of live music, dance, theater and song. More than 75 K-12 students will participate in performances that showcase their creative talents—vocal and instrumental music, fine arts, photography, creative writing and drama—and celebrate their teachers and supportive families.
“It’s an incredible event and unique because it is a fundraiser for arts programs in our schools, a showcase of student talent and an entertaining evening for families,” said Michelle Jennings, president of Arts in Western Albemarle Education (AWE), the non-profit group organizing the event.
The event is free of charge and families can expect an evening featuring hands-on children’s art activities and a silent auction with items donated from local restaurants, boutiques and a variety of other community businesses. “We also offer a wide variety of foods donated from local restaurants and bakeries in support of our fund-raising goal and that makes for a very affordable family night out,” Jennings said.
AWE’s fund-raising goal for ArtFest in the West is $10,000 to support arts programming in the six western Albemarle County public schools: Murray, Meriwether Lewis, Crozet and Brownsville Elementary Schools, Henley Middle School and Western Albemarle High School. The organization was born out of a community desire to expand funding for arts programs.
The evening will culminate with a preview of the WAHS upcoming spring musical “The Sound of Music.”
