FMU to host 32nd-annual Art’s Alive Festival

Francis Marion University will play host to the 32nd annual Art’s Alive Festival on April 4 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., rain or shine.

The event, a celebration of the visual and performing arts with something for all members of the family and simultaneous performances in different venues on campus, is free and open to the public. Musical performances are staged indoors and outdoors. The Kassab Recital Hall in the Hyman Fine Arts Center will feature the Charleston Renaissance Ensemble, a trombone collective from USC, soloist Eric Figueras, gospel music by We Be Brethren, and local trio Joey Webster, Chrissy Fennel and Courtney Deas.

Featured on the outdoor stage will be The Craig Willard Band, The BackBeat: Beatles Cover Band, Lance and Chad Shirley, the Pee Dee Gospel Workshop Choir, and FMU’s Jazz Express. In addition, artists from South and North Carolina and Georgia will be showing and selling their work at the festival.

A number of dance groups will perform in either the Chapman Auditorium or the Smith University Center, including the South Carolina Dance Theatre, Coker Repertory Dance Company, The Wanda Project, and Phat Pheet from Williams Middle School.  Other local dance groups include the Performing Arts Academy, Kelley’s Fine Arts, Showbiz Studio & Dance Company, School of Dance Arts and Dance for Joy Dance Studio.

Children’s entertainment includes performances by Jitters the Clown, Blue Moon Puppets and the Magic of Ricker M. The festival will host a movie matinee of cartoon and comedy classics and at the youth art center, attendees can make mobiles and pinwheels and enjoy spin art, stamp art, face painting and balloon sculptures.

There will be a sidewalk chalk art competition and a recycled reading book sale. Visitors to the festival may bring a picnic lunch or purchase food from a variety of food vendors sure to suit all tastes.
For information, call the FMU Office of Public and Community Affairs at (843) 661-1225.