by Christina Thorin
Taste the Arts, returns this year from September 29 through October 1 throughout downtown Visalia. The festival invites all community members to taste, sample or dig into the many vibrant forms of art that have been grown and cultivated in the valley. 
Taste the Arts celebrates the richness and diversity of the arts in Tulare County and gives artists, musicians, performers, and art organizations from throughout the county an opportunity to show off the best of their work through exhibits, demonstrations, art talks, sales, and interaction with other artists and the community.
A cornerstone of the weekend is the art fair featuring artists booths, a juried show, demonstrations, Urban Art, and a student art show, all taking place on Saturday, October 1 in and around Garden Street Plaza.
The Consortium is seeking applications from artists for both the art show and the juried show. The deadline for both the art booths and the juried show is August 1. Separate applications are needed for the booth space and for the juried show. Applications for both can be obtained online by scrolling to the link for Taste the Arts, or by contacting Caroline Koontz, at ckoontz@ci.visalia.ca or 559-713-4324.
Tented booth space for the show is available for free to artists. All work must be original and a description of the art medium and type of work to be displayed and/or demonstrated must be included. More information on sales and criteria for work is available on the Arts Consortium website.
The juried show is also free to enter. The Arts Consortium will provide $1000 in awards, with winners determined by the jurors. Entries must be the complete work of the submitting artists and each artist is limited to three entries. Other details and criteria are available online and on the entry forms.
Sponsors were a huge part of making the 2010 inaugural event successful and the Consortium is counting on them this year as the Festival grows in scope and size. Sponsorships packages ranging from $250 to $10,000 are still available and listed on the website.
Besides the art fair, events include the 17th Annual Waiters Race, the Creative Center’s Art Xposed Hair and Fashion show, Tulare County Symphony, two nights of opera at 210, a screening of the Slick Rock Festival winners, a concert at the Visalia Fox Theatre featuring the world renowned Blind Boys of Alabama, and more events yet to be announced.
This will definitely not be the weekend to be out of town. In fact, call up your friends around the Valley and those living at the coast and let them know that downtown Visalia is the place to be September 29 through October 1.
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