Firefly Fine Arts Festival to debut in Dickson June 26-28, 2009

Release Date: 10/2/2008. Expired: 1/2/2009

Preparations are under way for what is expected to be one of the largest festivals in the southeast when the Firefly Fine Arts Festival debuts next summer in Dickson.

Presented by Community Arts Development of Dickson County with the assistance of the Tennessee Arts Commission, Firefly is scheduled for June 26-28 at festival grounds to be developed on a site provided by The Renaissance Center.

“We are very excited to be able to create an event in Dickson County that we hope will become an annual destination not only for people in Middle Tennessee, but for artists, performers and tourists from across the southeast,” said Holly Spencer, president of Community Arts Development (CAD). “We plan to make Firefly a celebration of visual arts and fine crafts, music, dance and theatre that will bring thousands of people into Dickson on the third weekend of every June. It will be a unique opportunity to view and purchase a wide variety of artworks in many different styles. And to create an event of that magnitude, work has already begun, including bringing in a professional consultant, recruiting volunteers and soliciting artists and performers for the first year.”

Planning for the new Firefly Fine Arts Festival in Dickson June 26-28, 2009, are (left to right), Terry Adams, consultant, Janice Shelton, CAD treasurer, Bob Kucher, senior director of Fine Arts at The Renaissance Center, Amanda Dillingham, Firefly visual arts coordinator, Serina Gilbert, CAD board member, and Beverly Pounds, CAD board member.

The Firefly Fine Arts Festive is being funded in part by a grant received from the Tennessee Arts Commission. They also were instrumental in providing assistance to the local non-profit group in hiring an arts festival consultant to help with the planning stages.

Terry Adams, executive director of the Cherry Creek Arts Festival in Denver, Colo., came to Dickson in late August and again in September to review the festival site and plans. Following his visits and meetings with festival organizers from CAD, Adams is guiding Firefly through the creation stages.

The Cherry Creek Arts Festival has drawn more than 350,000 visitors annually for more than a decade, drawing some of the most accomplished and cutting edge artists to Denver’s Cherry Creek North district.

Consultant Terry Adams, executive director of the Cherry Creek Arts Festival in Denver, goes over plans for the new Firefly Fine Arts Festival during a recent visit to Dickson.

“My initial impression is that a tremendous amount of thought has gone into the early stages of planning and it appears that there is a strong commitment from the community leadership in making this event a success,” Adams said following his initial August visit. “The potential is great for this event as a beautiful setting has been identified and by tapping in to the great reputation of The Renaissance Center as a top-class facility the event will enjoy immediate credibility.”

After considering several sites, the CAD board decided on a 20-plus-acre site provided at no cost by The Renaissance Center. The festival property is located just to the east of its existing facility. The festival grounds will accommodate artist booths, demonstration facilities, two stages, concessions and other facilities, as well as additional space to supplement the center’s existing parking lot.

CAD has created a steering committee that is overseeing the planning for the festival, including development of the site, the solicitation of top-quality artisans and performers, recruiting volunteers, seeking corporate sponsors and partners and other logistics.

“Hosting an arts festival has long been a goal of Community Arts Development and even a dream of groups that preceded us in the promotion of the arts in this area,” Spencer said “We’re only in the beginning stages, but a tremendous amount of work is already being done to ensure that the Firefly Fine Arts Festival will become a glowing attraction for artists and visitors across the region. There will be a lot more news to come in the months ahead as we prepare for our June 2009 debut.”

For more information on the Firefly Fine Arts Festival, contact CAD at (615) 740-5534, P.O. Box 955, Dickson, Tenn., 37056 or caddicksonco@yahoo.com. A festival website is being developed at www.fireflyartsfestival.com.

Visit the Events page for more about events at The Renaissance Center.

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