NORWICH – The 2021 Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival was definitely back and better than ever, proving they are the premier arts festival in Central New York. Colorscape enjoyed excellent attendance with nearly 12,000 visitors. Organizers are eager to announce the 28th Colorscape Festival, scheduled for September 10 and 11 in downtown Norwich.

This is a free arts festival presented in an interactive atmosphere featuring artist demonstrations; literary, dance, music, and arts activities for all ages; student art exhibits; and creative food vending.

After two years of challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival volunteers recently juried artists.

“This was the first in-person session that we have held since March 2019. Big thanks to Heather Bivens, Sonoka Fukuma Gozelski, Nicole Hawley, and John Knapp,” said Visual Arts Coordinator Peggy L. Finnegan.

Currently, 95 exhibitors will be at the annual Arts Festival. This includes 80 familiar faces from past years, 18 of whom were new to the parks last year. The remaining 15 are entirely new, and “there are sure to be some surprises in store for Colorscape's visitors,” according to Finnegan.

Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival organizers are also inviting all high school art seniors (2021-2022 calendar year) in Chenango and adjacent counties to apply for Colorscape's 2022 Francis K. Wilcox Emerging Young Artist Scholarship.

“This is our 14th year offering this scholarship,” says Colorscape Executive Director Celeste Friend. “It’s a way for Colorscape to recognize the amazing talent of the area’s young artists, while encouraging them to broaden their knowledge of the art world.”

Two students will be selected to receive $350 cash awards plus a $100 gift certificate from Golden Artist Colors. They will also display and sell their work at the festival on September 10 and 11, in a booth provided by the festival.

The application form is now available online at www.colorscape.org and can also be found at area high school art departments and local libraries. The application deadline is June 17.

Colorscape’s 28th annual arts festival promises to be a notable one as they enter the next quarter-century. Watch for upcoming announcements about this year’s nationally recognized headlining musicians and performance poets.

The Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival is made possible with public funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, and administered by The Earlville Opera House.

Recognized as one of the top 100 classic and contemporary craft shows in the county by Sunshine Artist Magazine, Colorscape Chenango has been celebrating premier artists in downtown Norwich since 1995. This free, two-day festival in September features over 100 creators displaying and selling their paintings, sculptures, fabric art, fine crafts, photography, and more.

Colorscape also offers nationally renowned musical performers, poetry and literary arts, food, and interactive art activities for all ages. The 2022 Colorscape will be held rain or shine on September 10 and 11 in East and West Parks in Norwich.

-Information provided by Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival